SENIOR BEACON SEPTEMBER 2020 by BeaconNewsGroup

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

Vol. 39:8

Established February 1982

464 Consecutive Months!

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

INVEST MORE 56% of Retirees Think We Need to Invest More In Medicare

FIFTY-SIX PERCENT of older adults think we need to invest more in Medicare in order to respond more quickly and effectively to a healthcare crisis like COVID-19, according to a new survey by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). “Boosting funding for Medicare is one of the most important issues for older voters this year,” says Mary Johnson, a Medicare and Social Security policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League. Medicare - age adults 65 and up, and those who are residents of nursing homes are at especially high risk of complications and death from the COVID-19 coronavirus. About 90 percent of the participants of the new survey, which was conducted online during June and July, are Medicare beneficiaries. Survey response indicates support for strengthening program funding versus no change, or prioritizing healthcare delivery through private insurance plans over traditional Medicare. Only 23 percent of survey participants think that priority should be placed on private insurance plans in order to reduce reliance on federal spending and the need to raise taxes, and just 21 percent think the current level of spending is “about right because we could not have anticipated the scope of the coronavirus pandemic.” Medicare has been subject to automatic 2 percent spending cuts since 2014, enacted as a provision of the Budget Control Act of 2011. Providers continue to bill Medicare in the normal way, but they are only paid 98 cents on the dollar. According to a FAQ from the House Committee on the Budget, the Medicare spending cut for the government’s fiscal year 2021 which starts October 1, 2020, will reduce spending by $16.2 billion. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) of 2020, however, temporarily suspended the automatic Medicare cuts from taking effect between May 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. “But the legislation extended

cuts for an additional year beyond the current expiration date,” Johnson notes. “That will mean that Medicare and Medicaid will continue to be subject to automatic cuts until 2030, 10 more years.” The Senior Citizens League believes that the on-going Medicare cuts have weakened our ability to respond to national emergencies like COVID-19. It has exacerbated a national healthcare worker shortage — including doctors and nurses, as well as the capacity of the nation’s hospitals to deal with the sudden large influx of patients generated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many hospitals, doctors’ offices, and nursing homes have required additional federal and state assistance as well as donations from the public, to acquire personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns, and gloves. The Senior Citizens League supports legislation that would help lower both taxpayer and Medicare beneficiary costs, including a House and Senate bill that would prohibit surprise medical bills, allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs, and cap outof-pocket spending on prescription drugs for beneficiaries. To learn more, visit www.SeniorsLeague.org. ### With 1.2 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation’s largest nonpartisan seniors’ groups. Its mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. Citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for. The Senior Citizens League is a proud affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association. Visit www. SeniorsLeague.org for more information.

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Page 2 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE RACES

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

A LETTER TO A FRIEND:

I owned a newspaper for 36 years and am still affiliated with it so I keep up with some of the pop culture drivel. The Left and its media never changes. "Scare them to death." "Keep everyone on edge. " "Rarely any stories about the kindness of the American people." "Always, always blame the Conservatives for all that ails the world." The Left treats us as if we are all useful idiots. Michael, I took the side of the Conservatives and left the Democrat Party because they no longer were, well the Democrat party. JFK wouldn't stand a chance in 2020 as a Democrat anyway! I came to this realization in 1982..... I read some 600 articles a month from both the Left and Right for most of that 36 years so as to write a column in my newspaper for the senior community of Southern Colorado and decided that I wanted to write about what the values of each were. I watched Ronald Reagan turn the country around. I watched as he and Pope John Paul 2 along with Margaret Thatcher blew out the tires of Russian Communism. In other words, the followers of Karl Marx........ it's what Marxism (socialism) became with its wonderful Stalin. I'm currently reading A Pope and a President by Paul Kengor and it's amazing. You should read it.

Basic Talk Talk & & Text Basic Text • • • • •

Do you remember a philosopher named Hegel (contemporary of Marx I think)? He came up with something called the Hegelian Theory espousing that Capitalism will slowly turn into socialism which will quickly switch to communism which will slowly turn to capitalism and that will continue forever as long as capitalism survives in some form somewhere around the world. Watch history from the 1920's when socialism began to take root in the U.S. and chipped away constantly until we are on the brink of it! The only thing stopping all the politicians on the Left (how can you trust anyone who always has his/her hands out and says they are "gonna fight for you") is the Buffoon himself, The Donald. The only one who is NOT a politician. Good grief, even the Republican politicians dislike him. He just asks, "Is it good for my country?" and moves on. No bowing for him I like that. When I moved to Colorado in 1976 I took one look at Pikes Peak and Colorado Springs and thought I died and went to heaven. It was a staunch Republican state and Colorado Springs was its base. I worked for Senator Bill Armstrong (whose family owned the newspaper where I Iabored) and I got an inside peek at how politics worked. Why do you think the Left, tried to impeach Trump with that Russian baloney for over 3 years with no proof of any wrongdoing?). They waited 100 years to have the controls of "their" type of socialism and thought they had it with Hillary. The fix was in, but they couldn't even pull that off. Not like they did in 1959 Chicago when they waited all night to "count" their votes to see how many they needed to win Illinois so JFK could take the state because without Illinois Nixon would have won. Nixon was smart enough to not challenge the outcome because he knew he'd get another chance and did not want to blow up the country like Algore did with GWB. Anyway, you are absolutely right that Trump is outspoken to the "Nth Degree" but what he really is, is a New Yorker (meaning NYC) and his manner is outspoken because that's the way it is there even now. That's why they call NYC just, "The City," as if no other city could compare or

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FINANCE

Market Parties Like It's 1999 "So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999" --lyrics from the Prince song

It’s not unwelcome to have a strong market, right? Or to make money on a stock, like Tesla, or a sector, like technology. But there comes a time when the party’s going to slow down. For a prudent investor, it was an excruciating wait during the 1990s bubble. This go-around should be shorter in comparison. TODAY’S BIG NEWS: TESLA SPLITS STOCK 5-TO-1 That news was on top of the Google search charts, scoring over 1 million searches. It was higher than sports and sports stars, Miley Cyrus and models. Pretty big headline. Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, is a true genius. He’s a big thinker, a visionary and a doer. He’s created a viable auto company after decades of just a few domestic manufacturers. Besides Tesla’s brilliant electric car, which can be updated and improved remotely like a computer, they’re producing innovative by-products. Things like batteries for solar storage to eliminate the electric grid. And roof shingles that are solar panels.

TESLA STOCK IS OUT OF CONTROL Just today, on the news of the split, the stock is up over twelve percent. It’s up over 400% so far this year. The company is worth nearly fifty times it’s revenue. It would take 1,290 years, at last years earnings rate, to gain back the value of one of today’s shares from net earnings. The price is 42 times more than the net book value of each share. It’s worth half a trillion dollars total. Yep, a bit of a skewed price. A BROADER PROBLEM Lest you think I’m picking on poor ol’ Elon, his successful company is just an indicator for the broader tech sector. It’s become overvalued, too. As an example, tech hardware has outperformed the S&P by 100 percent this year!

RONALD S. PHILLIPS

Pueblo native and an independent financial advior

Lest you think I’m picking on poor ol’ Elon, his successful company is just an indicator for the broader tech sector. It’s become overvalued, too. As an example, tech hardware has outperformed the S&P by 100 percent this year!

The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (symbol: VGT) has gone up every single year since it started in 2010, as well. Although it’s been mild compared to the gogo ‘90s it has been relentless. It reminds me of gold’s 12-year streak. “All good things come to an end.” Can the sector go up more, though? Definitely. I would just sell my gains and make sure you’re truly diverse and don’t repeat old lessons learned. Lessons like too much money invested in just a few areas. AN EVEN BROADER PROBLEM This is actually just an indicator of the overall market being too high. It really is too high. Based on earnings we’re a few years too early for these prices. They deserve to be lower. Again, we all want to make money in the markets but we have to take our profits and also be

ready for the downside. THE GREATER FOOL THEORY Dr. Vicki Bogan of Cornell university describes this idea: “The Greater Fool Theory is the idea that, during a market bubble, one can make money by buying overvalued assets and selling them for a proﬁt later, because it will always be possible to ﬁnd someone who is willing to pay a higher price.” So now the question is, who’s going to buy those Tesla and tech shares when we do want to exit? Written on 08-31-2020 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

Page 4 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

Sept. 1: Pesto cod, oven roasted potato medley, broccoli, tropical fruit salad, ww roll, milk Sept. 2: Chicken teriyaki brown rice, peas, Asian cabbage slaw, apple, milk Sept. 3: BBQ Turkey, sweet potato fries, green beans, tossed salad w dressing, orange, milk Sept. 4: Beef burrito/green enchilada sauce, sw black beans, Spanish rice, mandarin oranges, raisin nut cup, milk Sept. 5: Sloppy Joe, carrots, coleslaw, pineapple, sugar cookie, milk Sept. 6: Chicken chow mein, brown rice, Asian vegetables, pear, chocolate chip cookie Sept. 7: Labor Day (Holiday) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cheese ravioli w marinara, Bahama vegetables, tossed salad, peaches, raisin nut cup, milk Sept. 8: Hamburger w lettuce, tomato and onion, carrots, coleslaw, diced pear, milk Sept. 9: Pork chow mein, brown rice, winter blend vegetables, ww roll, pear, milk Sept. 10: Honey curry chicken, wild and brown rice, peas and carrots, broccoli slaw, apple, spice cake, milk Sept. 11: Salmon w lemon and dill, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, banana, ww choc. Chip M&M cookie, milk Sept. 12: BBQ turkey, sweet potato fries, green beans, tossed salad w dressing, orange, milk Sept. 13: Bee burrito/green enchilada sauce, sw black beans, Spanish rice, mandarin oranges, raisin nut cup, milk Sept. 14: Chicken cordon bleu, roasted sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, ww roll, mandarin orange, milk Sept. 15: Riblettes, baked beans, potato salad, applesauce, milk Sept. 16: Baked citrus tilapia, lemon herb rice, peas and carrots, strawberries, roll, milk Sept. 17: Baked ziti w sausage and marinara, Bahama veg-

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etables, Caesar salad, orange, raisin nut cup, milk Sept. 18: Beef tacos w lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream and salsa, spiced pinto beans, applesauce, milk Sept. 19: Honey curry chicken, wild and brown rice, peas and carrots, broccoli slaw, apple, spice cake, milk Sept. 20: Pork chow mein, brown rice, winter blend vegetables, ww roll, pear, milk Sept. 21: Chicken fajitas w pepper, onion, cheese, sour cream, salsa, tortillas, Spanish rice, sw black beans, peaches, milk Sept. 22: Lemon pepper cod, brown rice pilaf, peas, 3 bean salad, mandarin orange, milk Sept. 23: Beef bourguignonne, mashed potatoes, broccoli, roll, strawberries, milk Sept. 24: Meatball sub, vegetable soup, cauliflower, orange, milk Sept. 25: Chicken al a king, jasmine rice, green beans, carrots raisin salad, apple, milk Sept. 26: Chicken cordon bleu, roasted sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, ww roll, mandarin orange, milk Sept. 27: Baked ziti with sausage and marinara, Bahama vegetables, Caesar salad, orange, raisin nut cup, milk Sept. 28: Breaded chicken sandwich w lettuce and tomato, California blend vegetables, vinaigrette, pear, milk Sept. 29: Mahi Maji w mango chutney, mixed vegetables, ww roll, orange, milk Sept. 30: BBQ chicken, baked potato soup, peas and carrots, 3 bean salad, apple, milk

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

Recreation Department is currently CLOSED due to Covid - 19. All information provided depends on when SRDA reopens, which includes Matter of Balance. Also, all outside activity start up, like AARP -Taxes and Driver Safety classes will be determined by their national office.

Senior's Shopping Time Scheduled

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article is rerunning because of the COVID-19 relief efforts.

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

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Everybody has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Pueblo Sam’s Club Thursdays, 7 – 9 AM Save-A-Lot 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

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being physically close to other people. ■ 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.

Page 6 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

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‘LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY’

JAN MCLAUGHLIN

Director of Prayer for Prisoners International

PART 1: PROBLEMS IN PARADISE by TIMOTHY VAGUS GUEST COLUMNIST

f all the animals the Eternal God made, the serpent was the most cunning. And he asked the wom-

an, “Can it be? Did God actually say, ‘You two must not eat from any of the garden trees’?” (Genesis 3:1) Human history starts in Genesis. Imagine you are there, watching it unfold. How has it shaped you and your own story? Adam and Eve live in what we call “paradise,” a place not unlike our dreams today, whether a tropical island, a chateau in the Alps, or a cottage in the woods. Fairy tales remain in our search for the best: health, finances, family, friends, society, education, home, car, food and drink, vacations, technology, entertainment, sports, clothing, government, ecology, or whatever. We long to live “happily ever after.” But reality is so brutal! Our past mocks us, the present snarls, and the future is gray. Why can’t we stop longing for a perfect life? Our saga says we were made for it. Of all the animals the Eternal God made … Made?! Modern “science” teaches us to believe that we arose by accident. Beware. That means we’re just big rats. It strips life of meaning. And it throws right and wrong in a dump. But if God made us, we have value, life has meaning, some things are good and others are bad. Either way we believe, whether in an incredible accident, or in an incredible God. Believing in an incredible accident requires more faith than believing in a brilliant God. Imagine a huge

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junkyard. Though clearly a big mess, all the necessary stuff is right there. But it needs energy. Let’s pretend to bomb it now and then, here and there. Can we believe that given enough time and luck order will result, if only in a corner? Not even the small mess of a teenager’s room brings itself to order. Parents have to challenge their kids to pick it up. But maybe our junkyard just needs more time. We add sun, wind, rain, and temperature changes. And then still more. Beyond mess and decay, will anything come of it? I’m having deep trouble believing. Opening our teenager’s windows to a storm makes things worse. Noting the complexity of life and all that surrounds us, believing in chance requires an awful lot of faith. But even if persuaded by the modern creation story, I refuse to give it a hug. Like most people, I want to be more than accidentally arranged junk. And so, we face a fork in the road. Either direction involves faith. None of us witnessed the beginning. We must adopt a faith, whether God-centered or pure chance. We are all “believers” and should pick our “faith” carefully. Enough about origins. Our saga moves on in its first phrase. The adjective “Eternal,” used to describe the term “God,” implies the existence of yet another realm. Material objects are defined by movement (think ever-whizzing electrons) and thus by time. If something non-material existed first, it would be outside of time. Science investigates the physical, but it doesn’t do well with the metaphysical, with meaning, spirit, or soul. Every material item has a beginning, but what about an immense, contemplative, eternal Soul? Moving on, the story gives us reason to reject any idea of a good, eternal being. For into paradise enters the serpent, and with it our lifelong outrage against evil. … the serpent was the most cunning. And he asked the woman … The Hebrew word translated “cunning” is very similar to the Hebrew word meaning “naked.” The selection of terms is intentional. The couple has nothing to hide, so they feel no shame. The serpent has much to hide.

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 7

ANCIENT FAERIE LORE: MUSIC OF THE FAERIES

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

Within the Celtic language it's known universally as Ceol-Sidhe. Powerfully poignant it is irresistible to all, both animals and humans alike. No one can evade it's calling, and once heard this music enchants and captivates the listener everlastingly for all time. Faery mounds of soil on earth are frequently the source of these strains of melodies. The locations are known only to believers of this ancient lore. One such site is in the Isle of Skye called 'Sthean Beinne Bhoidhich.' Also known as 'Faerie Home on the Bonnie Hill.' These tunes are also alleged to emanate from a burial memorial near Glen Elg in Scotland. An illustrious family of pipers is known to be buried there. Folklore believed that by keeping your ear to the ground these soulful and venerable tunes will keep you mesmerized forever…never to be forgotten. Keeping in context with faerie harmonies, we explore their reasoning behind these tunes. Unaccompanied while by lakes young women, especially those singing or humming their tunes, will be abducted

and then spellbound by those in faerie palaces in the underworld. She'll be seen no more. Legend has it that when the moonlight glistens across the waters, as the silver waves break in ripples to the shore, you'll hear their voices echo as they chant… singing soulfully low and plaintively, to their hosts…the faeries. Mortals who are not subsequently drawn physically into the underground will nevertheless remain transfixed by the experience throughout their life time on earth. Those completely obsessed are known to have recklessly committed suicide while contemplating the resonances' haunting effects. The experience giving them no peace, and eventually preventing sleep.

Even today, as typical in country pubs in Ireland and Scotland it's not unusual for locals to break into faerie songs and rhymes to 'hopefully' convince their audience of the 'other world.' Those who were subject to and remain infatuated from the faery experience forfeit their recollections, of love and hate, and never more hear anything else. When this spell is broken they're known to perish of a broken heart. Late at night, it's whispered that King Finvarra and his Queen dance along with their subjects in the silvery moonlight, on their grassy mounds near their 'hill.' The spell is cast as once having experienced these events, those of us who accept their often manifestation on this earth, will relentlessly wish to remain in the domain of the faeries.

Page 8 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

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NEWS OF THE WEIRD

SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL Good Timing The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in Alleghany County, North Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 8:07 a.m., about the same time parishioners at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, 100 miles to the south, gathered at Mass and heard this among the morning's Bible readings: "After the wind there was an earthquake -- but the Lord was not in the earthquake." Father Richard Sutter, pastor at St. Gabriel, later told The Charlotte Observer he didn't feel the rumble himself, but several worshippers approached him after the outdoor service to share the "God-incidence." Father Cory Catron, closer to the epicenter near Sparta, also felt the quake and said it made for "good homily material." As his services ended later that morning, an aftershock rattled his church. [Charlotte Observer, 8/10/2020]

As wildfires tore through parts of California on Aug. 19, Chad Little of Vacaville and his family prepared to evacuate, but Little changed his mind and decided to stay, he told KCRA. The family is in the process of rebuilding the home they lost five years ago in an attic fire, and "I can't let it go," he said. Little had hoses ready, but when the electricity went out, the water was cut off, so he grabbed a rake to clear away dry grass. As his cars and then his shop began to catch fire, he reached for the only liquid he had -- cans of Bud Light, shaking and spraying them at the fire, dousing the flames just before firefighters arrived. "My buddies all tease me about drinking water-beer," he said. "I say, 'Hey, it saved my shop.'" He also managed to save his home. [KCRA, 8/21/2020]

Rude Sonja Lee has been struggling to make rent on her Houston apartment since losing her job in The Mother of Invention March, and has talked with Before You Hire An Agent, Ask These Questions her landlord • How many older adults have you helped sell their homes? about pay• Do you have experience working with any local move ment arrangemanagers or moving companies? ments, but on • What will you do to market the home? Aug. 17, she I have the answers to these questions! received an “Let’s write the next chapter of your eviction notice life story together. Call me today for a in the form free market analysis of your home.” of a piece of Marlene Berrier, Realtor paper taped to 2017 Realtor of Year! #1 in 2017, 2018, 2019 her door that RE/Max of Pueblo West, Inc read, "Guess marleneberrier@remax.net who's moving? Marlene Berrier www.marleneberrier.com You!!!" accomhttp//www.homesforsaleinpueblo.com 3-21 719-547-8135

panied by a smiley face emoji and a demand to turn in her keys by 6 o'clock that night. "So y'all think it's funny," Lee told ABC 13 News. "There was nothing funny about that." The apartment complex owner said the manager has been disciplined and has apologized. [ABC 13 News, 8/20/2020] Questionable Judgment Balladeer James Blunt recently revealed that early in his college years at the University of Bristol, he adopted a completely carnivorous diet in order to prove his manliness, according to Men's Health. "I just lived on mince, some chicken, maybe with some mayonnaise, and it took me about six to eight weeks to get very, very unhealthy and see a doctor, who said, 'I think you've got the symptoms of scurvy,'" he confessed in a podcast. In response, Blunt tried to reverse the vitamin C deficiency that causes scurvy by drinking a liter of orange juice every night, which caused him to develop acid reflux. "So as you can see, yeah, food is not necessarily my forte." [Men's Health, 8/20/2020] Government in Action Kelly Eroglu in Cwmbran, Wales, was disappointed when her petition to open a coffee shop catering to bicyclists, and including parking spaces for bikes, was turned down by the local planning board because it lacked sufficient parking for cars. "It's crazy," Eroglu told The Guardian in mid-August, "because the Welsh government have pri-

oritized (about $450 million) to improve walking and cycling within Wales." Eroglu is planning to appeal. "No way am I giving up," she said. [The Guardian, 8/20/2020] News You Can Use Police in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, say a homeowner ignored a warning from his pet parrot on Aug. 17 because the bird "isn't always a reliable source of information," CTV reported. As a thief entered the home through an unlocked door, authorities said, the parrot issued a friendly "hello," which didn't alert the homeowner or deter the man from taking a credit card from a wallet. A neighbor photographed the suspect leaving the scene and security cameras later caught a 33-year-old man using the stolen card at a store, said police, who arrested him. [CTV, 8/20/2020] Least Competent Criminals -- Herbert McClellan, 27, took advantage of a distracted clerk at a Speedway gas station in Clearwater, Florida, on Aug. 18 to snatch about $100 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets, according to police, who were alerted by store employees a few hours later when McClellan returned to the store to claim the $30 prize offered by one of the tickets. Fox13 reported McClellan was charged with petit theft and dealing in stolen property. [Fox13, 8/21/2020] ■ Police in Hollywood, Florida, had little trouble tracking down

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 9

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL a trio of thieves who broke into nearly 30 homes, stealing more than $150,000 in cash, weapons, mobile phones, electronics, jewelry, a vehicle and more, because all three were "already on pretrial release for previous crimes and ... wearing court-ordered GPS ankle bracelet monitors," Officer Christian Lata said. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Zion Odain Denvor Hall, 21; Tyrek Davontae Williams, 19; and Tremaine Raekwon Hill, 18, were arrested on Aug. 14 and charged with charged with burglary, grand theft and racketeering. Police believe they're part of a larger organization committing criminal acts throughout South Florida. Additional charges are to come. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 8/18/2020]

Awesome Competition is stiff this year for the New Zealander of the year award, The Guardian reported on Aug. 19, but one candidate has garnered surprising attention: a Turkish Angora cat named Mittens who roams Wellington and has already received the key to the city. "In this extraordinary year, we know that everyone has a hero," said Miriama Kamo, the patron of the award, and for many it's Mittens, who has 50,000 followers on Facebook. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, the country's director-general of health, are also in the running. [The Guardian, 8/19/2020] Yikes! Workers at the James H. Cole

SRDA MONTHLY MENU ABOUT THE MENU ● Nutrition Services (Congregate) Eligibility Policy: Individuals are eligible to participate in the congregate meals service in one of the categories listed in this below: Persons 60 years of age or older and their self-declared spouses of any age; Disabled persons under 60 years of age who reside with persons over 60 years of age, when the care and maintenance of the disabled person otherwise prevents the older adult from participating in the program and when the participation of such individuals does not prevent the participation of older adults and their spouses. The disabled person must accompany the eligible older consumer to the site; Disabled persons under 60 years of age who reside in housing facilities occupied primarily by older adults and at which congregate nutrition services are provided when such participation does not prevent the participation of older adults and their spouse Persons under 60 years of age who provide meal related volunteer services and individuals providing volunteer services at congregate meal sites during meal hours when the participation of such individuals does not prevent the participation of older

funeral home in Detroit got a start when a body they were about to begin embalming came to life, the Associated Press reported. On Aug. 23, fire department paramedics in suburban Southfield were called to a home where they found 20-yearold Timesha Beauchamp unresponsive. After trying to resuscitate her for a half-hour, they consulted an ER doctor, who "pronounced the patient deceased based upon medical information provided" from the scene, according to the fire department. She was transported to the funeral home where, more than an hour later, she opened her eyes, and staff summoned emergency crews to take her to a hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. [Associated Press, 8/25/2020]

NOTE: Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), meal sites are closed. Meals-on-Wheels is still open

adults and their spouses; and Staff members of the nutrition program who are 60 years of age or older when such participation does not pre-

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

Individuals are eligible to participate in the Home Delivered meals service in one of the categories listed in this below:

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Inexplicable Kirk Mathes of Barre, New York, returned to his farm from out of town to find a large safe on his property with a note attached saying whoever opened the safe could have the contents. Mathes told WHAM the safe has attracted so much attention that local deputies had to shoo away a large crowd trying to break it open with sledgehammers on Aug. 13. For now, he has moved the safe to one of his barns (he estimates it weighs 500 to 600 pounds), but he has no interest in seeing what's inside. "If you open it, the show is over. In these times ... it might get people a chance to ... have a lot of fun talking about it," Mathes said. "My personal feeling is, leave it as a mystery." [WHAM, 8/19/2020]

Persons age 60 years or older who are homebound or who are geographically isolated; Disabled persons under age 60 years who reside with eligible consumers; and

Spouses of home delivered meals consumers if, according to Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) criteria, receipt of the meals are in the best interest of the consumers. More Information For more information, please contact us at 719-543-0100. CONGREGATE LUNCH SITES Avondale Community Center 719-947-4180 409 2nd Lane Avondale, CO Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Beulah Center 719-485-3100 5903 Penn Avenue Beulah, CO Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Colorado City Community Center 719-676-3059 5445 Cuerno Verde Colorado City, CO Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. JH Edwards Senior Center (SRDA) 230 N Union Avenue Pueblo, CO Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fulton Heights Center 1331 Santa Rosa Pueblo, CO

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Page 10 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

ANN COULTER

Columnist, author and lawyer

ARE THE MEDIA TRYING TO THROW THE ELECTION TO TRUMP? EVERY DAY IS a reenactment of my book, “Resistance Is Futile.” Trump does something stupid (or many things) and the media say, We can top that! Trump fumbles the ball, followed by the media throwing an interception, then Trump commits a personal foul, but the media blows the field goal, then Trump throws the ball out of bounds. Does anyone want to win this election? As the country burns, Trump (the president) sits in his bed sending out gratuitously badass tweets … followed by utter spinelessness. He talks like he’s

Yosemite Sam, then does nothing. This is the worst of everything. How about saying sweet nothings – then stunning them with force! Trump claims he’s the antidote to the mass riots in cities across the country, but what powers will he have after being reelected that he doesn’t have right now, while he’s already president? Our only alternative is the party that “embraces Black Lives Matter,” as The Washington Post admitted, calling Democrats’ cuddling up to BLM a “remarkable development in American politics, as a major party sought to associate itself fully with an emerging protest movement.” So your choice is: a president who denounces riots, looting and violence in the streets, but does nothing, or a president who actively supports the people doing the riots, looting and violence in the streets. And what can the media say? They denied the riots were even happening, then blamed “white supremacists” for the violence they said didn’t exist. (Is it the Boogaloo Boys or QAnon?) Now the media are calling the riots “peaceful protests” again, so I guess they know it’s their side doing the arson and destruction. Democrats could wallop Trump if the media would just stop lying constantly.

FIVE Trumps spoke at the Republican Convention. You got anything to say about that, media? No, they’re too busy claiming “ethics” violations because Trump’s secretary of state spoke at the convention. That may have violated a norm! A norm, I tell you! And the media’s No. 1 standby for any occasion is to repeat the lie that Trump called neo-Nazis “fine people.” That one, they won’t give up. The neo-Nazi lie is even crazier than the one about Trump, an incompetent buffoon, orchestrating a vast international conspiracy with Russian intelligence to steal the 2016 presidential election. The Russian collusion story was merely preposterous. The neo-Nazi lie is on tape. But that lie is the centerpiece of Biden’s campaign. When he announced his candidacy, Biden said he was propelled into the race when he saw Trump call neo-Nazis “fine people.” Why not because Trump didn’t end the carried interest loophole giving billionaire hedge fund managers a minuscule tax rate? Or because Trump never produced an infrastructure bill? Or because he’s put his incompetent son-in-law in charge of everything?

Regular people had to post the true Trump quote, including this part: “… and I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally. But you had many people in that group other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists …” Can Joe withdraw now? No, he doubled-down, repeating the lie in his taped convention speech. Then regular people produced the quote all over again. The media regularly invoke the neo-Nazi lie in some sort of weird sacramental ritual. And regular people have to keep posting the truth over and over and over again. If Trump could be locked in the basement like Biden, he’d probably be reelected just to spite the media. There are plenty of things for the media to dunk Trump on, by which I mean things he’s actually done as opposed to things the media wish he’d done. But no, they have to tell huge stinking lies about him. Even a guilty person can be framed, and that’s what’s happening to Trump. The media hysterically denounce Trump for opposing vote-by-mail, smugly announcing that vote-bymail is exactly the same as absentee voting, as Chuck Todd emphatically stated on MSNBC this week. Look up the absentee voting requirements in your state right now and see if it’s the same as having ballots dumped on your doorstep because you — or someone who once lived there — ever registered to vote. In New York state, for example, to receive an absentee ballot, you have to fill out an official form stating: Name and date of birth of the voter The address where you are registered An address where the ballot is to be sent The reason for the request, and The signature of the voter By contrast, with vote-by-mail schemes, ballots are automatically mailed to every eligible voter without any request at all. Ballots will be piled up outside apartment buildings, college dormitories and homeless shelters. Usually, it’s conservatives who instinctively lunge for the worst possible argument — nah, leave those AK-47s behind, I’ve got the water balloons! — but with Trump, liberals can’t help themselves. They’d be better off being fairer to him, but their hatred makes that impossible. The media are forcing people to say, “I don’t like the guy, but if it will upset The New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker and MSNBC, I have to vote for Trump.”

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 11

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◀ FROM CAVE, PAGE 2 even exist. All that said, don't let this stuff affect your health. Don't get sick over these politicians. I've voted Republican since Jimmy Carter, the second time, and Pueblo County as a whole votes for the Democrats, but I wrote the way I felt. I didn't sway the County to change their affiliation but I keep pushing the rock up the hill. The area of the county in which I reside leans toward the Conservative view but I take no credit for that. It's a growing area not burdened with the usual tinkering of the Left. If you look around our nation in most, if not all, of the Big Cities that have been run by the Left for decades, you'll see it's not a pretty sight. Those big Leftist cities are deteriorating so it will only be a matter of time before the entire country begins to crumble just like it did during the Obama years. If Texas flips in this election the Left's quest will be complete. Their 100 year struggle will have reached its end. and the world will be theirs to dominate (America anyway). Their form of socialism will prevail even though it never has anywhere else in the world. Ever! But, with them at the levers of power, they "know" socialism will prevail and America will be utopia under their control. But Utopia is God's realm! Even if another Republican other than Trump wins down the road the train is going downhill and he or she won't be able to do anything about it anyway. I watched Colorado turn Democrat over the years and as soon as Texas flips, which may be this year, future elections will be nonstarters because the Left will have it all sewn up. Just like in Colorado. Remember,

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a government that says it can give you everything is a government who can take everything away. Simple math I'm far afield here Michael. Your politics are your business. I just felt bad when you told me that politics, the pandemic and the country's condition were stressing you out and not helping your health concerns. Phooey on all that! Live your life. Know that the media will constantly try to scare you to death and the Left will always tell you how bad things are

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even though they control most of it, or will. It's been that way from Viet Nam Cronkite to the present. I've become numb to all this. Our Catholic upbringing has brought me to one realization. "Many are called but few are chosen!" I want to be chosen. So, I'm watching a lot of EWTN on satellite nowadays. Saying the rosary daily, attending Mass 3-4 times a week through EWTN and helping my fellow man any way I can. It's the last hurdle we have Michael. Live with

a body once robust, and watch it deteriorate. As we all know, our last hurdle is to perish. All these other things mean nothing. I think the longer we live, the Lord is trying to tell us He wants us with Him so I'm trying to make amends and stay in His grace because if we think the tests we have been given in life are hell, man, I don't want any part of the real hell!!! Oh, and I could never vote for someone who is for abortion..... just couldn't. I love you man and hope you will be happier and more stress free. I've found listening and watching the media and the Left and Right is a waste of what time I have left. I am grateful for all my particular maladies because they are a chance to give it up to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the reparation of sin (mine mostly). I don't understand it but if He wants our daily prayers, works, joys and sufferings, He's got mine!!!! I've been absolutely blessed! I refuse to waste my time being frightened by the Left. I've got so many better things to do than be their pawns. Godspeed to all!

Page 12 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 13

FOR A HEALTHIER YOU Does Your Loved One Need A Nursing Home IF YOU ARE caring for a frail or

disabled older relative, you may reach a point where you wonder if their needs would be better met in a care facility. Before you consider this route, be sure you have explored what's available in terms LISA M. PETSCHE Medical social worker of community and freelance writer support services. To this end, contact the local Agency on Aging office. Another good resource is the local chapter of the group that's specific to your loved one's diagnosis, such as the Alzheimer's Association. Even if community resources are in place, however, the time may come when they are no longer enough. Read on for the most common reasons for admission to a nursing home. Care issues Need for assistance with activities of daily living—dressing, grooming

and bathing, for example--because of physical limitations or mental impairment. Incontinence of bladder and bowel. Need for assistance with mobility. If the caregiver is already providing assistance, the turning point may be the need for assistance from two people. Need for skilled nursing beyond what community home care services can provide. Need for close medical monitoring and frequent intervention due to fluctuating medical status. Health problems associated with poor nutrition—weight loss, dehydration or slow healing of wounds, for instance. Safety concerns, such as frequent falls or accidents with appliances or cigarettes. Behavioral concerns: wandering away from home and getting lost; suspiciousness; refusal of care or medications; verbal or physical aggression. Repeated emergency room visits. Caregiver issues Chronic sleep deprivation owing to regular provision of care during the night. Physical health concerns: chronic

exhaustion; stress-related conditions such as frequent infections; chronic health conditions—such as arthritis--that limit the ability to provide hands-on care; injury sustained during care. Mental health concerns, such as ongoing anxiety, sadness, resentment or hopelessness, exacerbated by social isolation. Inability to meet co-existing obligations, such as to other family members or an employer. A major life crisis such as marital separation, illness of another loved one, or a death in the family. Other issues Inability to afford the cost of needed in-home help, medical supplies and equipment, or home renovations. Family conflict regarding caregiving responsibilities. A personal decision It's important to keep in mind that the decision to place a loved one in a care facility is a personal one. What one caregiver might consider manageable, another might not. Coping ability depends on numerous factors, including the relationship history between the caregiver and care receiver,

so great, he didn’t make us unable to fail. Theoretically, as far as we can tell from here, he could have. On the other hand, that might be like expecting him to make a round square. Choice is either real and therefore dangerous, or it is nothing at all. And having experienced freedom, how many of us would return it to the manufacturer? Even then, we would be choosing to reject choice, which is absurd. We must deal with the freedom we so often prize. Let’s note some important truths based on what we’ve seen thus far. First, the saga claims that our world is influenced by another. The serpent is clearly no mere animal. It talks. It knows about important things. And as we’ll see later, it calls for action and fosters revolution. Beyond this part of Genesis, the Hebrew Scriptures point to another realm of beings, the angelic-demonic. That realm is responsible for at least some of what we call paranormal, alien, spiritual, supernatural, and the like. The saga takes place in a profound world and turns this planet into a mysterious place. Second, the creator is ultimately responsible for the serpent’s existence, but not as we see him in the garden. God had made a good

world which later changed for the worse. Adam and Eve, though initially full of life, were told they could die. A fair deduction, even if only based upon their limited understanding at that time, might be that the serpent had been created good but later changed. After all, God had warned it could happen to them. Third, the creator allows the serpent to enter the garden. Persuasive as he might be, at this point the beast can only talk. The possibility of horror in paradise existed beforehand. The serpent has no power to bring it about directly. The ultimate choice is up to the man and the woman, rulers of their home. They could pose serpent-like questions without the help of an evil outsider. The serpent merely brings them up close. Those same questions are ours today. LFTJ Guest Author: Shortened, with permission, from chapter one of the book, "The Saga, Ancient and Ours" by Timothy Vagus. Address comments to Jan McLaughlin, Jansmail@ regan.com.

◀ FROM LIGHT, PAGE 6 Earlier, God called his creation “very good” -- light, land and sea, vegetation, sun, moon and stars, animals in water and on land, and human beings. Though beautiful and without mistake, paradise could be lost. The creator had warned Adam about death. Only later does the serpent help bring harm. The story claims he harms us still. But the potential for death was present from the start, with or without the beast. That terrible possibility was either intentional and by design, or it was a flaw in the product, a mistake in the creator’s work. The saga clearly claims it was by design. Death would come only by a deliberate decision. When the creator made Adam and Eve “in his own image,” we’re to understand that a measure of self-determination was a central part of their nature. We might label it the freedom to choose, moral responsibility, or the personal and even God-given right to stand with or against their maker. But for that divine right to become real, they must face significant alternatives and choose between them. The creator made eating an enjoyable necessity. It became the perfect place for the couple to face their high calling. We may ask why, if the creator is

as well as the caregiver's personality, coping style and lifestyle, accessibility of their home, and the amount of practical help and emotional support available to them. Every caregiver has their own bottom line. For some it might be when incontinence occurs regularly, for others it might be when safety issues arise. Still others might persevere as long as their relative is able to recognize them and their surroundings. Rest assured that acknowledging your physical and emotional limits as a caregiver is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of wisdom and concern for your loved one’s welfare. If you decide to pursue placement in a nursing facility, remind yourself that your relative is benefiting from around-the-clock professional care, therapeutic programming and the companionship of peers.

▶ SEE PETCHE, PAGE 16

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Page 14 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

FREMONT COUNTY/SALIDA MENUS FLORENCE ● Sept. 1: Submarine turkey sandwich on ww hoagie roll, chunky vegetable soup, potato salad, orange, oatmeal raisin cookie ● Sept. 3: Scalloped potatoes w ham, spinach salad w/mandarin oranges, hard boiled egg, sliced peaches, ww dinner roll ● Sept. 4: Stuffed peppers, chopped spinach w/malt vinegar, applesauce cake, ww bread w/ butter ● Sept. 8: Hamburger on a ww bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, baked beans, potato salad, orange ● Sept. 10: Swiss steak w mushroom sauce, smashed red potatoes, seasoned greens, salad with lite ranch, orange, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 11: BBQ beef brisket, ranch style beans, ww hamburger bun, broccoli florets, honeydew cilantro lime, salad ● Sept. 15: California veggie bake, spinach salad w egg and lite Italian, pear, citrus cup, oatmeal raisin cookie, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 17: Turkey pot pie, herbed green beans, baked potato, apple baked w raisins, ww dinner roll ● Sept. 18: Pork chow mein, steamed brown rice, cabbage w red pepper, banana, fortune cookie, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 22: Porcupine meatballs, whipped potatoes w gravy, California vegetable medley, pears, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 24: Vegetable soup, ww crackers, tuna salad on lettuce w

tomato slices, baked acorn squash, pear halves ● Sept. 25: Chicken salad sandwich, lettuce and tomato, confetti salad, beef barley soup, orange juice ● Sept. 29: Corned beef sandwich on rye w swiss cheese, creamy coleslaw banana, roasted unsalted peanuts SALIDA ● Sept. 1: Oriental pepper chicken, brown rice, steamed broccoli spears, apple, fortune cookie, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 3: Scalloped potatoes w ham, spinach salad w mandarin oranges, hard boiled egg, sliced peaches, ww dinner roll ● Sept. 4: Stuffed peppers, chopped spinach w malt vinegar, applesauce cake, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 8: Ham and beans, collard greens, orange juice ● Sept. 10: Swiss steak with mushroom sauce, smashed red potatoes, seasoned greens, slad w lite ranch, orange, ww bread w butter ● Sept 11: BBQ beef brisket, ranch style beans, ww hamburger bun, croccoli florets, honeydew cilantro lime salad ● Sept. 15: Chili con carne, ww crackers, broccoli, raisin nut cup, apple, cornbread w butter ● Sept. 17: Turkey pot pie, herbed green beans, baked potato, apples, baked w raisin, ww dinner roll ● Sept. 18: Pork chow mein, steamed brown rice, cabbage w red pepper, banana, fortune cook-

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ie, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 22: Enchilada pie, refried beans, tortilla chips w salsa, clementine ● Sept. 24: Vegetable soup, ww crackers, tuna salad on lettuce w tomato slices, baked acorn squash, pear halves ● Sept. 25: Chicken salad sandwich, lettuce and tomato, confetti salad, beef barley soup, orange juice ● Sept. 29: Sloppy Joe on a bun, scalloped potatoes, broccoli and carrots, apple GAC ● Sept. 1: Spice beef rice casserole, cut broccoli, sliced yellow squash, pineapple tidbits, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 2: Chicken fried steak, cream gravy, smashed red potatoes, California mixed vegetables, apple, ww dinner roll ● Sept. 3: Scalloped potatoes w ham, spinach salad w mandarin oranges, hard boiled egg, sliced peaches, ww dinner ● Sept. 4: Stuffed peppers, chopped spinach w malt vinegar, applesauce cake, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 7: Closed for Labor Day ● Sept. 8: Cream of potato soup, tuna salad wrap, shredded romaine, lettuce and tomato slices, creamy coleslaw, cantaloupe ● Sept. 9: Chicken cordon bleu, wild rice pilaf, seasoned asparagus, chilled apricots, ww bread butter ● Sept. 10: Swiss steak w mushroom sauce, smashed red potatoes, seasoned greens salad w lite ranch, orange, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 11: BBQ Beef Brisket, ranch style beans, ww hamburger bun,

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broccoli florets, honeydew cilantro lime salad ● Sept. 14: BBQ chicken, potato salad, spinach salad w mandarin orange, apple, ww roll w butter ● Sept. 15: Macaroni and cheese, salad w lite ranch, asparagus, banana, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 16: French dip, over browned potatoes, mixed vegetables, sliced strawberries ● Sept. 17: Turkey pot pie, herbed green beans, baked potato, apples baked w raisin, ww dinner roll ● Sept. 18: Pork chow mein, steamed brown rice, cabbage w red peppers, banana, fortune cookie, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 21: Sweet and sour pork, brown rice, California vegetables, orange, ww roll ● Sept. 22: Sloppy Joe on a bun, scalloped potatoes, broccoli and carrots, apple ● Sept. 23: Meatloaf w sweet potatoes, brown gravy, roasted sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, vegetable salad, pineapple tidbits, ww bread w butter ● Sept. 24: Vegetable soup w crackers, tuna salad on lettuce w tomato slices, baked acorn squash, pear halves ● Sept. 25: Chicken salad sandwich, lettuce and tomato, confetti salad, beef barley soup, orange juice ● Sept. 28: Chicken ala king, tossed salad w light ranch, green peas, orange, raisin nut cup, biscuits ● Sept. 29: Black bean and tortilla casserole, steamed brown rice, whipped sweet potatoes, mixed fruit Sept. 30: Beef stew, sweet corn, cauliflower broccoli salad, plum, ww crackers

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 15

SENIOR SAFETY

Flu Vaccine Helps You, Fights COVID-19 FALL IS FLU season. The flu affects adults age 65 and over as well as residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities and people of all ages with chronic diseases and medical diseases more frequently. Older adults are also especially at high risk of complications from the flu. Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are very different. Since the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference based on the symptoms. Testing may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis. CDC has released one test for both viruses. The CDC believes that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading this fall and winter. Flu shots will be even more important, especially since people can have both COVID-19 and flu at the same time. Common symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain or body aches, headache. Some people may experience vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms for flu may be mild to severe, even including hospitalizations and death. If you also experience any or all of these symptoms, but also have trouble breathing, persistent chest pain, confusion, inability to stay awake, bluish lips and a loss of taste or smell, seek immediate medical attention, as you may have COV-

This month’s Senior Safety Page is Proudly Sponsored byAMERICAN VEIN! Give them a call right away! And thank themfor sponsoring this valuable addition to the Senior Beacon!! ID-19. A flu shot is the best way to protect yourself from the flu. Getting flu vaccines in September and October are recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), especially for older adults. Since pneumonia is often associated with getting the flu, especially in older adults, you may want to either get a pneumonia shot for the first time, or you may need a second immunization. Check with your health care provider. Flu shots, as well as pneumonia shots, are paid in full by Medicare Part B, even if you have not met your annual deductible. Some health insurance plans may require that you pay a co-pay. At this time, there is no vaccine for COVID-19 approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and other important people in your life. Pharmacists, as well as physicians, nurses, and other trained health professionals can administer flu shots at the doctor’s office, the pharmacy, the long term care setting, or other community settings. If you need help finding a vaccine location near you search www. vaccinefinder.org/? or call 303-333-

3482, 1-855-294-3971 or 1-855-8804777 (Spanish) or www.senioranswers.org. Eileen Doherty, MS is the Ex-

ecutive Director of the Colorado Gerontological Society. Her areas of expertise include management and administration of nonprofit organizations, education and training on issues related to older adults, advocacy and policy development on senior issues, and clinical practice in working with seniors and families to manage their lives in the later years.

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to provide grab-and-go meals, Monday-Friday County for seniors age The Golden Shuttle/Fremont 60+. Please call 345-3064 each day by 9:30am to let us know you will need a Transit meal. If youProgram are unable tohas pick up your meal,

we can arrange for Fremont County Transit to bring you to get your meal or you can designate someone to pick it up for you. There is no shortage on meals so we encourage anyone wanting or needing a meal to please call. If you have not eaten with us before, you will need to fill out an intake form. We ask for a $3.00 donation.

expanded service to Florence and Penrose which requires more drivers. Also, Fremont County Transit is open and running. We can get you to your appointments or to the grocery store. Our drivers are taking every precaution and sanitizing our vehicles Call 275-5177 if you are between riders. We can also pick up your pre-ordered groceries and deliver them to you. Let us know what you needinterested. help with and we will do our best to help or get someone who can. Just call 276-5200. Please call two to three days in advance so we can get you scheduled. No special license UPDATE: BINGO WILLneeded. RESUME SEPTEMBER 9TH AT 1:30 PM

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Page 16 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

REELING

FAKE NEWS, CORRUPTION ALTERNATIVE REALITIES IN 'MR. JONES' FILM MOVIE TELLS AN IMPORTANT TIMELESS STORY OF JOURNALIST GARETH JONES IN WWII BETTY JO TUCKER Pueblo award winning film critic

cclaimed director Agnieszka Holland calls MR. JONES “a tale about fake news, alternative realities, corruption of the media, cowardness of governments, indifference of people.” She believes the movie tells an important timeless story. And I agree with her. Although set on the eve of WWII, this thriller reminds us of our need for courageous journalists like Gareth Jones, who discovered the truth about the Soviet propaganda machine and dared to risk his

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life by writing about it. As Gareth Jones, James Norton (“Belle”) projects the ambition, energy, determination and passion needed for a demanding role like this. Because I became a fan of Norton’s while watching “Manchester” on PBS, I am not surprised at the high quality of his acting in Mr. Jones. It’s an award-worthy performance. Supporting cast members also deserve recognition. Stand-outs are: Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education”) as the opportunistic New York Times Moscow Bureau Chief Walter Duranty; Joseph Mawle (“Game of Thrones”) as Animal Farm author George Orwell; and Vanessa Kirby (“Me Before You”) as Ada Brooks, a reporter who supports Jones. This cinematic offering takes us on a strange, ugly journey. So much is happening on screen, which sometimes makes us feel disoriented. But the film unfolds with fervent storytelling, thanks to Holland’s guiding hand and a screenplay written by Andrea Chalupa – whose grandfather not only survived Stalin’s genocide 1985 famine that killed an estimated 4 or 5 million people but also was tortured by the Soviet secret police during Stalin’s purges. Fortunately, he wrote down his story to document these tragic experiences.

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Mr. Jones, a Wales journalist, sought actual

facts in the mist. Propaganda he searched behind. Unsettling truths this man did find. Others bought into Stalin’s plan. But Jones was not that man’s big fan. He viewed the misery in Ukraine and wrote about it with disdain. George Orwell piggybacked on this. ANIMAL FARM, you must not miss. “Mr. Jones” may be hard to see. But check out this smart history. Gruesome scenes? You can close your eyes. Other scenes are full of surprise. James Norton becomes Jones for sure. His performance will long endure. Challenging film, oh yes indeed. Probably one we need to heed. The clash of Jones’s courage and determination against Duranty’s cynical opportunism and cowardice is still valid… Today, we don’t lack corruptible conformists and egoists; we lack Orwells and Joneses. That’s why we brought them back to life. – Agnieszka Holland (Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Not rated by MPAA. Available now on DVD.)

◀ FROM PETCHE, PAGE 13 Take comfort, too, in knowing that nursing home placement does not diminish your importance in your loved one's life. It just means a change in focus. With the demanding responsibility of hands-on caregiving lifted, you can shift your energy to meeting your relative's emotional and spiritual needs and enjoying your time together. You also have the option of bringing them home for day or overnight visits. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing boomer and senior health matters. She has personal experience with elder care.

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 17

THE WELL-DRESSED GARDEN

Hot Stuff: Plants That Beat the Heat Lucky Star is relatively new, and Josephson is excited about it for its continuous blooming habit, great colors, compact size and pollinator-friendly flowers. Each flower head is made up of hundreds of small blooms. Pentas make a big impression from a distance, and the many tiny flowers are also charming up close. Previous generations of pentas bloomed in cycles. With these plants, "you're never without color," Josephson says. Old-fashioned vincas are back in style these days, too, Josephson says, in part thanks to PanAm's Tattoo series, which introduced a bold palette emphasizing fruit colors (tangerine, papaya, raspberry, black cherry). They have caught on with young gardeners and are now among the company's top sellers, she says. Putting together great combina-

tions of long-blooming plants is a specialty of the plant brand Proven Winners, which shares inspiration with gardeners in annual idea books featuring landscape ideas and combos for pots and hanging baskets. For consistent summer color when the weather is sizzling hot, lantanas are hard to beat, and Proven Winners combinations make the most of these tough plants. Verbenas, which start blooming in late spring and keep going through summer and into fall, are also easy, hard-working stars of container or flower-bed plantings, and favorites of PW designers. Verbenas and lantanas are both terrific butterfly plants. Colorful foliage plants have a lot to contribute to summer gardens, too, says Penny Merritt-Price, research coordinator at Young's Plant Farm, a wholesale nursery in

Auburn, Alabama. The plant farm maintains an All-America Selections test garden, and Merritt-Price is a judge, rating the performance of hundreds of plants every year, comparing new introductions and recommending top plants for AAS awards. "Coleus are awesome," she says, and she's right: They're colorful, tough and versatile, and they don't need flowers to make a garden sparkle. "They really lighten up a space in the shade -- and they're great in blazing sun, too," Merritt-Price says. Breeders have introduced dozens of coleus varieties, dwarf and tall coleus, with interesting foliage shapes and intense colors from deep red to chartreuse. Merritt-Price also likes sweet-potato vines as ground-cover or accent foliage plants.

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GARDENERS CAN retreat to a cool spot indoors when the temperature soars. Plants have to stay put. Fortunately, a surprising variety of flowers not only tolerate the heat, but thrive in it. Summertime is their prime MARTY ROSS time. Freelance garden journalist and To be sure, syndicated you can't gardening columnist neglect the care of plants during hot, dry spells, but heat-tolerant plants, whether in flower beds or in big pots, don't need coddling. "Heat tolerance is a really important trait for us because we all know that consumers don't always know about plant care and watering," says Claire Josephson, product marketing manager for PanAmerican Seed, a plant-breeding company that introduced Wave petunias -- among other top performers -- to the American market. "We are trying to breed bulletproof plants," Josephson says, "and the more risk we can take out, the better." This year is the 25th anniversary of the Wave series of petunias, known for their nonstop color, spreading habit and versatility in beds and containers. But Wave petunias are only one example of flowers that bloom happily through the steamy days of summer. Pentas, salvias, dianthus, impatiens, vinca, begonias and many others keep the garden looking lively in temperatures that can cause people to melt. While you move to a shady spot on the patio or enjoy your view of the garden from a window, bright summer flowers keep producing fresh blooms in the hottest sun, and butterflies float in on warm summer breezes to visit them, too. "What's exciting to me is there are more heat-tolerant flowers all the time," says Justin Hancock, horticultural craftsman at the plant brand Monrovia, and a big fan of summer flower color. "You get certain types of color in the summer that you just don't see in spring," he says. Angelonia is one of Hancock's absolute favorites, for its deep colors, spikey form and fragrant flowers. "They smell like sugar cookies," he says. Breeders are often looking over their shoulders when they work to solve gardeners' problems -- they find inspiration and opportunity in well-known and beloved plants of the past that just need a modern touch of color and a shot of vigor to appeal to new gardeners. The Lucky Star series of pentas is an example.

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Page 18 - Senior Beacon - September 2020

SENIOR CLASSIFIEDS

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SENIOR CLASSIFIED AD REQUEST This classified ad section of the Senior Beacon carries advertising of all sorts. The cost is $10.00 for the first 20 words or less and $.25 for each word over twenty words. TO PLACE AN AD either: (1) Write your ad in the space provided below. Please print clearly. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Phone:_________________ Your Name:______________________ Then mail ad and check (send no cash) to:

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 19

SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU

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

Lifetime Earning On My Social Security DID YOU KNOW you can see your work history online all the way back to your first job? Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your Social Security benefits. We keep track of your earnings so we can pay you the benefits you’ve earned over your lifetime. This is why reviewing your Social Security earnings record is so important. If an employer didn’t properly report just one year of your earnings to us, your future benefit payments could be less than they should be. Over the course of a lifetime, that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in retirement or other benefits to which you are entitled. It’s important to identify reporting problems as soon as possible. As time passes, you may no longer have easy access to past tax documents, and some employers may no longer exist or be able to provide past payroll information. While it’s your employer’s responsibility to provide accurate earnings information to us, you should still review and inform us of any errors or omissions so you get credit

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for the contributions you’ve made through payroll taxes. You’re the only person who can look at your lifetime earnings record and verify that it’s complete and correct. The easiest way to verify your earnings record is to visit www.ssa. gov/myaccount and set up or sign in to your personal my Social Security account. You should review each year of listed earnings carefully and confirm them using your own records, such as W-2s and tax returns. Keep in mind that earnings from this year and last year may not be listed yet. You can find detailed instructions on how to correct your Social Security earnings record at www.ssa.gov/ pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf. When should You Start Receiving Social Security Benefits? We’re often asked, “What’s the best age to start receiving retirement benefits?” The answer is: there’s not a single “best age” for everyone. The most important thing is to make an informed decision. Base

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your decision about when to apply for benefits on your individual and family circumstances. Would it be better for you to start getting benefits early with a smaller monthly amount for more years, or wait for a larger monthly payment over a shorter timeframe? The answer is personal and depends on several factors, such as your current cash needs, your current health, and your family longevity. You should also consider plans to work

in retirement and other sources of retirement income. Most importantly, study your future financial needs and obligations, and calculate your future Social Security benefit. We encourage you to weigh all the facts carefully before making the crucial decision about when to begin receiving Social Security benefits. This decision affects the monthly benefit you will receive for the rest of your life, and may affect benefit protection for your survivors.

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SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU Question: Is it true that if you have low income you can get help paying your Medicare premiums? Answer: Yes. If your income and resources are limited, your state may be able to help with your Medicare Part B premium, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts. State rules vary on the income and resources that apply. Contact your state or local medical assistance, social services, or welfare office, or call the Medicare hotline, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), and ask about the Medicare Savings Programs. If you have limited income and resources, you also may be able to get help paying for prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D. Call Social Security at 1-800772-1213 (TTY users should call 1-800-3250778) or visit any Social Security office. Also, see our publication, Medicare (Publication 10043), at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs/10043.html. For even more information, visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov. Question: How do I get a copy of the form, Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs? Answer: If you wish to apply for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs, we recommend you use our online application at www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020/. You can find instruction sheets

in 15 different languages to help you understand the English application at www.socialsecurity. gov/prescriptionhelp. If you prefer not to fill out this application on the Internet, you can call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, to ask for a paper application. Also, you can make an appointment at your local Social Security office to apply for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Question: If I call 1-800-772-1213, can a Social Security representative take my application for Medicare prescription drug help over the phone? Answer: If an interviewer is available when you call the 800 number, he or she can take your application over the phone. If an interviewer is not immediately available, we can schedule a telephone appointment for you. For the fastest and most convenient way to apply for Medicare prescription drug help, go online to www.socialsecurity. gov/prescriptionhelp. Question: Where can I find general information about Medicare benefits? Answer:

Social Security determines whether people are entitled to Medicare benefits, but the program is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). You can visit CMS’s Medicare website at www.medicare.gov, or call them at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Online or by phone, you can find answers to all your Medicare questions at CMS. Question: Will my eligibility for the Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs be reviewed and, if so, how often? Answer: If you get the Extra Help, Social Security may contact you to review your status. This reassessment will ensure you remain eligible for Extra Help and receive all the benefits you deserve. Annually, usually at the end of August, we may send you a form to complete: Social Security Administration Review of Your Eligibility for Extra Help. You will have 30 days to complete and return this form. Any necessary adjustments to the Extra Help will be effective in January of the following year. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp for more information. Question: I have medical coverage through my employer. Do I have to take Medicare Part B? Answer: You are not required to take Medicare Part B if you are covered by a group healthcare plan based on either your employment or the employment of a spouse. When your coverage ends, you may contact the Social Security Administration to request a special enrollment for Medicare Part B. We will need to verify your coverage through your employer in order for you to be eligible for a special enrollment. For more information, visit www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/ get-parts-a-and-b/when-sign-up-parts-a-and-b/ when-sign-up-parts-a-and-b.html. Question: I have diabetes and I have to take insulin. Is my insulin covered by Medicare? Answer: Medicare Part B does not cover insulin unless use of an insulin pump is medically necessary. However, certain Medicare Part D prescription drug plans may cover insulin and certain supplies used to inject insulin, like syringes. For more information, please visit www.medicare.gov/coverage/insulin.html. Question: I want to sign up for a Medicare Part C and D plan, but I’m not sure which plan I want. Is there a resource to help me find a plan? Answer: Yes. Medicare.gov has a plan finder available on their website as well as instructions on how to use the plan finder. To access the Medicare Plan Finder, please visit www.medicare.gov/find-aplan/questions/home.aspx. Question: What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? Answer: SSI provides monthly income to people with limited income and financial resources. People who never worked at a job that withdrew Social Security tax won’t qualify for Social Security, but may still be eligible for SSI. To be eligible, an individual must be a citizen and resident of the United States or be a noncitizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence. There are, however, some noncitizens granted a special immigration

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September 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 21

SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU status that are also eligible. To get SSI, an individual’s financial resources (savings and assets) cannot be more than $2,000 ($3,000, if married). Recipients must be age 65 or older, or blind or disabled. For more information, please read SSI or What You Need To Know When You Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both are available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Question: Are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits subject to federal income tax? Answer: No. SSI payments are not subject to federal taxes. If you get SSI, you will not receive an annual form SSA1099. However, your Social Security benefits may be subject to income tax. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov. Question: I have a neighbor who is disabled and has been receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for quite some time. Recently, he’s been trying to find employment. Is there any way I can help? Answer: Yes. You can help by letting him know about Social Security’s free Ticket to Work program. When people take part in the program, they can get help finding a job, vocational rehabilitation, or other assistance. Employment networks -organizations that help you find and

keep a job while supplying other employment resources at no cost -- provide these services. Ticket to Work gives people the opportunity to work with a variety of employment networks. If you or someone you know is interested in using the Ticket to Work program, visit www.choosework. net and click “Find Help” or call the Ticket Helpline at 1-866-968-7842 (TTY 1-866-833-2967). Question: I know someone who believes it’s not a big deal to cheat a little on their Supplemental Security Income application. What can I tell them to dissuade them from giving false information? Answer: Social Security not only seeks criminal charges against and imprisonment of people who give false, incomplete, or inaccurate information, we also have the authority to impose civil monetary penalties against people who commit fraud. When we find evidence that someone provided false information or withheld information that would have prevented him or her or someone else from collecting benefits, we can impose a civil monetary penalty of up to $5,000 for each occurrence. We are also authorized to impose administrative sanctions. During a sanction period, benefits stop. The sanction periods are 6 months for the first occurrence, 12 months for the second occurrence, and 24 months for each additional

occurrence. You can report fraud online at http://oig.ssa.gov/report or call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. Question: I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and I just got promoted and received a pay increase at my job. Do I need to tell Social Security about the promotion? Answer: Because the Supplemental Security Income program is needsbased, the amount of the payment you receive is partly based on your income. You need to report your wages monthly to make sure you get timely

and accurate payments. The law requires you to report your earnings by phone or mail or take your pay stubs to Social Security at the beginning of each month. When you report your earnings, make sure to include overtime, vacation pay, and bonuses. If your income changes because of a job loss or promotion, Social Security will likely either increase or decrease your payments. Learn more by reading the fact sheet, Reporting Wages When You Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), at www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs.

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Page 22 - Senior Beacon - September 2020 ART

Humor, Fanciful Shapes Highlight Artwork FUN IS ONE way to describe the fanciful artwork of Colorado Springs artist Sean Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Meallie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Line + Shape + Color + Noiseâ&#x20AC;? showcases over 100 new works created over the last two years. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Meallie, a former toy inventor for the mass-market, uses bright colors and fanciful shapes in playful and humorous ways to express delight, wonderment and consternation about the noisy philosophical issues of contemporary life. His primary medium is wood, which he shapes and paints to an exact high degree and then may rub back to a human-touched patina, or leave glistening. For the latest information visit www.sdc-arts.org. Now in the galleries: Inspiration: Dale Chihuly, James Mongrain and Vintage Venetian Glass From The George R. Stroemple Collection | Through

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

DAVID SHRIBMAN

Insert his title here when you finally get it down

THE WINDING SWITCHBACKS OF POLITICS CONGRESS CONSISTENTLY SWITCHES CONTROL FROM ONE PARTY TO ANOTHER

UP SEVERAL thousand feet in the Pheasant Mountain area of West Virginia, the course of American politics suddenly becomes clear. Lace up your hiking boots, follow Smoky Hollow Road for 2 miles, take a left, pull into a grassed-over parking lot and head up the Clover Trail, then climb into the thickness of the Monongahela National Forest. This is like no mountain trail you have ever traversed; it follows an old logging railroad through five switchbacks that nearly a century ago the D.D. Brown Lumber Co. used to haul lumber. The train would inch one way and then switch back — thus the term — to cross the mountain by going backward on the next switchback. It is those switchbacks amid the hemlock and yellow

poplar that sent lumber from the Clover Run Valley to the unincorporated village of Moore on its way to market in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. And it is those switchbacks that illustrate the course of American politics, for in the past 150 years the presidency and the Congress have consistently switched from the control of one party to another, and then switched back. Indeed, there is no more vivid example than West Virginia itself, which in November will fall in Donald J. Trump’s column but which a generation ago was devoutly Democratic. It was here, in 1960, that Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts defeated Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota in one of the classic presidential primaries. Later that year, Kennedy took 52% of the vote against Richard M. Nixon, and the state’s eight electoral votes went into the Democratic column. Some 28 years later, another Massachusetts Democrat, Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, captured the same 52 percentage points, though by that time the Mountain State possessed only five electoral votes. By 2012, yet another Massachusetts governor was running for the White House, and this time the Republican, Mitt Romney, prevailed with 62%. That is a massive change — a massive switchback, to apply the metaphor — in only 24 years. Battered by the party’s positions on gun control and coal, the Democrats went from a slender majority to a decisive minority of about a third of the vote. And in 2016, Mr. Trump took West Virginia with 68 percentage points. Switchbacks appear everywhere

across the American political landscape. Political professionals consider the Philadelphia suburbs a vital key to the 2020 race, and this switchback works to the Democrats’ advantage in a state they believe they must win if former Vice President Joe Biden is to capture the White House. In the 1988 election, Vice President George H.W. Bush took the four suburban counties around Pennsylvania’s biggest city by the landslide margin of 61 percentage points. Four years ago, Mr. Trump captured only 41% of the vote there. In Delaware County, a suburb abutting the city of Philadelphia that has been reliably Republican since the Civil War, the switchback is particularly vivid; less than a year ago, Democrats swept all five seats in the county council. They also won county-council majorities in nearby Bucks and Chester counties. Think again about West Virginia’s Clover Trail. There the path ahead seems unclear. The trail often is obscured. And on the slopes of the mountain, the old timbers have been felled. The same is true in our politics. Today no one knows for sure whether Mr. Trump will win a second term, and whether the Trump ethos will endure in the Republican Party after he departs. Also, no one knows for sure whether Mr. Biden would govern as a centrist, which is his inclination, or would lean left, as many of his reluctant supporters are pushing him to do — a prospect Mr. Trump sought to use to his advantage in the Republican National Convention when he said, “The

radical left will demand he appoint super-radical-left wild crazy justices going into the Supreme Court.” All around, the old timbers of American politics are down: Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the powerful 16-term incumbent who was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was defeated this summer in a Democratic primary. Reps. Joseph Crowley, also of New York, the fourth-ranking House Democrat, and Michael Capuano of Massachusetts, a traditional Bay State Democrat, were felled in 2018. And establishment Republicans have fallen from grace in the Trump years.

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. Subscriptions are available, prepaid with order, at $34.95 for one 12-month period. Send your order to the mailing list below. 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.

BEACON NEWS GROUP d/b/a Senior Beacon P.O. Box 8485 Pueblo, CO 81008 Publisher Beacon News Group Publisher Emeritus, CCO James R. Grasso Advertising Manager Ronald S. Phillips Advertising Executives Jan McLaughlin Rick Forman Mark Phillips Jim Grasso Graphic Design and Layout Christine Ina Casillas Distribution Manager Braden Phillips IT Support Robin Eckelberry

www.SeniorBeacon.info

BeaconNewsGroup@gmail.com

719-247-6580

621 S. Union Ave. Pueblo, CO 81004

719-542-3641 ● www.aztecmfginc.com Step Railing ● Ornamental Iron ● Awnings

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 2020-Evergrowth Media, LLC

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