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BEACON BITS
AARP Tax-Aide prepares taxes for free—appointments required
AARP Tax-Aide will begin providing free tax preparation on February 1, 2023. Appointments are required. Call 970-589-3789 or 970-2105705 to make an appointment or go to www.cotaxaide.org/appt to schedule online. All taxes will be prepared at the Wells Fargo Main Annex, 359 Main St. in Grand Junction, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Bring picture IDs, Social Security/ITIN cards, last year’s tax return and all documents to accurately complete your return, including letters from the IRS if you had identity theft, receipt of the economic impact funds, or the letter 6419 if you received Advanced Child Tax Credit payments. State tax credit for making home more accessible
The Income Tax Credit for Retrofitting Home for Health bill created a state income tax credit of up to $5,000 to help people with an illness, impairment or disability retrofit their residence for greater accessibility and independence. The credit is available for retrofits completed in tax years 2019 through 2023. The Colorado Legislature recently passed clarifying legislation to make dependents and spouses eligible. It also allows for up to a $5,000 credit per person in the family with a disability. Email dola�homemodtaxcredit@state. co.us or call 303-482-7670 for more information.
Alzheimer’s researchers gathered in San Francisco in December to share the latest clinical trial results for treatments in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The meeting featured scientific breakthroughs and developments. Here are some of the things learned: • Data from the Phase 3 global clinical trial of lecanemab confirm this treatment changes the course of the disease in a meaningful way for people in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease. • We are encouraged by continuing advancements of biomarkers— blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain imaging—which has the potential for early detection, diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease. • The Alzheimer’s Association believes that the future of Alzheimer’s treatment will be a combination of drugs that target different aspects of the disease and risk reduction interventions. Lifestyle interventions, such as those being studied in the U.S. POINTER study, combined with disease-modifying treatments could be the most promising approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease. tions must be received by January 12, 2023. For more information, call 970-985-8765.
Hearing aid giveaway to those in need - Nominations due January 12
High Desert Hearing Center joins forces with ReSound to donate hundreds of hearing aids and health services to people with hearing loss who otherwise cannot afford professional hearing care. As part of the effort, High Desert Hearing Center is seeking nominations of people with hearing loss who are experiencing financial difficulty and would benefit from receiving a free set of ReSound OMNIA hearing aids. Visit High Desert Hearing at 631 24 ½ Road in Grand Junction to drop off nominations or request a nomination form at tjacobson@ highdeserthearing.com. NominaColorado nonprofit seeks volunteers to support teachers, children in early childhood education sites
Early Childhood Service Corps is a Colorado nonprofit actively recruiting older adults to serve as program volunteers to help in licensed early childhood education sites throughout Colorado. Volunteers/substitutes help out with the increasingly tough demand for qualified teachers in early childhood education facilities and make a difference for local children in the community. Volunteers must be age 50 or older and will receive free training via Zoom. Volunteers have the option to go through one semester of online classes through UC Denver to become paid licensed substitutes called Encore Subs. If you are 50+ and looking to make a difference in the lives of children and families across the state, visit www.earlychildhoodservicecorps. org for more information. Western Colorado Writers’ Forum bids farewells to long-time board members
Western Colorado Writers’ Forum
Ready to Volunteer?
We need you to help the older adults in our community thrive in their homes. A LITTLE HELP
• Yardwork • Rides/Errands
www.alittlehelp.org/volunteering 970-404-1923
• Care Calls/Visits • Tech Support
Need A Little Help? Call us to learn more.
(WCWF) recently announced that long-time members Virginia Jensen and Caleb Ferganchick are stepping down from the board of directors. Jensen is a published author and poet, and has been on the board for many years, serving as chairman, publicity director and most recently vice president. She designed, wrote and produced the WCWF newsletter from October 2015 to January 2022 and published four books of beadwork designs. Ferganchick has organized the annual Slamming Bricks poetry competition, is the author of “The Secret of Sunflowers and Poetry Heels,” and is published in a number of other publications. He most recently served as secretary in 2022. For information on joining the writers’ forum, email wcwritersforum@gmail.com or call 970-822-7373.
Mesa County Libraries breaks ground on new Clifton Branch
Mesa County Libraries recently broke ground on land located at 32 and F Roads to build a freestanding library more than three times the size of the current Clifton Branch. This welcome addition to the Clifton community will provide a variety of services and amenities, including community rooms and adult-learning classrooms to larger areas for children and teens. Some of the other amenities include: an adult learning center with two classrooms dedicated for GED; English language and citizenship classes; a community living room for quiet reading and relaxation; Children’s and teen’s services with dedicated space, customized collections, interactive activities and technology; public computing including desktop computers, tablets and seating areas for wireless users and more. The new Clifton branch is expected to open fall 2023. For more information, call 970-243-4442 or visit mesacountylibraries.org. Grand Valley Transit seeks public input on service reduction
GVT is currently inviting public input regarding proposed service changes, which includes elimination of the Route 1 “Dash Service.” This change would result in a return to normal service hours and full fares on the route beginning February 1, 2023. Email written comments to grandvalleytransit@mesacounty.us; call and leave a recorded message at 970-683-4339 or send written comments to PO Box 20,000-5093, Grand Junction, Colorado 81502. Public comments will be accepted until January 6, 2023. For complete details visit gvt.mesacounty.us. Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout announces re-election campaign
Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout recently announced her vision for the next four years and her re-election campaign to City Council. Stout was first elected to City Council in 2019 and became mayor in 2022 after serving for a year as mayor pro tem. In advance of the announcement, she said, “We weathered a health crisis, economic uncertainty and soaring inflation. But Grand Junction showed its true, deep character. We didn’t just survive— we are thriving and momentum is strong. It would be my honor to keep that momentum going and serve this community for another four years.” Stout is the first candidate to announce her intention to run for one of the four seats that will be up for election in the April 2023 municipal election. ■
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622 28 1/4 Rd | Grand Junction, CO 81506 (970) 640-7416 | aspenridgealz.com
