SENIOR BEACON JUNE 2023

**LOCAL OPINION**

You Can’t Fight City Hall, Unless

Unless you live under a rock, you probably know about the anti-mayor petition returning Pueblo back to a City Manager form of government. It’s now a big doo-doo show related to malpractice on the city’s part.

In a recent Colorado Public Radio (CPR) interview, Gradisar said “petitioners were sloppy and incompetent.” Gradisar forced Kogosvek to retire, (fired) for malpractice and incompetency. In reality, Kogosvek planned to retire in the spring, and simply took one for the team.

Stoller, in the same CPR interview said she was “not a person accustomed to mistakes.” The arrogance in that statement means trouble. The city clerk Marissa Stoller was hired by Gradisar with zero clerk experience and no posting for the job. This is now causing legal problems for the city.

Stoller is the wife of the State Fair manager, hired by Polis’s board. Stoller was given a position with Pueblo County in economic development around the same time that her husband arrived along with a recommendation from Commissioner Wiseman, the former state fair manager. Stoller lasted 2 years.

It is rumored that she was unhappy related to her professional career situation. Unhappy wife, unhappy life. Forcing Polis to recruit yet another fair manager.

For a person who believes they are not accustomed to mistakes, there were numerous mistakes other than the number of signatures provided more than once. This was a 10-month process.

Referring to the Colorado Statues for

“petition language” I corrected her several times, forwarding that section of the law, such as, number of summary words, font sizes, and what was necessary on the signature page.

The words disassembling, dismantling, and defacing related to the petition packet are used in petition law related to purposely doing so which is the clear definition of these words. What happened was the back notary page fell off. You could clearly see where the staple had pulled and was not disassembled. Election judges allow for these circumstances and simply ask circulator if this was the packet they circulated. The judge generally sides with petitioners and signers in good faith. Stoller informed petitioners to print the notary on the back page to cure approximately 300 signatures, then later changed her mind after Gradisar had his hands on the petitions. Gradisar hired an attorney prior to notifying petitioners, obviously knowing yet another legal issue.

3,768 was the number given to petitioners by Stoller verbally, in emails, as well as a handout from the clerk’s office. Standard handouts and instructions available on city

▶ SEE LAWYER UP, PAGE 9

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the Inflation, Dummy”

RONALD S. PHILLIPS Author of two books, teacher & trusted columnist

to tell you about that. We’ve all been living it on a daily basis. I’ve been sounding this alarm since August 2021. That’s when we turned off the economy (not smart) and printed up nearly $6 trillion dollars in greenbacks for stimulating the markets and consumers. That added about 40% to our money supply! Big numbers.

HAVE WE MADE MONEY IN THE MARKET?

book 18 minus 33 still equals negative fifteen. We’ve adjusted for inflation and the market is almost in an “inflationary bear,” down fifteen percent.

That’s a twist on the James Carville saying that he was famous for. Carville was a strategist for Bill Clinton’s successful campaign in 1992 and he said, “It’s the economy, stupid” on a TV show. This was when the incumbent, Bush, Sr. lost due mainly to a bad economy.

We have a different problem now and it’s called inflation. Probably don’t need

I would love to go back to ignoring inflation again. When it’s 1-3 percent it really just doesn’t impact us in a big way. Things slightly move up in price. Everything trucks along pretty smoothly. Real estate trends up. The economy trends up. We usually make meaningful gains in the markets. But extreme inflation does change our results extremely. It becomes un-ignorable.

At the beginning of 2020 the Dow Jones stock index was at around 28,500. It’s now close to 34,000. Wow, growth, right? That equals about 18 percent growth. What happened to our money supply? In the same time our money supply, as stated before, went up a lot--by roughly one third. (Thankfully, the money supply has dropped recently). But in my math

We could do the same thing for GDP but I want to sleep at night.

In comparison, in a moderate inflation period you might have 2 percent inflation. The market goes up nine percent, for example, and so we’re left with a seven percent net gain.

“JOBS, JOBS, JOBS”

Please, take this lightheartedly, but enough with jobs news already. Yes, it’s really good that jobs are positive. Excellent. I’m glad. But jobs are not the economy and a lot of available jobs may be symptomatic of other problems. It’s a bright spot when measured traditionally. But does a job available at the grocery store drop your food bill?

GET READY FOR THE SHOE TO DROP

Hopefully, I’ll end up being a Henny-penny and the inflation sky will not fall. Hopefully.

DON’T BET AGAINST THE U.S. ECONOMY

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Warren Buffett has repeatedly said that and I believe it wholeheartedly. We have a dynamic and growing economy. We have the best economic and political systems in history. We also have an energy, dynamism, and innovative fervor that are unmatched. All of these caution flags are simply signs to adjust. The markets are changing and we have to digest a massive money printing.

We may have finished our latest 9-year super bull market but we’ll have many smaller bulls along the way. U.S. value stocks, international markets, or some other asset could lead the next run. The key is to be prepared with a balanced and truly diverse portfolio, make your paper assets pay you high income, and rebalance your gains into new opportunities.

“Goodness gracious me!' The sky's a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king.” --Henny-penny

This article is for illustrative purposes only. Ron is not recommending any investment security for you but just trying to educate the community. INVESTMENTS CAN AND DO DROP IN VALUE; THEY HAVE NO BANK OR OTHER GUARANTEE. He is licensed and regulated by the great State of Colorado.

Ron Phillips is The Investment INCOME Advisor, a Pueblo, CO native, and an independent business owner. 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

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE CAVE

AHumor - For Crying

Out Loud - Detransitioners(?)

(from the Internet and my friend and fraternity brother, Pete):

1. The biggest joke on mankind is that computers have begun asking humans to prove they aren't robots.

2. When a kid says, "Daddy, I want mommy," that's the kid version of, "I'd like to speak to your supervisor."

3. It's weird being the same age as old people. (My favorite one of these).

4. Just once I want a username and password prompt to say CLOSE ENOUGH.

5. If I am ever on life support unplug me and plug me back in and see if that works.

6. Do you ever wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and think... "That can't be accurate?!"

7. We celebrated last night with a couple of adult beverages...Metamucil and Ensure.

8. You know you are getting old when "friends with benefits" means having someone who can drive at night.

9. Weight loss goal: To be able to clip my toenails and breathe at the same time.

10. Some of my friends exercise every day, meanwhile I am watching a show I don't like because the remote fell on the floor.

11. For those of you that don't want Alexa listening in on your conversation they are making a male version. It doesn't listen to anything.

12. I just got a present labeled, "From Mom and Dad," and you know darn well Dad has no idea what's inside. (Hmmm?)

13. Now that I have lived through a plague, I totally understand why Italian renaissance paintings are full of fat people lying on couches.

14. Now that we have everyone washing their hands correctly... next week... Turn Signals!

For Crying Out Loud:

Why did our "leaders" decide to up our property taxes some 45% in one year? Oh, right, the economy overheated because of said "leaders" and some people were able to cash in and the "leaders" wanted theirs? My understanding is, if these fortunate sellers got theirs and haven't bought a new house that cost more than the house they just sold within a year's time another tax law kicks in and said "leaders" get theirs anyway. I seem to recall that if you were over a certain age, maybe 60-65, you were given as a gift by said "leaders" an exemption from the aforementioned windfall by the luck of the draw. Now that the amazing increase of home prices jumped during the 12-18 months of the inflation caused by our "leaders" at the Fed and other agencies has subsided, our wonderful "leaders" are gouging all of us, (as is everything and everybody else), even though the cost of housing has subsided and even gotten cheaper!

And, to top it all off our "leaders" haven't told us how they will spend this windfall! If they have, I haven't seen anything. Will Pueblo West dirt roads be paved and chip-sealed roads in desperate shape be repaved? Will they build an edifice for Seniors for Pueblo County. Maybe one in Pueblo, Pueblo West, the Mesa AND Colorado City? Will they give us windfalls that will help us recoup our property tax increase which they will tax? Hey, then our "leaders" will be loved, don't you see? These "leaders" and their outrageous usury need to be put upon with phone calls to any and all of them, responsible or not! What was that siren call back in the 1770's? Ah yes, "No Taxation Without Representation" because this bunch sure aren't representing us!!!!! Whatever happened to "The Taxpayers Bill of Rights?" I mean it. This is nonsense!!!!

Which brings me to another controversial topic of sadness and interest. Ever hear of "Detransitioners?" This story in my estimation tugs at the heartstrings of our youth. "Detransitioners" are young adults who made the ultimate sacrifice, no not because of a useless war or even a just one, but these young adults succumbed, for whatever reason, to the siren call of transition. These kids, in their teens no less, were transfixed by the false-allure, for them anyway, of becoming a different sex. It's sort of like the allure of long hair, great music, rebellion and drugs that our country went through in the 1960s and 1970s! They had a cause, it was

Vietnam and distrust of The Man! Our present day kids believed the information they saw on Instagram and many others found on the internet. They fell prey to their own angst, funk, etc. (something that happens to nearly 100% of teenagers-the angst that is). They reached out and found information about transition from one sex to another. They thought that doing the same, would solve their problems. They heard and read information from others that had done this transitioning and became entranced by the words. This would solve all their problems. They just needed to become boys if they were girls or girls if they were boys (which nowadays is in vogue-boys becoming girls that is). By doing this their troubles would all be behind them. Casting blame in this foreboding problem of "detransitioning" would do no good. These kids were hurting emotionally. Their coping skills were disturbingly non-existent and so many of them took the plunge. They "transitioned" which means their organs were cut out, rearranged and consequently pretty much reversed. In many cases their parents weren't informed, some reluctantly okayed the actions, others didn't care. So Johnny became Joanie and for a time all was euphoria. All the people who spoke to their souls never warned them that someday they might wake up from their bliss and realize what they had done to themselves in search of a solution to their teenage ennui. So the euphoria wore off and that becoming a girl or becoming a boy was a mistake. A Giant Mistake!

These "detransitioners" are now in limbo. Reversing the transition and living a normal life as a boy or girl, especially those who want

to become biological parents is now kaput! Isn't it time to have states and the people in them decide to outlaw these barbaric acts of transition until a child is at least 21. Hey 21 is the legal drinking age. The whole problem is that now these "detransitioners" have nowhere to turn. The very people who gave them the advice and succor to take the plunge of becoming the opposite sex no longer want anything to do with them. And the real world, well, is the real world! It's a rotten shame that this generation will be remembered by words like transition among many other equal terms used today. Pray for these young adults. These detransitioners. Parents, open your arms widely and tenderly as if the child came home from war or accident with a severed limb. This is an awful indictment of our society. In many ways I wish I didn't live to see and hear about this brutality. Hey, give your "leaders" a call. Of course, our state would probably condone the status quo, way to go Guv. Our state, of course, welcomes abortion. It really is a crying shame unto the depths we have fallen.

With that said, here's a ray of hope. Contact me at SRbeacon@gmail.com so I can send you an absolutely free pamphlet of how to make it to heaven in Jesus's own words given to a young Polish nun, Maria Faustina Powalska, during the time that Adolph Hitler readied himself to take charge of Germany. You won't believe the bold-faced paragraph in the back of the pamphlet entitled "Our Lord said to St. Faustina." It really is a lifetime game-changer. I am as sincere about this as I am about my two aforementioned subjects. Godspeed to you and yours!

JAMES R. GRASSO

Former Chief Cook & Bottle Washer

Sharmar Village is a local and family-owned Senior Care Community made up of a team of passionate and skilled caregivers in Pueblo, Colorado.

the historic Aberdeen Neighborhood is our beautiful campus providing long-term care, memory care, assisted living, independent living, and rehabilitation services.

Connections Café Menu June 2023

5 Beef Stir Fry brown rice succotash apple, cheese stick & milk

We value your feedback!!

At the end of the month, return your menu to your café specialist and write in a 1-3 rank on the day’s entree.

1=Don’t love it;

2=It’s Good; 3=LOVE it!

12 Chicken Parmesan w/ marinara & pasta, veg blend, pear & milk

19

Honey Curry Chicken coconut rice peas & carrots apple, OJ & milk

26

Chicken Cordon Bleu, sweet potatoes w/dates & nuts, peas and carrots, orange & milk

6 Shrimp Chow Mein w/rice Asian veggies tropical fruit & milk

13 Fish Taco, cilantro rice, pinto beans cilantro lime coleslaw, pineapple tidbits & milk

20

Sweet & Sour Pork w/rice Asian veggies, applesauce high fiber cookie & milk

27

Meatball Sub w/ peppers and onions veggies, pear & milk

7 Chicken Pot Pie w/biscuit lima beans, pear & milk

14

Beef Stroganoff mashed potatoes roasted brussel sprouts, apple & milk

21

Mushroom Ravioli w/ marinara peas & carrots banana & milk

28

Pico Lime Cod lemon herb rice carrots, banana high fiber cookie & milk

1 Chicken Salad croissant orange, high fiber cookie & milk

8

Chicken Fajitas w/peppers & onion, tortillas, Spanish rice, SW black beans, diced pear & milk

15

Chef’s Choice

2 Goulash Green bean almandine apple & milk

9

Swiss Steak mashed potatoes peas, orange & milk

16

Italian Sausage w/ marinara & pasta, veggies banana & milk

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Menu substitutions may occur without notice. Clients are advised to keep a 3-day supply of nonperishable foods and bottled water in their home in the event of inclement weather or other emergencies that may cause a temporary suspension of service.

22

Southwestern Chicken w/rice pinto beans orange, cheese stick & milk

29

Breaded Chicken Sandwich w/ LTO & mayo, carrots, pear cup & milk

23

Tuna Casserole butternut squash pear & milk

30

BBQ chicken maple sweet potato

peas & carrots orange & milk

Menu substitutions may occur without notice. Clients are advised to keep a 3-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water in the event ofinclement weather or other emergencies that may cause a temporary suspension of service.

“For me, it’s not about the money, but the opportunity to improve the quality of life for others.” Tony Baros • Owner + Caretaker

Please remember SRDA in your planned giving. Your legacy lives on, our mission continues at Meals on Wheels.

* In order to prevent waste, we are on a Reservation System.

* Please call the day before or the morning of, before 9:00 A.M, to CANCEL your Meal * IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Numbers in parentheses next to each meal item indicate the number of carbohydrates in grams for that item.

* YOU MUST BE HOME TO RECEIVE YOUR MEAL!!!

Consumers attending the congregate meal sites shall be advised and informed to keep a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water in case of inclement weather or other emergency that causes a temporary suspension of services. If feasible and determined by the Area Agency on Aging in their area plan, emergency meal packages may be provided.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

"If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.”

‘LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY’

don’t know what a woe is, but I don’t think I want any of it.” Looking further into the significance of this word reveals clearly that a woe is definitely bad news for the one on the receiving end. This word should leave anyone who is teaching false doctrine, supporting woke ideologies, or leading little children astray to tremble with fear. Jesus has a word for those people. “Woe unto you!”

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WOE?

Do you ever wondered what Jesus meant when He said woe unto you the scribes and Pharisees? In Matthew 25, He warned them repeatedly, using the word woe eight times. What were they doing that upset the Savior. How severe a punishment is woe? Who are the scribes and Pharisees of today that would receive this harsh admonishment?

In the past, I jokingly remarked, “I

Let’s look at Webster’s definition. Woe: a condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, grief, ruinous trouble, calamity. Woe is also a designation of an assignment to the lake of fire, an eternity in hell, separated from God.

False teachers weave their way into the hearts of children, youth and yes, mature Christ followers in ways so subtle it is frightening. (If you are a discerning Christian, names will immediately pop into your mind.) These attractive temptations come in books, social media, movies, television, children’s cartoons, and tragically in some churches. Two movies I am aware of which promote blatant heresy are shown often in a state prison. These movies, Heaven is for Real and The Shack, are wrapped in beautiful, believable enticing stories that grab heartstrings and suck the viewer into the delusion. I am shocked at some of the people who get angry at me when I mention the heresy in these movies, yet, if they would do their own research, they would find out as I did, the danger, darkness, and truth about

the heresy in these films.

The Bible warns that in the last days, deception would come, false teachers and prophets would bring destructive heresies.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. . .” (2 Peter 2:1-3a).

False teachers gain great riches from unsuspecting and innocent victims as they promise huge returns from “your seed of faith” which you can put on your credit card if you don’t have the cash. God promises these liars that they will have their day in court and stand before Him to answer for their evil deeds.

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 3:2-9).

I mentioned previously that one of my news sources is AndWeKnow.com

This brave patriot is a retired Marine, and he presents regularly, from a Christian perspective, news clips of current local and international events in hour-long videos which begin with Scripture and end with Scripture and a prayer. One of his recent broadcasts, was a clip of a huge crowd worshiping satan. On stage was a woman with a man dressed as satan. They were shouting “Hail satan! Hail satan!” The crowd, wild with applause, repeated the mantra. The woman ripped a Bible to shreds while the audience was delirious with joy, applauding

and then together, they ripped a blue and black American police flag in half.

In schools, children are being taught to disrespect each other, their parents, authority, the American flag, and their country. Drag queens, (men dressed as supposedly sexy women with too much of their anatomy exposed) perform disgusting antics during story hour for little children. The tragic part of this is that these perverts are being applauded by some parents and school administrators. The United States Navy has now adapted the woke agenda. Do the research.

A pastor was reading a book from a middle school library to the school board in one city. It was so terribly vulgar, they refused to let him continue to read. He asked why they would allow such filth in a school library and not allow him to read it to them. It’s no wonder home-schooling has increased dramatically. The only good thing that came of the covid lockdowns is that parents became aware of the things their children were being taught in public schools and started teaching them at home.

Are you shocked what we see happening in our world today. Can you sense the evil and darkness closing in. Isaiah prophesied another woe, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight” (Is. 5:20-21)! Today, good is called evil and evil is called good.

Do you suppose God has sent the promised strong delusion? "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" II Thessalonians 2:11 What a strange verse. For this cause? What cause? We find the answer in verses 9 and 10. “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” Christians must be alert. You will be asked to make choices you may not want to make. Draw a line in the sand and stand firm. The days of straddling the fence are over. God says you must choose.

“But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve.

Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

© 2023 Jan McLaughlin. Jan can be contacted at (719) 649-2937 or (719) 275-6971. And by e-mail at JansMail@Reagan.com Also visit PrayerForPrisoners.org

JAN MCLAUGHLIN

Columnist & founder of an international prison ministry

▶ CROSSWORD ANSWERS ▶ GAMES ON PAGE 14

TOM HANKS GETS GRUMPY

BETTY JO TUCKER Pueblo award winning film critic

delicious homemade Mexican food and makes her whole family treat him like a real friend. Plus, the other diverse actors fit their roles and seem to be so real. This humanistic film helps us under-

THE FIRST TIME I SAW TOM HANKS was way back in days of yore. He was co-starring in a TV show called “Bosom Buddies.” And I thought right then and there, his future was comedy. Then later when Carol Burnett came to San Diego (where I was living then) with her popular Questions and Answers live show, she called on me to share my question So I asked her politely, ”Who do you think is the funniest performer working today?” She didn’t even blink before replying, “Tom Hanks!”

Well, to me that cinched Hanks’ career. And he’s been quite successful in comedy films plus a few dramas including THE GREEN MILE. But in 2022, Hanks took three challenges: one playing puppeteer Geppetto in PINOCCHIO as well as Colonel Tom Parker in ELVIS and Otto in A MAN CALLED OTTO. These three were definitely more dramatic than comical parts.

I already reviewed the first two films, but I didn’t see the third one until recently. A MAN CALLED OTTO turns out to be one of Hanks’ best ever performances. And I can’t understand why it received no recognition at the Oscars®. It’s about an obnoxious man so tired of living he wants to kill himself to be with his dead wife. Directed by Marc Forster and written by Fredrik Backman, Hannes Holm and David Magee, this unusual offering deals with how Otto changes because of caring new neighbors and a cat who won’t leave him alone.

A grumpy role for Tom Hanks now. But he gets from me a big WOW! This actor shows many a way to surprise fans and make us stay.

He plays Otto in this movie. A leading part that’s not easy. Only slowly does he endear his viewers who would like to cheer.6

Helping Hanks here is one stray cat and more actors acting down pat. Comedy hidden in the dark, “A Man Called Otto” leaves a spark.

Supporting cast member Mariana Treviῆo delivers a wonderful performance as a pregnant neighbor who gives Otto

stand how people working together can make their lives more worthwhile – even to the point of saving a life.

"But in the end, one needs more courage to live than to kill himself." ---

Albert Camus

"Suicide is not a blot on anyone’s name--it is a tragedy." ---

Jamison

Kay Redfield

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100 Years Serviceof 100 Years Service

web (until recently) states: A citizen’s charter amendment requires 5% of the ballots cast in the last municipal general election or 10% of the ballots cast for a special election, based on odd and even years.

Petitioners discovered that there was a lot of fuzzy math. In November 2022 there were 78,987 registered voters. 39,614 ballots were cast. 10% of ballots cast is 3,916, not 3,768. Gradisar informed through the media that 7,260 were needed, however 10% of registered voters would be 7,898, not 7,260. However this is also wrong since it’s a percent of registered voters on day of petition submission.

The city has no defense, other than a mistake was made, not malpractice or corruption. Gradisar blames petitioners, for not obtaining an attorney. Seems it’s not the city clerk fault. The petition was approved by Kogosvek and the clerk.

Gradisar originated and was chair of the blue-ribbon committee to promote a strong mayor. The question was on the ballot in 2009 and failed. In 2017 Gradisar asked the council to place the question on the ballot again, since it was so many signatures to gather. It’s hard to believe that only 5 years ago he had forgotten approximately how many that should have been. Especially when petitioners are coming after your job and feeling like you were the man to mayor for close to 2 decades.

After hiring an attorney to present to election court we found that it was $40,000 to $50,000 plus however many days the city forced deliberations during the process, and citizens could risk the city forcing them to pay for the city’s attorney costs. Hiring an attorney prior would have cost over $10,000. The city delayed and delayed, hoping petitioners would give up. Citizens are led to believe that we have a say, and a United States Constitution right to petition.

The lesson learned here is, you cannot fight city hall or petition unless you lawyer up.

Lori Winner is an At Large Representative on the Pueblo City Council

FROM HOME PAGE 1

time, othercompanies she found offered qualified help — but charged an astronomical rate for in-home care.

“You could say we’ve had the worstcase scenario, so we understand what families are going throughwhen it comes to finding care for their loved ones,” Creek said.says Bambi. “I was working 70 hours aweek for my own nursing and administration job., I couldn’t ask my kids to give up their time to help me,but they would still come over at night so I could get a few hours of sleep. Now through A Place AtHome, I want to help families balance their own lives while caring for their loved ones.”

Creek opened A Place At Home-Pueblo as a place for her parents’ legacy to live on. It’s a family-run business, as Creek’s daughter, Caylyn, is the office manager. Caylyn has nearly a decade of experience working in athe hospital setting.

As she starts this business, Creek is working as a full-time hospice nurse while alsoalso working on finishing her doctoral dissertation, which that addresses supportive techniques for caregivers of peoplersons with dementia while also working as a fulltime hospice nurse. CreekBut she says said if she could go back, she’d stay a certified nursing assistant because of the close connection that role allows you to create with your patient.

“The most loving thing you can do for someone is something they can’t do for themselves. I hope to get back to those roots of that through this business. I chose non-medical care because we can assist families longterm. We can guide them through the unimaginable,” she said.says Creek.

A Place At Home-Pueblo serves Pueblo, Avondale, Beuluah, Boone, Cañon CityCanon City, Florence, Penrose, and Wetmore. The Omaha, Nebraska-based franchise has more than 24 locations across the U.S. The

franchise system provides almost 13,000 hours of care a week, which equals about 500 people helped and 650 caregivers employed.

“The Pueblo community is in great hands with Bambi, and we’re thrilled to welcome her into our franchise family,” saidys Jerod Evanich, Co-Founder and President of A Place At Home. “She’s committed to providing compassionate care to seniors and their families in the area. Her personal and nursing experiences will set her apart from other providers in the city and allow her to connect with families going through challenging times.”

For more information about A Place At Home, call 719-561-1111, visit 4023 Club Manor Drive in Pueblo, or go to APlaceAtHome.com/ franchise/pueblo/

Bambi Creek RN, MSN is a graduate level Registered Nurse with 40

years of nursing experience. Office Manager Caylyn Creek came to A Place At Home with her mother, Bambi Creek, with the same ideals and passion for seniors. She has worked in the hospital setting for nine years and developed a loving understanding of how difficult it can be for persons to be hospitalized with limited resources when they return home.

###

About A Place At Home

A Place At Home offers a range of customized senior-focused care services, including in-home care, care coordination, and assistance in identifying and transitioning to senior living alternatives. The company is dedicated to preserving the quality of life for seniors by giving them the support they need to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible. Visit APlaceAHome.com for more information.

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“For me, it’s not about the money, but the opportunity to improve the quality of life for others.”

Baros • Owner + Caretaker

Please call (719) 345-3064 before 9:30 a.m. for reservations. Congregate meals served MondayFridays. All menus subject to change.

Please call (719) 784-6493 before 9:30 a.m. for reservations. Congregate meals served Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. All menus subject to change.

Medicaid: Spotting the scams

During the pandemic, states had to keep people enrolled in Medicaid so they didn’t lose their insurance. Now that the health emergency declaration is over, that requirement has been phased out — which means people eligible for Medicaid have to re-enroll in their state’s program or find new insurance, if they’re not eligible. So, where do the scams come in?

When big changes affect millions of people, scams will follow. That means people who’ve been on Medicaid — including peo ple of modest means, children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with disabili ties — will be targeted by health insurance scams. Here’s what to know:

Medicaid won’t charge you to renew or enroll. You may get a call, text, or email from your state Medicaid agency to renew your enrollment in your state’s program. But the real Medicaid program won’t ask for money or personal information like your credit card or bank account number. Learn more about eligibility for Medicaid in your state at Medicaid.gov (scroll down to find the link to your state’s Medicaid agency).

Visit HealthCare.gov to compare insur ance plans, coverage, and prices. Health Care.gov lets you compare prices on health insurance plans, check your eligibility for healthcare subsidies, and begin enrollment. HealthCare.gov will ask only for your monthly income and your age to give you a price quote. If anyone asks for your bank account or credit card number to give you a quote for health insurance, that’s a scam. Don’t do it.

Scammers try to sell you medical discount plans that are not major medical. Medical discount plans charge a monthly fee for supposed discounts on some medical services or products from a list of providers. They’re not a substitute for health insurance, though some plans do give actual discounts. But others just take your money for very little in return. If you’re considering one, find out if your doctor participates in the plan. Check what coverage it gives for major events. And be sure to get the plan’s details in writing

delete their children’s voice recordings, but according to the FTC, the company didn’t always fulfill parents’ deletion requests, kept children’s sensitive voice data indefinitely, and put people’s data at risk of harm from unnecessary access. The FTC says Amazon also failed to fulfill Alexa users’ requests to delete their voice and geolocation infor-

The proposed order would, among other things, require Amazon to pay $25 million, change its deletion practices, and implement strong privacy safeguards.

This case — like the Ring case — shows that the FTC continues to take action against companies that don’t safeguard people’s personal information, especially when it

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GLEN VOLLMECKE

Author: "Intermission a Place in Time."

Islands of Jersey and Guernsey…

Imagine.

iDotted within several miles from France’s border are many islands resting in the frequently tumulus, and hostile environment of the Atlantic Ocean. Born in St. Peter Port and to my own mother’s dismay she and her younger sister remained, for the duration of her childhood in a local orphanage, as after her mother’s death, and upon his remarriage, apparently her fathers’ previous children were inconvenient. Presently, modern day Jersey the larger island is home to many members of my family. “Thou shalt not suffer a witch.” This extraordinary sentence dramatically defines the stories ahead. A slight deviation from our usual faerie lore, I feel this insight, true and verified with actual dates and substantiated carnage will make you grateful for the present day despite its challenges and rouse your empathy, relating to dates of island witchcraft 1550-

1661. As a matter of fact, 4,500 years B.C., neolithic man ventured to western Europe, and remained there growing crops, rearing animals, and building stone sculptures/monuments, all in respect to his gods and the spirits of the dead. Stone megaliths/ tombs at Carnae southern Britany were carbon dated at about 4,500 B.C.-2,000 years earlier than acknowledged. Suggesting settlers in France and early Channel Islands were really advanced during that period.

Circular stone monuments (Stonehenge comes to mind,) were patterned distinctly, possibly relating to communication or calendar events. Maybe a weird unsophisticated, supernatural telephone service constructed by prehistoric people. A definite change in atmosphere did, and indeed still happens after dawn. Once again, we refer to witches and their craft…According to local knowledge the devil and disciples lived and breathed the air of the Channel Isles. Occultists were known as devious and cunning. By destroying crops, casting spells, none of their neighbours’ children could live normal healthy lives. Also being liars, the witches can even under tortuous situations convincingly abandon their connection with the Devil. It seems that their abilities and opportunities are infinite, and they surely are a force to be dealt with. During these dates, eighty-five islanders (probably ancestors of mine) were unmercifully condemned as witches, and blackened at the legendary stake. Although some aged, immoral and superstitious, none were malevolent or devious. A belief solely created by establishments. Local authorities, who renounced them all to prevent the ‘devil’

taking over, were intent on annihilation of whole communities. In court victims were accused of ‘la crime diabolique ti sortilege,”

have more ancestors here in the U.S., than in my islands! In 1692 while never to be forgotten, the whole era seemed to conclude!

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where one was guilty until proven innocent. Torture to prove guilt was the sole motivation of the wardens/jailers. None of these meagre mortals had an ounce of confidence in the islands’ system of righteousness. Something less to say for the absence of justice in today’s world. Back to Guernsey, and within yards from mum’s house of birth in the future, another wretched individual was tortured while strapped to a strappado. This hefty awkward, hand cranked machine moved spasmodically as healthy limbs were unceremoniously detached from his torso, whilst the jailer manipulated the handle. Pools of blood saturated the stone floor, as many emaciated and frail bodies soon managed a weak emission of guilt. Original confessions and information are still found in local archives, therefore proof that humble, ordinary islanders believed in the existence of witches, who meant to do them harm. Guernsey court records openly illustrate portrayals of those hanging from the gibbets surrounded in flames. During these unbridled periods many Guernsey citizens emigrated to the United States. I probably

During these unbridled years many Guernsey residents migrated to New England a State in America. One man enjoyed prosperity, while owning a fleet of ships. However, he also witnessed 19 friends strapped to a burning stake. Prior to his demise his sickly wife was also near death. Stay tuned as we move onto the Channel Islands historic trials and tribulations related to witches.

Thought for the day; We need to embrace this immediate moment in time, accepting it with all its emotional experiences.

Social Security Benefits Lose 36% Of Buying Power

Research on the buying power of Social Security benefits by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) confirms that inflation is moderating. But a lower inflation rate has not necessarily meant that prices have come down. This year the study found that the oldest adults, especially those (age 85 and older) who retired before 2000, have lost 36 percent of their buying power. These retirees would need an extra $516.70 per month ($6,200 in 2023) to maintain the same level of buying power as in 2000. This study confirms that the prices older consumers are paying simply are not growing as fast as a year ago, but many prices on key items through February 2023 remain stubbornly

high.

The declining rate of inflation points to a significantly lower COLA for next year, after the 8.7% COLA in 2023 — the highest in four decades. “The 2024 COLA could be around 3.1%,” says The Senior Citizens League’s Social Security and Medicare policy analyst, Mary Johnson. The buying power of Social Security benefits can erode when the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) fails to keep pace with rising costs. But in some years, buying power can improve modestly when inflation moderates. One year ago, this study found that Social Security benefits lost 40% of buying power since 2000. That was the deepest loss in buying power since the start of this study in 2010. This year the study found that the loss of buying power slightly improved — by four percentage points — to 36%. However, that is still one of the deepest losses recorded by this study, exceeded only by the loss in 2022.

Nothing beats eggs!

This study compares the growth in the COLA since 2000 with increases in the price of 38 goods and services typically used by retirees over the same period. This year buying power was most

impacted by sharp increases in food items, electricity, rental housing, repair and maintenance costs of motor vehicles, and a 16% increase in the cost of dental care. (Medicare does not cover routine dental services.) Topping our list of fastest-growing items? Eggs. No other spending item on the list grew faster during the survey reference period, which compared the average price change from February 2022 to February 2023. (See Tables 1 & 2).

Without an accurate cost of living adjustment (COLA) that keeps pace with rising costs, beneficiaries lose purchasing power, especially over the course of a retirement that could last 25 to 30 years. This loss is cumulative and grows deeper as retirees age. It can cause significant hardships, including more rapid depletion of savings than expected, growing debt, and worse health outcomes. In short, a significant deterioration in an older household’s standard of living.

Between January 2000 and February 2023, Social Security COLAs increased benefits by 78 percent, averaging 3.4 percent annually. But the cost of goods and services purchased by typical retirees rose by 141.4 percent averaging about 6.2 percent annually over the same period. For every $100 a retired household spent on groceries in 2000, that household can only buy about $64 worth today.

by The Senior Citizens League

Additional information, tables, and complate TSCL study available at SeniorBeacon.info website

A slight deviation from our usual faerie lore, I feel this insight, true and verified with actual dates and substantiated carnage will make you grateful for the present day despite its challenges and rouse your empathy...

“For me, it’s not about the money, but the opportunity to improve the quality of life for others.”

Tony Baros • Owner + Caretaker

SENIOR CLASSIFIEDS

Local help with your Medicare questions

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RESCUING TREASURES OF DARKNESS

Broken Promises - Renewed Hope - New Beginnings

You will find spell binding testimonies of prisoners’ broken lives and behind- bars encounters with the living Christ. Renew your own faith by reading these amazing stories of prisoners’ transformed by the touch of Christ through caring volunteers.

Find out how you can make an eternal difference in the life of an incarcerated man or woman across the country or on other shores.

Jan McLaughlin’s book will touch your heart and motivate you to reach out to the lost and broken men and women. God is inviting you to pray for them. Perhaps He is inviting you to help Rescue Treasures of Darkness!

Proceeds help fund Prayer For Prisoners Int’l, a non- profit ministry based on the power of prayer which was founded in 1987 by Jan. McLaughlin

PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-749-0298

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Checks payable to PFPI or Prayer For Prisoners International

LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY

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LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY

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You will laugh and cry as you walk with Jan through memories that point to an incredible God who orders our steps and uses even the worst situations to His glory and our good. An easy read which also makes a delightful devotional.

You will laugh and cry as you walk with Jan through memories that point to an incredible God who orders our steps and uses even the worst situations to His glory and our good. An easy read which also makes a delightful devotional.

Reviews: A Delightful and Inspirational Read

Reviews: "A Delightful and Inspirational Read"

"The reader will find author Jan McLaughlin’s book an inspirational and thoroughly delightful reading experience. Her wit and love of life permeates the entire 400plus pages. Reading will not be tedious in the least. I think what I most enjoyed was the author’s ability to take ordinary, and sometimes harrowing, experiences and draw a spiritual lesson that the reader can apply in his or her own life.

The reader will find author Jan McLaughlin’s book an inspirational and thoroughly delightful reading experience. Her wit and love of life permeates the entire 400-plus pages. Reading will not be tedious in the least. I think what I most enjoyed was the author’s ability to take ordinary, and sometimes harrowing, experiences and draw a spiritual lesson that the reader can apply in his or her own life.

The chapters are short and keep the reader’s interest

The chapters are short and keep the reader’s interest. The author is humble and not adverse to admitting her own foibles. As a result, this reviewer can relate as one less-than-perfect reader to a less-than-perfect author.

The author is humble and not adverse to admitting her own foibles. As a result, this reviewer can relate as one lessthan-perfect reader to a less- than-perfect author.

A 4-word recommendation: It’s a happy read!" Dr. Raymond White, Pueblo, CO

$10.00 Plus shipping.

719-275-6971 or Jan@prayerforprisoners.org

A 4- word recommendation: It’s a happy read! Dr. Raymond White, Pueblo, CO $10.00 Plus shipping. 719-275-6971 or Jan@prayerforprisoners.org

Or you can order by mail: Checks payable to Jan McLaughlin P.O. Box 855 - Cañon City, CO 81215-0855

Or you can order by mail: Checks payable to Jan McLaughlin P.O. Box 855 - Cañon City, CO 81215- 0855

Fill

Old age, old-fashioned

*Mr. White "Breaking Bad"

*Mr. Stark "Game of Thrones"

THEME:

The Father’s Love

“Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 36:6

Do we know the love of our Heavenly Father? Are we passing it down to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Father’s Day is the

26. Outhouse

27. Propelled like Argo

29. *Mr. Winslow in "Family Matters"

31. Give the cold shoulder

32. Twofold

33. *Mr. Johnson in "Black-ish"

34. Glittery stone

36. Like certain Ranger

38. Seaside bird

42. Old hat

45. Scatterbrained, in U.K.

49. Top seed

51. Nickname for dad (2 words)

54. Speak

perfect time to take a look at our fathers and the opportunity we have to tell them we love them and to also look at how we are passing that love down to future generations.

I would like to tell you a simple story that illustrates His love.

When our son, Steven, was five years old, he came into the kitchen one day and asked my mom if she would teach him how to make biscuits. She smiled and said “sure” as she reached down, picked him up and placed him on the counter so he could get a birds-eye view of what she was doing. As she was mixing the ingredients, he interrupted her and asked, “Granny, how much flour and stuff are you mixing up?” She replied and said, “Oh, a little bit of this and a little bit of that.” And that was the truth! Granny never measured the ingredients, and little Steven did not question his grandmother’s answer.

As I look back on this simple event, I realize what a wonderful picture it is of the love of our Heavenly Father. When we come to Him, as Steven came to granny, the Father picks us up, places us before Him and shows us His love by answering the simplest of questions.

like Cicero

56. ____ Buchanan of "The Great Gatsby"

57. China's Great one

58. Often goes with "willing"

59. Rumpelstiltskin's weaver

60. Upper hand

61. Not top-shelf

62. Popular symbol of extinction

63. *Mr. Pritchett in "Modern Family"

65. *Mr. Conner in "Roseanne"

67. Skin cyst

▶ ANSWERS ON PAGES TWO & SIX

And, when He gives us an answer, we will not question it if we know He loves us. Rest in His love today because He loves you with an unfailing love!

Our son, now 49, still makes biscuits just like granny -- “a little bit of this and a little bit of that.” He will always have happy memories of this event and the love shown to him as a young child.

Let us not miss a single opportunity to

pass on our own love and the love of our Heavenly Father to the next generation and the generations to come.

Happy Father’s Day!!

Kay Owen-Larson is the co-founder and President of Crossroads Ministries and the founder of the Crossroads School of Chaplaincy. Contact her at 719-635-5767

LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE

their mail on time.”

Background:

Congresswoman Boebert is engaged on rural mail delivery issues. Her office has worked with constituents in the Crested Butte area that have complained about an increasing number of missed packages, wait times exceeding an hour at the local post office due to staffing issues, limited hours, no home mail delivery, poor customer service, and increased PO box fees.

ADVOCATING FOR

COLORADO VETERANS AND SENIORS DURING POSTAL HEARING

CONGRESSWOMAN LAUREN BOEBERT (CO-03) STATED, “VETERANS, SENIORS, AND OTHER CITIZENS IN COLORADO’S THIRD DISTRICT HAVE ROUTINELY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE UNACCEPTABLE SERVICE THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.

This is unacceptable, and I have continually advocated to fix rural Colorado’s mail delivery issues on their behalf. While things have improved in recent months, the Biden administration’s decision to eliminate 15,000 rural pharmacies from the Department of Defense Health Agencies

Cigna/Express Scripts reimbursement plan has created a new prescription mail crisis. No veteran or senior should ever have to go weeks without important quality of life prescriptions, and I’ll continue to fight to ensure they receive

Additionally, Congresswoman Boebert’s office has worked with constituents in Colorado City who went without a post office for six weeks due to postal contract issues. During this period, constituents had to drive 30 minutes to Pueblo to get their mail.

Congresswoman Boebert’s office also worked with constituents in La Veta who were frustrated that their post office was intermittently closed for two-and-a-half years due to staffing issues.

Congresswoman Boebert is fighting for veterans and seniors dependent on the postal service for prescription delivery. The postal issues impacting rural Colorado could not come at a worse time. Under the Biden administration, an estimated 15,000 rural pharmacies were forced out of the Department of Defense Health Agencies Cigna/Express Scripts reimbursement plan. This caused veterans across Colorado’s Third District to rely solely on the postal service to receive their prescriptions. Across the District, rural areas like Cortez, Las Animas, Del Norte, Meeker, Rangely, and just about all mountain communities have reported mail delays. Additionally, mail delays have even impacted population centers like Grand Junction and Pueblo. Congresswoman Boebert encouraged the Postmaster General to help get these issues resolved.

Congresswoman Boebert’s full questioning of the Postmaster General during a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is available at https://youtu.be/L6gKsvX6oZ4

REP. BOEBERT SECURES MAJOR WATER COMMITMENTS

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert secured important water commitments from Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO03) stated, “I’m helping lead the charge to ensure Colorado is not shortchanged in any Colorado River proposals and our communities receive the water to which they are entitled. Lower basin states continue to overuse the Colorado River, exacerbating water challenges for Colorado and the rest of the basin in the process. This week’s Resources hearing was extremely productive as we secured water commitments for important projects in Colorado as well as for important data that will help guide future negotiations.”

Background:

Congresswoman Boebert discussed the ongoing Colorado River negotiations with the seven basin states and the Bureau of Reclamation. This week, the Department of the Interior announced that it was temporarily withdrawing the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Colorado River Basin operations, which was published last month, so that it can fully analyze the effects of the lower basin states’ new proposal under the National Environmental Policy Act. Congresswoman Boebert pointed out that the three lower basin states’ commitment this week to conserve 3 million acre-feet of water by 2026 is encouraging, but that we need more analysis to ensure this plan adequately protects Colorado and that the focus must remain on addressing the lower basins’ continued overuse of Colorado River water.

Responding to Rep. Boebert questions, the Commissioner said BOR plans to analyze the lower basin states proposal this summer, will put it out for public comment and then will plan to adopt a final plan for the end of the year. Con-

All views expressed in these pages are that of the author/s and not necessarily endorsed by the Senior Beacon, Beacon News Group, et al. Further, by reading this paper you agree to a Hold Harmless Agreement pertaining to the publisher (Evergrowth Media, LLC), it's principals, and all writers.

gresswoman Boebert also secured a commitment from Commissioner Touton to continue to support the Arkansas Valley Conduit and work with her and local stakeholders to get this important project completed as soon as possible. The Arkansas Valley Conduit was first authorized by Congress in 1962 and will provide an abundant supply of clean water for 50,000 people in Southeastern Colorado. Congresswoman Boebert has consistently advocated for funding for this important project including submitting multiple appropriations requests and has worked extensively with local, state, and federal leaders to move the needle on this project. Additionally, Congresswoman Boebert secured the support from Commissioner Touton to support programs to ensure ESA compliance for more than 2,500 water projects in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

Senior Beacon

Senior Beacon serves Pueblo, El Paso, Fremont and the 12 surrounding counties that make up most of Southeastern Colorado. It is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, educate and entertain the Senior Community of these areas.

Current issues and back issues, dating to 2006, are available for free online at SeniorBeacon.info

Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinions of the writers and not necessarily that of the publisher. Senior Beacon is locally owned and operated. Founded in February of 1982.

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SUBMISSIONS: Senior Beacon welcomes reader contributions in the form of senior groups news, stories, poetry, recipes and happenings. Letters to the Editor must be typed and double spaced, signed with address and phone number submitted. Deadline is the 10th of the month prior to publication. Copyright 2023-Evergrowth Media, LLC

LAUREN BOEBERT U.S. Congresswoman, business owner, mom