April 2021 - BEACON Senior News

The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado

APRIL 2021

HEALTHY? There’s no money in that!

One local physician says we’re over tested, over diagnosed and over medicated

BeaconFest is back! We hope to see you in Grand Junction on September 9 and Montrose on October 14.

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Age-positive birthday cards celebrate getting older

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The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado APRIL 2021 | Volume 34 | Issue 4

I N T HI S I S S U E

26

Publisher & Advertising Director Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher Susan Capps Editor in Chief Cloie Sandlin Multimedia Editor Lauren Berg Graphic Designers B. Bigler Michael Madsen Customer Service Manager Stacey Splude Advertising Executives Debra Romaniec Proofreader Jan Weeks Delivery Lauren VanGundy Brittney Bade Sandra Patton JR Milner

P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502 Phone: 970-243-8829 Website:

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Email:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com The BEACON brings hope and help to western Colorado seniors and those who serve them.

The BEACON is published at the beginning of the month and is distributed at more than 300 locations throughout Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties.

Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

Columns are opinions of the writers, not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 15th of the month. Display advertising rates are available upon request. © Copyright 2021 • All Rights Reserved

7 8

Editor’s Column

Cover Story America is over tested, over diagnosed and over medicated.

It’s time to take control of your health!

10 Take pride in your heritage Inspired by her own heritage, retired teacher Ginger DeCavitch encouraged students to preserve Native American history with Ute Heritage Day.

1 2 13

Recipe Ask the Old Bag

Do I need to go to church?

3 0 GJT: 90 years flying strong Grand Junction Regional Airport celebrates with memories of notable visitors and a look at the future.

32 Where do you place your hope?

3 3 9 tips to buying a new TV without breaking the bank

34 Don’t you want buckets of

money?

Take care of retirement first

3 6 How many electricians does

it take to change a lightbulb?

Buzz Electric does jobs big and small

14 The difference between hip

3 7

15 How to treat post-COVID

34 Live the dream of becoming

16 Passing gas?

Let ’er rip!

40 Mesa County

resurfacing and replacement vaccination symptoms

20 COVID’s impact on the animal

welfare world

2 2 Alive & Digging Your garden is a portal to the natural world 24 Age positive birthday cards Local artists celebrate age as an achievement

2 6 Here, there be dinosaurs

Dr. Phil Mohler says America is over tested, over diagnosed and over medicated.

30

10

18 Laughing Matters

On the Cover

■

Sometimes the doctor doesn’t know best a certified naturalist

40 Calendar

42 Clubs & Activities 43 Question of the Month 44 Beacon Bits 46 Support Groups 47 Fun After 50 activities

48 Montrose & Delta Counties 48 Calendar 50 Clubs & Activities 51 Fun After 50 activities 52 Beacon Bits 53 Question of the Month

Delta Rock Wranglers credits its founding and interest in all things geology to this incredible discovery.

54 Fun & Games

2 8 Safety in Numbers

5 8 Opinion Failing to avoid the ’rona

Get traveling again (safely) with a group tour

56 Classifieds

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

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Congratulations, you survived the zombie apocalypse I

t’s hard to believe that just one year ago, I was writing my column, trying my best to assure readers (and myself) that despite looming shutdowns and uncertainty surrounding the virus, we would outlive the trying days ahead of us.

At the time, it felt like the world was forced into a real-life zombie movie. But since I don’t watch zombie movies, I scrambled to know what to do, or say, next. Events over the coming months weren’t always fun, but in perspective, it wasn’t as bad as I imagined it would be last March.

Months passed before a spike of infections hit western Colorado. Until then, I hadn’t known anyone personally who had contracted the virus. To this day, I’m fortunate that I don’t know anyone who has died from it.

If only the rest of the world could’ve been so fortunate.

But here we are a year later: survivors. While we can’t be completely certain about the efficacy of the COVID vaccine and how we will be protected in the future, it’s comforting to know there is hope.

BEACONFEST IS BACK IN 2021!

High on my list of things I’ve missed are dining together and live music—which, hopefully, will all be back at our BeaconFest Boomer and Senior Fair this fall!

A year without BeaconFest is not a year I care to repeat. I’m so excited to see everyone at our annual celebration of age at the Grand Junction Convention Center on Thursday, September 9, and at the Montrose Pavilion on Thursday, October 14. Mark your calendars! Details to come.

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DO DOCTORS KNOW BEST? I’m a relatively healthy person. Sure, I could always stand to eat better and exercise more, but my visits to the doctor are rare and so are the occasions that I take medication.

Truth is, doctors kind of scare me. After all, they’re only human, and it’s hard to trust any human with something as valuable as my health.

Don’t get me wrong—my current team of doctors is wonderful. But, could it be because I almost never see them?

To combat this fear, retired physician Dr. Phil Mohler encourages seniors to develop a trusted relationship with their doctor. His advice in this month’s cover story tells you how you can take control of your health by asking questions and challenging your doctors, so that they put you on the best route of care according to your standards. He explains what tests to be wary of, and how certain industries take advantage of uninformed patients by convincing them of issues they may not have—all to make more money.

Our country is over tested, over diagnosed and over medicated, says Mohler. Now is the time to take back your health and embrace aging, instead of fighting it.

P.S. Did you know the Centers for Disease Control actually has a page for zombie preparedness?

True story. Visit www.cdc.gov/cpr/zombie/ ■

EDITOR'S COLUMN

LETTERS

from our readers “What were you thinking showing as your [March] cover photo at a vaccination place— the woman does not have [her] nose covered. Another example people can point to and say must be okay.”

- BW “I received your February issue. Very awesome in layout and content. Many interesting articles. I like the high quality of paper that you are using as well as the glossy front and back sheet. Wow!”

- Gary C. RE: “Songbird of the South” (March) “It did my heart well to read Aaron Reynold’s article about Bonnie Sarchet. It was well written and beautifully told. Once again, Bonnie feels like a star.”

- Siggie Carpenter, Montrose RE: “The Art of Cooking Small” (January) “I called to let you know how much I enjoyed the article about cooking small. I hope that you’ll repeat that with other recipes by that author. We enjoyed it very much. Thanks for a fine publication.”

- Anonymous caller We asked our email subscribers: “Has COVID changed all things?”

“For those of us helping home school grandchildren, we were able to spend a lot more quality time with them than we would have in a normal situation.”

- Diana B. “In my family, there is no divide. It helps that we have very similar views regarding COVID. We eat healthy, have good sleep habits and exercise. We visit our health care providers regularly and look to them for honest answers to our questions. We wear masks because to enter businesses we are required.

We fully realize that COVID is real. But the proliferation of conflicting information by the CDC is troubling to say the least. Who and what we can trust remains vague at best.”

- Robert V. Sign up for our e-newsletter at www.Beacon SeniorNews.com. Click “Subscribe” at the top

Cloie Sandlin, Editor in Chief Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Email: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com Mail: P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | EDITOR'S COLUMN |

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COVER STORY

Over tested, over diagnosed and over medicated It’s time to take control of your health

L

ike many seniors, I was raised in a culture of “just do what the doctor orders.”

However, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend several of Dr. Phil Mohler’s eye-opening classes through New Dimensions. Now, I’m switching gears and following his suggestions on taking a more active role in my health care, and aging gracefully instead of fighting it.

Mohler, 79, is currently the medical director of Mesa County Public Health. He’s respected for his direct and honest approach to medicine—even when it comes to admitting that doctors aren’t perfect.

“One-third of everything we do in medicine has no value,” said Mohler. “Routine blood work on healthy people, for example, is a waste of time.”

His in-the-trenches, unbiased medical advice has been published in local health columns as well as in “The Prudent Prescriber,” a monthly online newsletter dispersed to Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP) providers. Conceived in 1998, he still writes the newsletter with help from RMHP pharmacist Steve Nolan.

Before retiring

8 | COVER STORY | APRIL 2021

| WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

By Melanie Wiseman from his practice, 90 percent of Mohler’s patients were over the age of 50. He understands the medical challenges that seniors face, and believes that medical care and treatment is not one-size-fits-all.

“The most satisfied patients are those who take an active role in their own health care,” he said.

THERE’S A PILL FOR THAT Ever notice how many medical commercials there are on TV? The vast number of advertised drugs is no accident.

“America’s appetite for medical care is voracious,” said Mohler. “We are under the influence of Big Pharma TV advertising, our intolerance of uncertainty and ‘It’s what we’ve always done.’”

According to the Commonwealth

Fund 2017, a private foundation that promotes a higher-performing health care system, the U.S. ranks top among first-world countries in per capita medical costs. Americans pay twice as much for medical care, yet score last among 11 comparable countries in access, equity and health care outcomes.

Mohler explained that pharmaceutical companies create new markets for disease by convincing us that common ailments as a result of aging are medical diagnoses.

Pre-diabetes, male baldness, osteoporosis and high cholesterol are examples of “illnesses” created by pharmaceutical companies to make more money by selling more drugs.

And it’s worked, with patients paying a top-dollar price for less than premium outcomes.

He also advised patients to be wary of “new diseases,” particularly ones such as restless leg syndrome and pre-hypertension.

“One-third of everything we do in medicine has no value,” — Dr. Phil Mohler

COVER STORY

“A lot of drugs you see on television aren’t great breakthroughs.

They come with a high price tag and often not much data about how effective they are,” he said.

THE COST OF PREVENTION Mohler encouraged patients to consider the benefits and drawbacks of screenings that are meant to discover illnesses before they cause symptoms. While routine tests such as mammograms and prostate-specific antigens (PSAs) have saved lives, he warns that too-often false positives are detrimental to a patient’s health.

“Overdiagnosis is the phenomena that when you do a screening test, you can get one of four results: a true positive, a true negative, a false positive and a false negative,” said Mohler.

To better explain the concept, he used mammography as an example: • A true positive is when the radiologist sees a lump and you get it biopsied and it’s cancer.

• A true negative is when the mammogram looks fine and you really don’t have anything.

• A false positive is when the radiologist sees a lump but it’s not really cancer at all.

• A false negative is when a mammogram looks fine but there’s really cancer that the doctor can’t see.

“As mammography gets better and we’re able to see smaller and smaller things, we do find some real cancers—but some of which if you’d never found them, nothing

bad would’ve ever happened to you,” said Mohler.

False positives are often followed by additional tests and treatment, generating unnecessary expense and anxiety for the patient. But most physicians don’t want to take the risk of downplaying something that could prove deadly.

“So we label you with the ‘Big C.’ You get treatments, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and then we’ve changed your life forever,” said Mohler.

Just as pharmaceutical companies greatly influence America’s health care system, preventive screening is largely driven by the radiology industry. Despite America’s guidelines that call for annual breast cancer screenings compared to Europe’s endorsement of every two to three years, health outcomes for women in both regions are very similar. In some ways,

Europe’s guidelines are better because patients don’t receive unnecessary treatment.

“Statistics from the last few years tell us that you have to mammogram 1,000 40-year-old women every year for 10 years to save one or two women’s life,” said Mohler.

“In the meantime, you find a whole bunch of overdiagnoses and put women through this rigmarole that didn’t do them any good.”

DIFFERENT STANDARDS OF CARE The difficulty with many health screenings is that they’ve not yet advanced to where doctors can tell whether the cancer that’s been detected requires treatment or can just be ignored.

“We’ll eventually figure out which cancers are the bad actors and which aren’t. Maybe we don’t do away with mammography, but

3 QUESTIONS to ask your doctor at EVERY visit ■ Do I absolutely need this new test,

prescription, X-ray or consultation?

■ What will happen if I don’t take this

medicine or do this test?

■ Which of my medications can I stop?

maybe we don’t do it so early or we don’t do it every year,” said Mohler.

In the meantime, patients shouldn’t be afraid to ask their doctor about less invasive and less expensive treatments with similar outcomes. For example, in Europe, stool cards are the standard when screening for colon cancer instead of a colonoscopy.

“In Scandinavia, the standard of care with prostate cancer is to watch and wait, and treat only the patients who become symptomatic,” he said. “In the U.S., we treat everyone, even if treatment has no benefit.”

The first step in taking charge of your health, Mohler advised, is to develop a trusted relationship with a primary care physician.

“Every person should have a primary care physician who knows them and knows what they value,” he said.

He warned patients to be careful about asking physicians for a particular medicine; often a doctor’s desire to please will overrule good clinical judgment.

“Physicians are great at starting new medicines and lousy about stopping them,” he said.

Mohler taught his patients to keep lists of their medications and to ask each time they came in, “What can I stop?”

“Women are great at this,” said Mohler. “Men need to man up!” ■ For further insight on this topic, read Boomer Beat on page 37.

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | COVER STORY |

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Take pride in your heritage Ginger DeCavitch engages kids with Native culture on Ute Heritage Day

By Jan Weeks

Having common backgrounds allowed DeCavitch to treat students from the Ute and Navajo tribes as equals by recognizing their tribal affiliation, inquiring about their families, asking if they participated in traditional dances as well as if they worked on the reservations.

“I hoped to set up a dialogue showing I respected their backgrounds and heritage,” she explained.

Once the ice was broken, the middle school kids were open and excited to share artifacts, music and other tribal material with the class.

Giving the students opportunities to talk about their cultures, traditions and customs helped them gain an appreciation for their heritage.

DeCavitch invited Native Hawaiian kids to come and teach her students about their culture and Hawaiian history.

“Both the visitors and middle school students gained so much confidence just by being recognized,” she said.

W

henever Ginger DeCavitch, 70, told people she taught middle school science and social studies, comments ranged from “Oh, you poor thing!” to “You must have the patience of a saint.” But DeCavitch had another take on it: “I don’t teach middle school; I teach young people who are at a very important crossroads in their lives.”

She retired after 35 years of teaching, but continues to build on that legacy with the founding of Ute Heritage Day.

SHARED EXPERIENCES DeCavitch has a special place in her heart for all the students at Mt. Garfield Middle School, but particularly for Native Americans because she is Native Hawaiian.

“We share many common experiences, including losing our lands, languages, and customs.

Native Hawaiians didn’t know it wasn’t okay to go topless!” she said.

Native Hawaiians lost their land in 1893 when U.S. troops overthrew Queen Lili‘uokalani at the urging of Sanford Ballard Dole of pineapple fame. Incidentally, pineapples are not native to the islands; Dole imported them from Mexico.

PRESERVING NATIVE HISTORY Ginger DeCavitch was awarded the 2019 State Archaeologist’s Award by History Colorado Center for her development of an annual Rough Canyon Archaeology Education and Service Day.

Mt. Garfield Middle School eighth-grade students help clean graffiti and other vandalism at Rough Canyon in 2019.

10 | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Her students’ educational opportunities weren’t limited to the classroom. In April 2017, DeCavitch took 30 students on a field trip to the Mica Mine area and they were shocked by what they found.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS significance of petroglyphs.

UTE HERITAGE DAY

Daniel Chapoose shows off a Uintah-Ouray Tribe papoose back cradle at Ute Heritage Day. Vandals used charcoal from campfires to scrawl their names and profanities on the walls of the canyon.

Some had even incised graffiti into the stone with broken glass or other tools. The area was littered with broken beer bottles and trash. The students unanimously decided to help clean up the site, as well as the vandalism in Rough Canyon, where petroglyphs and rock art had been defaced.

The cleanup was so successful that in the spring of 2018, DeCavitch and fellow teacher Stephanie Bernstein selected another group of students to revisit the area. Betsy Chapoose, director of cultural rights and protection for the Ute Tribe, came on board and helped steer efforts in ways that preserved artifacts and were acceptable to the Bureau of Land Management and the Ute Tribal Council. Some things, such as cleaning up graffiti, have to be done by restorers approved by the tribe because of their cultural value.

Other groups such as Great Old Broads for Wilderness and the Colorado Canyons Association worked alongside the kids to block trails that vandals had made and to clean up the mess. Their efforts resulted in a restored historical site, as well as learning about the history and

Back at Mt. Garfield Middle School, the students’ enthusiasm for learning more about local Native American history and traditions led DeCavitch, now retired, to create Ute Heritage Day. The first celebration was held at the school in May 2019 and was limited to students. Tribal members from Fort Duchesne, Utah, demonstrated to students how to bead, make a petroglyph and throw a spear with an atlatl in this hands-on event. The kids also observed demonstrations of flint knapping and the bear dance, and learned about museum curation, ethnobotany and desert ecosystems. It wasn’t long before the students begged to allow their parents to come, too.

The second event was scheduled for spring of 2020, but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Students designed T-shirts, worked on PR and formed committees for the Ute Festival, but in December 2019 the school policies changed as flu closures hit and then COVID,” said DeCavitch.

“We printed the kids’ T-shirts and delivered them in the spring with masks on. Such great kids were so disappointed.”

However, students, UintahOuray tribal members and teachers look forward to celebrating the next Ute Heritage Day in spring 2022. In the meantime, the History Colorado Center in Denver added an exhibit of the project to its museum, which will be displayed for the next four years.

DeCavitch truly exemplifies the teaching spirit—guiding young people to find pride, responsibility and empathy as they learn required subjects. She’s one of those educators who will never truly retire, continuing to educate people of all ages and backgrounds as long as she’s able. ■

WATCH LOCAL HISTORY Learn about the past on Mesa County Libraries' YouTube page.

Watch videos about a historic ranch, ghost towns, early post offices, mining, the legacy of a Ute chief, and more – all produced by your local public library!

Visit the Local History playlist at youtube.com/user/yourmcl/playlists

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 |

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Do I need to go to church?

Dear Old Bag: My widowed daughter recently introduced us to her new fiancé. We knew she was serious about someone, but since we live in different cities 500 miles apart, we don’t see her often. They came to visit a couple of weeks ago. He’s a very nice guy, but we felt she should have prepared us for the fact that he’s African American. We managed just fine, but we do have reservations since he has two children from a previous marriage and she has two from her marriage. They said they are hoping to have one more together. I guess I’m a little miffed she didn’t share that he was black and that I’m about to have two new grandchildren. What do you think? Signed, B.C. Dear BC: First, I want to compliment you and your husband. The fact that your daughter didn’t see any need to tell you that her husband-to-be was black shows me that she didn’t think it would matter to you, just as it doesn’t matter to her. However, you’re thinking that she should have told you may have uncovered some hidden racist feelings you didn’t know you had. Once you’re aware of those feelings, you can deal with them and become a better person for it. I strongly believe that you, your daughter and future son-in-law, and all the grandchildren will get along just fine.

Blessings and luck to you all, OB Dear Old Bag: I was married to a man for 50 years who passed away last month. The truth is, I was ready to leave him, but then he became ill and I felt obligated to stay with him. That resulted in three more years of pain for me. However, now all my friends and family have heaped upon me condolences, beautiful cards and letters talking about our beautiful memories, and so on. I feel guilty because with his death I felt relief. If I tell them I don’t feel bad, they’ll think I’m terrible. Each day it seems to get worse. Any suggestions? Signed, No Grief

ASK THE OLD BAG

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Dear No Grief: I’m sorry you don’t feel grief for your late husband’s passing. I’m also sorry for your unhappy marriage. It is what it is. You can’t manufacture feelings. Perhaps you can grieve for what was missing in your marriage that gave you such relief when he passed. Excuse your friends who sent the typical cards and condolences—they don’t know what went on inside your marriage. We never really know what goes on in another’s life unless they share it with us. For those who are still tolerating bad relationships, this is what happens if you don’t do something about it! OB Dear Old Bag: I’ve become friends with a man in my neighborhood.

We’ve had many good discussions and he has a great sense of humor, too. Last week, he invited me to go to church with him. I stopped going to church because I felt they were making rules and decisions that weren’t of God but were rules of their church. I told my friend about this, and he said his church is spiritual and not organized like most religions. I think I’m spiritual already. Do I need to go to church? Signed, AH Dear AH: I could write a whole column on this subject. Your friend seems to know what’s right for him, and you know what’s right for you. I agree that there’s a difference between spirituality and religion. To me, spirituality is doing good things, treating people well, being honest and forgiving, and praying to your higher power for guidance. I’ll continue our discussion in future columns because over the years it has come up time and again. OB ■

ASK THE OLD BAG

ADVICE COLUMN FOR THE OVER 50 CROWD

BY GAYLE LAGMAN-CRESWICK

Send your questions to the Old Bag in care of the BEACON, or email her directly at LagmanCreswick@Gmail.com

April is National Volunteer Month!

Join us in celebrating HopeWest volunteers and their extraordinary contributions to our communities.

Visit HopeWestCO.org to learn more about volunteering at HopeWest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to profoundly changing the way our communities experience aging, serious illness, and grief – one family at a time.

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | ASK THE OLD BAG |

13

HEALTHY GEEZER

The difference between hip resurfacing and hip replacement

T

here is a surgical alternative to total hip replacement. It’s called hip resurfacing.

Developed in the 1960s, the procedure has been popular in Europe, and thousands have had hips resurfaced in the last 10 years.

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The ball is at the top of the femur (thigh bone) and the socket is in the pelvis. In hip replacement surgery, the ball is replaced with a metal or ceramic substitute. The socket is fitted with a metal cup to hold the new ball.

With hip resurfacing, the primary difference is that the surgeon doesn’t remove the femoral ball.

Instead, the damaged ball is reshaped, and then a metal cap is anchored over it.

Hip resurfacing is at least as hard on the patient as a total replacement. It can take six months or

more to heal completely from the surgery. Resurfacing also requires a larger incision than replacing a hip.

A crucial issue with a total joint replacement is its longevity. A substitute hip is good for about 20 years, and it’s difficult to remove and replace it once it’s shot. Hip resurfacing, unlike hip replacement, preserves enough bone to permit a total replacement if one is necessary in the future.

However, surgeons estimate that only 10 to 15 percent of people with bad hips can consider hip resurfacing instead of replacement.

For example, resurfacing is not recommended for patients with osteoporosis—a disease that makes bones porous and vulnerable to fractures.

One question that’s been raised about resurfacing concerns the electrically charged metal atoms

that enter the body as the cup rubs against the cap in the hip joint.

Some studies have raised fears that these charged metal atoms might cause disease.

As a precaution, the Food and Drug Administration has dictated that the materials used in resurfacing should not be implanted in women who plan to have children, nor in patients whose kidneys have been weakened by diseases such as diabetes.

Is there an age cut-off for hip resurfacing? Every decision about surgery should be made by each individual with the advice of a

physician. Some of the health care experts who’ve studied hip resurfacing contend that there still isn’t enough known about the safety of the procedure. They advise getting a replacement hip joint if you’re older than 65.

About 300,000 people in this country have their hips replaced annually. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that joint replacement surgery is successful in more than 9 out of 10 people. ■

HEALTHY GEEZER

BY FRED CICETTI Send your general health questions to the Healthy Geezer in care of the BEACON, or email him directly at Fred@HealthyGeezer.com

COVID-19 VACCINE QUESTIONS?

WE CAN HELP 970-248-6900 HOW DO I SIGN UP? IS IT MY TURN? WHEN IS MY APPOINTMENT?

A TRUSTED AND RELIABLE SOURCE FOR COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION.

14 | HEALTH & WELLNESS | APRIL 2021 |

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More information about COVID-19 can be found by visiting www.health.mesacounty.us

How to treat post-COVID vaccination symptoms

M

illions of people around the world are opting for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Whether you decide to receive the vaccine is entirely up to you.

Talk to your doctor about your best options. For those of you who do opt to get it, and then suffer from post-vaccination discomfort, here’s what you can do to help alleviate some of those symptoms: • Proper injection of the COVID-19 shot. If the skin is pinched as the needle is injected, it could cause the vaccine to get placed into the fatty tissue right underneath your skin instead of the muscle where it’s supposed to be. In other words, they don’t need to be pinching your deltoid muscle.

• Pain at the site of injection. This is a very common occurrence.

If you’ve ever received a shot in your arm, you already know that the surrounding muscles can feel sore for up to a week. The reaction may be immediate or slightly delayed. If it’s pinkish-red, you can apply some hydrocortisone to the area. Some experts suggest an antihistamine like Benadryl or Claritin if the redness and heat prove to be too much.

You may also take over-thecounter analgesics such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) if needed. There are subtle differences between those two medications, so please be sure to read the precautions for each.

Plus, they’re useful for relieving minor aches and pains. Currently, it’s not advised to take them in advance of the shot, as doing so may

impact your immune system’s response to the vaccine.

• Swelling at the site of injection. The fastest remedy for swelling is to place a cold pack on your arm for about 5-10 minutes, which you can repeat every few hours. Another trick is to try a warm compress (i.e. soak a towel in very warm water, and wring it out). You can even alternate between an ice pack and a warm compress.

Over-the-counter analgesics like those listed above could prove handy for this reaction as well.

• Pain and aches or fever.

In most cases, fever or mild discomfort in the body is quite normal. You may take Tylenol or ibuprofen to reduce the aches, pain and fever. If it’s mild, give yourself a sponge bath with lukewarm water and Epsom salts. Get into bed wearing lighter pajamas and drink plenty of cool water.

• Sensitivity to the first shot. If you have a severe reaction to the first shot, then you need to contact your physician for more instructions and cancel your second shot, if scheduled. ■

DEAR PHARMACIST

BY SUZY COHEN For more articles and advice, sign up for Suzy’s newsletter at www.SuzyCohen.com

DEAR PHARMACIST

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15

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Passing gas is a necessity of life.

So, let ’er rip!

By Wendell Fowler

C

ue the snickers. We’ve all been blushing victims of an unavoidable toot or belch at a socially inappropriate time, surprising or offending everyone in the immediate vicinity. Nonetheless, expelling gas is an inevitable, and in fact necessary, part of digestion.

THANKS FOR THE FARTS The word “fart” comes from the Old English word “feortan,” which means “to break wind.” Nowadays, it has many other euphemisms: “pass gas,” “let one rip,” “toot,” “a Bronx cheer,” and the proverbial “cut the cheese.”

As giggling kids, we didn’t care where this great source of laughter

originated. It was simply hilarious.

My grandchildren once posed the question, “If we don’t belch or fart, Grandpa, would we explode?”

Then, shortly after our marriage, my wife questioned what I did with all the toots and burps while we dated.

In some countries, burping and passing gas are compliments.

Letting one rip after a meal is an expression of thanks to the Canadian Inuits. An Indian tribe in South America called the Yanomami fart as a greeting. In China, belching is a compliment to the host on the food. One can even find employment as a professional fart-smeller (supposedly, your farts can say a lot about your health).

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

IN SOME COUNTRIES, BURPING AND PASSING GAS ARE COMPLIMENTS...

AN EXPRESSION OF THANKS. Everyone passes gas and belches (some more prolifically than others), as it’s nature’s method for getting rid of byproducts of digestion. However, some farts are more unpleasant than others. At work, my wife observed that the shared bathroom was especially eye-watering after her carnivorous peers had a BM. Meat and cheese, combined with a lack of plant-based fiber, take copious amounts of energy and time to digest. As a result, they loiter in our digestive system longer, where they ferment, decay and create gas.

The pungency of gas is affected by how long it takes for the body to digest food. The less time food spends inside the dark recess of our colon, the less it has time to produce nostril-burning gas. That’s just one of the many reasons to take probiotics and eat fibrous foods that keep the bowls a-movin’.

Helpful “good” probiotic bacteria living in our gut break down food.

This metabolic process creates hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane, the source of the odor.

Some foods, including beans, tend to cause gas because our bodies are not well equipped to digest them... especially undercooked beans.

Most people break wind about 14 to 22 times a day. Between billions of humans and millions of factory-farmed pigs and cows, imagine how much methane is released each day contributing to global warming. Oh, humanity!

WHAT CAUSES GAS? When it comes to foods, fart fodder includes beans and lentils, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions, as well as whole-grain foods such as cereals, bread and crackers. Sugar found in fruit and juices is also a contributor,

as well as processed foods containing high-fructose corn syrup.

Sorbitol is another super gassy sugar found in both diet drinks and foods.

Gas can also be caused by the imbalance of good and bad microorganisms in the large intestine. The body can’t completely break down some sugars, starches and fiber in beans, grains and certain vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. We also get bubbly when our bodies can’t tolerate certain things such as lactose. Lactose— and other dairy products—pose problems for people who don’t produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose.

When a toot’s wet, it’s because mucus or some watery stool passes out alongside gas. Wetness may occur due to something we’ve consumed or may be a symptom of an underlying health condition.

Burping can be the result of people simply tending to swallow air when eating soup or any liquid with a spoon. Swallowing air also happens when chewing gum, smoking, drinking carbonated drinks or eating and drinking large amounts too quickly. According to Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates, stinky, sulfur burps can be caused by many conditions including stress, reflux, IBS and bacterial infections like H. pylori. Certain foods can also cause sulfur burps—such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and garlic.

If someone tells you they don’t fart or burp much, either they’re lying, something’s seriously wrong or they’re wishing to imitate the Hindenburg. So the next time you feel a bodily gas coming on, rather than try to hold it in, let it rip! Just be polite, cover your mouth, excuse yourself...or light a match. ■

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April is National Volunteer Month and we would like to say “Thank You” to our SOS volunteers for the thousands of hours and miles they put into driving homebound older adults each month.

Become an SOS Volunteer and help provide rides and independence to homebound seniors.

Supporting Our Seniors (SOS) is a transportation program that provides rides to homebound seniors age 60 and over. Our volunteers provide seniors a ride to the grocery store, pharmacy, and medical appointments, helping them maintain their independence.

We are currently seeking volunteers who have their own vehicle, valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance. We offer flexible schedules and mileage reimbursement.

To become a volunteer, please call:

970-248-2746 or apply online at

www.htop.org/volunteer

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | HEALTH & WELLNESS |

17

LAUGHING MATTERS

LAUGHING MATTERS COVID TRUTHS Submitted by Jan Weeks They say you can have gatherings of up to 10 people without any issues.

I don’t know 10 people without any issues.

We should train all Amazon delivery drivers to give the vaccine.

The whole population would be immunized by Saturday. Thursday, if you’ve got Prime.

So, you’ve eaten hot dogs and Chicken McNuggets all your life but don’t want the vaccine because you don’t know what’s in it?

Who would’ve thought one day we’d be smoking weed at a family gathering, and the illegal part would be the family gathering?

TAKE YOUR KID TO WORK DAY Submitted by Eddie Porter A man took his 8-year-old daugh-

ter to the office with him on “Take Your Kid to Work Day.” As they walked around the office, the girl started crying and getting very cranky. Her father asked her what was wrong.

As the staff gathered around, she sobbed loudly, “Daddy, where are all the clowns you said you worked with?”

GOING WIRELESS Submitted by Esther Porter After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year outside of Buffalo, New York, scientists found traces of copper cable dating back 120 years. They came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, a Los Angeles, California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet somewhere just outside

Oceanside.

Shortly after, a story in the LA Times read, “California archaeologists, reporting a finding of 200-year-old copper cable, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 100 years earlier than the New Yorkers.”

One week later, a local newspaper in Mack, Colorado reported the following: “After digging down about 30 feet deep in his pasture near the community of Mack, Henry Olson, a hell of an engineer and a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Henry has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Mack had already gone wireless.”

Just makes a person proud to be from the Grand Valley.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME Submitted by Frankie Roland My 4-year-old grandson, Eric, had enjoyed the family vacation at

Orlando but was also anxious to get home to his puppy back in Kansas.

He listened as different people on the airport shuttle called out their car locations as they drove through the parking garage.

“B-7, ’91 Dodge” called one.

“F-12, ’95 Pontiac” called another.

Suddenly, Eric stood up and yelled, “Just give me Kansas!”

GOING TO THE GAME Submitted by Harry Fishman It’s game seven of the NBA finals and a man makes his way to his seat at center court. He sits down and notices the seat next to him is empty. He leans over and asks his neighbor if someone is sitting there.

His neighbor says, “No, the seat’s empty.”

“What?!” the man exclaims.

“Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the NBA finals and not use it?”

The neighbor responds, “Well, the seat is mine, but my wife passed away and this is the first NBA game we haven’t been to together.”

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LAUGHING MATTERS “I’m sorry to hear that,” replies the first man. “Wasn’t there anyone else—a friend or relative—that could’ve taken that seat?”

“No,” the neighbor says, “They’re all at the funeral.”

Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

3. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

A FEW CHUCKLES

4. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.

Submitted by Jan Weeks Being a little older, I am very fortunate to have someone to call and check on me every day. He is from India and is very concerned about my car warranty.

5. Take a new pill, cradle cat in the left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger.

Hold mouth shut.

We’re not aging—we are ripening to perfection.

6. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of the wardrobe. Call spouse in.

Dove chocolate tastes way better than their soap.

They say every piece of chocolate you eat shortens your life by two minutes. I’ve done the math. Seems I died in 1537.

We all know mirrors don’t lie. I’m just grateful that they don’t laugh.

It helps if you imagine autocorrect as a tiny little elf in your phone who’s trying so hard to be helpful but is quite drunk.

HOW TO GIVE A CAT A PILL Submitted by Michelle Maddison How to give a cat a pill: 1. Pick up the cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby.

2. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in the right hand. As the cat opens its mouth, pop the pill in.

7. Wrap cat in towel and get spouse to hold cat with head just visible. Put pill in end of drinking straw, put in cat’s mouth and blow down straw.

8. Check the label to make sure the pill is not harmful to humans and drink one beer to take the taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

9. Call the fire department to retrieve the cat from the top of the tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid the cat.

10. Take last pill and put it in cat’s mouth, followed by piece of steak.

11. Open another beer.

How to give a dog a pill: 1. Wrap it in bacon. ■

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Laugh !

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The Cottages let you live independently while giving you the freedom to make the most of your retirement. Our single-level patio homes offer privacy and luxury with open living plans, two bedrooms, two baths, vaulted ceilings, contemporary kitchens, gas fireplace, covered patio, and a one-car garage. Enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle with paid utilities, weekly housekeeping, snow removal, lawn maintenance, and flexible meal options at our Commons or Fountains dining rooms. Plus you and your loved ones get peace of mind with a 24-hour emergency response system.

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19

PET PAGE Rejuvenate your body and soothe your soul

COVID’s impact on the animal welfare world

By Anna Stout, Roice-Hurst Humane Society

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20 | PET PAGE | APRIL 2021 |

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L

ast year the animal welfare world underwent an impressive transformation due to the pandemic. One of the major lessons the industry learned is one that Roice-Hurst has prioritized for years— we must focus on the human side of animal sheltering to truly serve the needs of pets.

When we hired a social worker a couple of years ago, we did so knowing she could help connect pet owners to resources beyond the needs of their animals. Additionally, we know that we do better work when we help people keep and care for their pets than when we focus solely on sheltering those animals.

We saw this shift take place nationwide as animal shelters worked with human services to serve pet owners throughout the crisis and focused on addressing the root causes of pet homelessness.

Animal welfare organizations also discovered the power of the community as an extension of shelters. We saw that we can put highly adoptable pets (not just puppies and kittens) into foster homes and expand the lifesaving capacity of each shelter beyond the number of kennels it has.

For example, Roice-Hurst had over 100 foster applications come in within a few days of issuing our call last March. That meant our shelter capacity more than doubled without having to lift a hammer!

At the same time, many shelters took advantage of having fewer animals on site to redeploy staff to other critical functions around the community—offering behavior support for pet owners and fosters, providing resources for owners in crisis, and caring for pets with more intensive behavior and medical cases at the shelter. At Roice-Hurst,

ANIMAL SHELTERS SERVE A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CARING FOR AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY’S MOST VULNERABLE PETS, BUT THEY SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT FOR HOUSING ANIMALS. we also expanded our pet pantry and our veterinary capacity, which allowed us to serve even more of our community’s pets.

Another positive outcome of the pandemic was that shelters worked together to offer support and share information. At one point, my team and I participated in three Zoom calls a week—a national call focused on how shelters and rescues were adapting operations to the challenges of the pandemic, a regional call with Western Colorado shelters to discuss ways to collaborate and support each other, and a national call for leaders in animal welfare.

Animal shelters serve a crucial role in caring for and protecting our community’s most vulnerable pets, but they should be a last resort for housing animals. Shelters are stronger and more effective when we work with others in our community to care for pets and to address the factors that lead to abandoned, homeless or abused pets.

Western Colorado is lucky to have a deeply ingrained sense of interconnectedness, which has led to some remarkable collaborations.

Local human-focused organizations and animal welfare groups have been creating a nationwide model for human-animal partnerships.

That cooperation will ultimately lead to even better outcomes for our community’s pets and for the people who love them. ■

PET PAGE

In memory of Lizzy, Montrose’s favorite Schnauzer

By Ofelia Zarlengo Lizzy was my angel sent from Heaven. She was very well known in Montrose. Everywhere we went, women, children and even big guys at Home Depot would comment on how well she behaved. She never barked, which was unusual for a Schnauzer. At mass, the congregation couldn’t Can CompassMedical Medical Center helphelp with?with get over how still she was— What What Can Compass Center Spinal Decompression Osteoarthritis like a stuffed animal. Last Spinal Decompression Osteoarthritis Neck and Back Pain Headaches year, Dr. Green at San Juan Neck and Back Pain Headaches Sciatica Fibromyalgia Vet Clinic removed her Sciatica Neuropathy Fibromyalgia Degenerative Disc Disease spleen. A few days later, it Neuropathy Degenerative Disc Disease Joint Pain/Knee Pain Automobile Accidents was discovered she had can- Joint Pain/Knee Pain Automobile Accidents Weight Loss cer and didn’t have much time left. But she proved Compass Medical Center offers a variety of services to help Compass Medical Center offers a variety of services to help! him wrong! She lived for Medicine Rehabilitation Regenerative Medicine Rehabilitation six months longer than we Regenerative Joint Injections Medical Services Joint Injections Medical Services anticipated. It broke our Spinal Decompression Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Chiropractic hearts into a million piecWeight Loss Massage Weight Loss Massage es when Lizzy passed on January 18, 2021. She was who have been toldmedicine they need theraCompass Medical Center is Regenerative so pampered and so loved.Compass Medical Center is joint replacement surgery. devoted to providing access to providing access py is a great option for people Now she’s in God’s hands devoted to It can potentially regenerate excellent care in the Grand and excellent care to the who have been told they need and in puppy heaven. ■ your joint and help you avoid Valley. We are a Physical and

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Grand Valley. We are a Regenerative Medicine Clinic, Physicaloffering and Regenerative the most advanced Medicine Clinic, offering the holistic health care. most advanced holistic health care.

In addition to chiropractic, decompression and Regenerative medicine will rehabilitation services, help people suffering from regenerative medicine helps a varietypeople of inflammatory suffering from a and degenerative conditions, variety of inflammatory and in addition to Chiropractic, degenerative conditions.

Decompression and RehabiliALTERNATIVE TO tation services.

JOINT REPLACEMENT Last year inTO the US, there ALTERNATIVE JOINT were 3.5 million total joint REPLACEMENT replacements and many Last year in the US, there millions of other joint surgeries. were 3.5 million total joint In increasing numbers, people replacements and many milare seeking non-surgical lions of other joint surgeries. alternatives to joint surgery.

In increasing numbers, people Regenerative medicine therapy are seeking non-surgical is a great option for people alternatives to joint surgery.

joint replacement surgery. surgery.

It can potentially regenerate your and help you avoid We usejoint umbilical cord and birth tissue donated from jointproducts replacement surgery. carefully screened We use ana umbilical cord mothers from highly tissue /laboratory blood product from respected that a highly respected lab that capture the greatest captures all the greatest regenerative properties that would otherwise beproperties discarded. of this regenerative The proprietarydiscarded method of tissue. otherwise isolating growth factors, cells, Their proprietary method extracellular matrix and a of isolating growth factors, variety of other healing cells and stem cells gives properties, give the patient the thepossible patient the from bestapossible best benefits benefits from a Regenerative Medicineregenerative product. medicine product. The use of The use of Regenerative Medicine has shown this to stem cells and growth factors be oneshown of the best therapeutic has them to be one of methods to help aid in tissue methods the best therapeutic healing and repair. to help aid in tissue healing and repair.

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21

ALIVE & DIGGING

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n my first-ever column, I shared with you a manifesto—an invitation for you to create a space in which you’d feel connected, to experiment and play, and to venture into the gardening universe humbly and vibrantly alive and digging.

For many of us, the garden is a portal into the untamed natural world. It connects us to a realm of ideas, processes and possibilities that we’re often distanced from in our daily lives.

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Poppies add such beauty to the garden in spring, before it’s warm enough for many other flowers to come up. Sow a row of poppy seeds at the surface of the soil.

Poppies need light to germinate, so add just a thin layer of straw on top of the bed to hold in moisture and provide protection from frosts.

Pansies (from starts) are also cold hardy and the flowers are edible.

• GREENS: arugula, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, Bok choy, chard Spread seeds across the bed so that each section of soil is sprinkled with an even layer of seeds.

We’ll thin the plants as they come up, harvesting microgreens, young leaves and eventually full-grown greens. For this style of planting, a leaf lettuce might be easier to manage than a head lettuce. Cover seeds with a thin layer of soil and a thin layer of straw to hold in moisture.

• CARROTS AND BEETS Mix a bit of sand into the section of soil where you’ll sow carrots and beets (unless your garden soil is mostly clay, in which case, skip the sand and add compost instead.) Sprinkle these root veggie seeds, covering them with a thin layer of soil and then a 1-inch layer of straw. I like to cover my carrot seeds with a layer of fabric to keep the soil moist and create a darker environment, which encourages germination for carrots.

• ONIONS Spacing will depend on the variety of onion you choose, so follow the spacing guidelines on

ALIVE & DIGGING your seed packets when planting.

Sow onion seeds in rows and cover with soil, then straw. Onions are slow to start, so be diligent pulling weeds.

• PEAS AND BUCKWHEAT These plantings are more about utilizing our space in spring while we wait for temperatures to warm. Despite how hard we collectively cross our fingers, tomatoes go in the ground after Mother’s Day. Utilizing garden space means planting something in your tomato patch that will grow during the weeks and months leading up to that glorious day of tomato planting.

Our thick bed of buckwheat will suppress weeds, put out

flowers for beneficial insects, and fix nitrogen in the soil—all while taking care of the space in our garden that will eventually hold tomatoes and peppers.

You can also plant peas in areas that will be used for warm-weather plants. I like to plant a larger area of peas for a few reasons: Young sweet pea shoots taste wonderful in salads, so this is a cover crop that I’ll harvest and eat! Later, I’ll use this space to plant corn, beans and squash: the three sisters.

The act of gardening is a simple one. And simplicity is what makes gardening so enchanting. May you venture into your garden universe and find everything you need. ■

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23

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Age-Positive Birthday Cards Artists celebrate age as an achievement

By Jan Weeks

S

pin any card rack and you’ll see anyone over the age of 60 portrayed as doddering, flatulent, senile or cantankerous, especially when the card celebrates a birthday.

Talk about midcentury stereotypes!

Now that 70 is the new 40, it’s time to update the image of seniors.

Changing the Narrative is a national movement that seeks to show how older people contribute

to both the community and the workforce with their knowledge and experience. According to Director Janine Vanderburg, Colorado was the first state to establish a reframing aging initiative. Based in Hotchkiss, Vanderburg often travels to bring Changing the Narrative’s message to audiences across the state.

At workshops on aging, she’s found that the experience of age-

ism—the discrimination of people on the basis of their age—is all too common among older adults. A recent survey showed that 82 percent of people age 50-80 experience ageism in their everyday lives. While birthday cards are just a small (and perhaps, silly) example, ageism is a serious problem. Many studies show that ageism has negative effects on seniors’ health and financial security.

Changing the Narrative decided to seek age-celebrating alternatives, sponsoring a contest for greeting cards that are age appropriate and uplifting instead of disparaging to older folks.

“Older adults are often curious, active and engaged, yet so many birthday card choices mock older adults or make aging seem like a period of decline, depression and dependence,” Vanderburg said.

“The fact is, we are living longer and healthier lives that give us the chance to do more and become

Lu Anne Tyrrell’s winning birthday card features daisies, which she finds inspiring and uplifting. more. Older age has its own unique benefits to celebrate.”

AGING IS A GIFT Out of 60 entries, two of the 23 card winners hail from Colorado’s Western Slope.

Montrose resident Lu Anne Tyrrell, 64, doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t creating art. As a child, she colored and drew daily.

Now, her favorite medium varies among photography, watercolor and mixed media.

When Tyrrell saw Changing the Narrative’s request for entries to an

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“I HOPE THIS CAMPAIGN WILL ALLOW OTHERS TO SEE AGING AS AN ACHIEVEMENT, NOT SOMETHING TO DREAD.” anti-ageism birthday card contest, she saw a chance to use her art to change perceptions of what aging should look like. She submitted three images for consideration.

“I chose the daisies popping up as I found them filled with life, vibrant, inspiring and uplifting. As we know, daisies come back every year, beautiful as ever. So should we,” Tyrrell said.

While she has never experienced ageism personally, Tyrrell counts herself lucky. One thing she has observed is the backhanded compliment of someone (especially a woman) looking good…for their age.

“I’ve enjoyed being involved with Changing the Narrative because I believe in their mission statement, and I think it’s very important,” she said.

When Tyrrell was notified that her image of daisies was one of the winners, she wrote this inscription for the card: “Your life continues to bloom in loving ways. May this day bring you birthday joy and love.”

Orchard City resident Cara Helmick, a licensed clinical social worker, was also a winner of the birthday card contest.

Her day job at Volunteers of America’s Senior CommUnity Care center in Eckert serves clients over the age of 55 who meet the standards for nursing home care but want to age in place.

Working with older people has made Helmick, who is in her 30s, more aware of ageism on both sides of 50.

“As a young woman working primarily with older adults, I am often asked how old I am, as if my age is the determining factor in my ability to do my work,” said Helmick.

Likewise, she is also critical of how society constantly pushes

creams, lotions and potions on women to delay or stop the aging process.

“I believe aging is a gift and we should celebrate each year we live,” said Helmick. “As I get older, I find I am wiser, more in tune with myself and my body, have greater understanding and patience, and find more joy in simple things.”

AGE-POSITIVE ART Unlike Tyrrell, Helmick started creating art less than three years ago, when she was introduced to watercolor by two colleagues.

“I was mesmerized! I quickly picked up some basic techniques and taught myself by watching tutorials online and taking an hourlong introductory class with a local artist. I’m intrigued by how the color moves through the water on paper,” said Helmick.

Because she started her artistic endeavors with watercolor, that’s the medium she chose for the contest, painting a colorful hot air balloon with the inscription “Every year you continue to rise in greatness” on the inside.

Helmick, like Tyrrell, seeks artistic creativity to keep her mind active and fresh, and inspires others to do the same. Both artists are passionate about helping others, and keep service at the forefront of everything they do. In fact, it was Helmick’s clients’ stories of endurance and courage that inspired the card she created.

“I want the world to know how special they are, and that we should celebrate their accomplishments and their lives,” Helmick said. “Older people have many stories to tell and too often no one will listen. I hope this campaign will allow others to see aging as an achievement, not something to dread.”

Find both artists’ cards (along with the other winners) online at www.changingthenarrativeco.org/ anti-ageist-birthday-card-gallery.

Click “Buy Now” to purchase an anti-ageist birthday card for $6 each. ■

William Floryancic turns 103 William Floryancic celebrated his birthday on March 9 at the Grand Junction VA Medical Center. In addition to being a twice-drafted Army veteran, he was a well-known entrepreneur and held the prestigious title of Palisade Peach Festival’s “Town Grouch” for several years. (Town Grouch is a competition between residents over who can raise the most money.)

John F. Aragon Sr. turns 93 The Aragon family (and dog Pancho) treated Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa and Great-Great-Grandpa to a surprise birthday potluck and cupcakes on March 8. Although he misses playing the guitar, the retired musician played a little tune on his organ despite severe arthritis. We thank God for letting us enjoy another day with him!

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a i t W i ng? l l i t S

Here, there be

dinosaurs Delta County Rock Wranglers credits its founding to this incredible discovery

By Arlyn Macdonald

R

ock hunting is a great hobby for all ages to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate the natural resources of an area and explore the earth sciences. The Delta County Rock Wranglers—one of over 450 rock and mineral clubs across the U.S.— began half a century ago with an amazing discovery.

In 1971, Vivian and Ed Jones, two of the club’s founding members, unearthed a large 150 million-year-old toe bone belonging to a new species of dinosaur: Torvosaurus tanneri. Over the next 20 years, 4,000 bones from over 30 different species were eventually unearthed, including two new species.

Experts from all over the world trekked to the site. Famous news reporter Walter Cronkite did an onsite story about the discovery.

While the dig was eventually shut down, the 55-acre excavation site is

still considered one of the premier areas in the world for showing the history of paleontology, and is accessible by four-wheel drive in the summer.

This important scientific discovery on Dry Mesa, located 26 miles from the city of Delta, inspired local amateur geologists and rockhounds to form the Rock Wranglers. The Delta County Rock Wranglers club was established to “enhance the hobby of rock collecting,” according to Harry Masinton, the club’s president.

“It’s a great organization to help people better appreciate geology, the dos and don’ts of collecting, and to have fun,” Masinton said.

ROCK ENTHUSIASTS WELCOME The Rock Wranglers welcome all who have an interest in rocks, geology and the lapidary arts—stones, minerals and gems shaped into

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Rock Wranglers Club President Harry Masinton demonstrates the kinds of petrified wood that can be found on the club’s field trips.

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Guide The Rock Wranglers welcome all who have an interest in rocks, geology and the lapidary arts.

THE 55-ACRE EXCAVATION SITE IS STILL CONSIDERED ONE OF THE PREMIER AREAS IN THE WORLD FOR SHOWING THE HISTORY OF PALEONTOLOGY, AND IS ACCESSIBLE BY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. decorative items.

The club meets monthly from September through May and spends the rest of the warm months out in the field. Over the years, field trips have remained a favorite club activity. A recent outing took club members on a search for petrified wood samples.

Del Canty, a 30-year member of the club, keeps and maintains the seven big diamond saws used by club members to cut their rocks, along with smaller equipment.

“It gives members a chance to cut different sizes of their specimens,” Canty explained. “Barite, petrified wood and dinosaur bones are found in this area.”

Club Treasurer Sheila Corrigan likes learning about other collectors’ interests when they get together at monthly meetings.

“It’s a good group of friends. Everybody is friendly and shares their love of rocks,” Corrigan said.

Meetings feature speakers and members sharing their expertise, as well as demonstrations like jewelry making with cabochons (rocks that are cut and polished to show the

depths of their colors).

The club has continued to meet during COVID while following all appropriate health guidelines.

ROCK AND MINERAL SHOW The Rock Wranglers are looking forward to hosting the annual Rock and Mineral Show this year, which was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

“We expect 900-1,000 visitors this year. Admission is free and there will be 25-30 vendors, dealers, demonstrations, family activities and door prizes,” Masinton said.

The show is scheduled for Saturday, June 5, 2021, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center in Delta.

For more information about the show or joining the Delta County Rock Wranglers, contact Masinton at 856-3861. Annual membership fees are $5 for individuals and $10 for couples and families. Plus, learn more about the discoveries on Dry Mesa by watching the 1976 documentary, “The Great Dinosaur Discovery” on YouTube. ■

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27

Safety IN numbers TRAVEL

Get traveling again (safely) with a group tour

By Victor Block

M

y wife and I had long dreamed of visiting Costa Rica. We knew about its reputation for magnificent landscapes, abundant animal and bird life, and preservation of the magnificent environment.

We could have spent hours searching the Internet for flights and hotels, reserving a rental car and taking care of the many other details required. But we didn’t.

Instead, we made a single phone call that took care of all of the necessary planning. Additionally, we knew that we would be following an itinerary that combined the must-see attractions with a number of hidden gems that we otherwise might have missed. We also had the comfort of knowing that we would get good value for our hard-earned dollars.

every aspect of a trip, hoping that nothing has been overlooked.

Others follow a different route.

They turn to tour companies that travel to the destination (or destinations) they wish to visit and let their experts handle the details.

We went to Costa Rica with a tour operator we’d traveled with before: Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). OAT’s itinerary allowed us to squeeze as many experiences as

IN AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT CLIENTS, SOME GROUP TRAVEL COMPANIES HAVE BEEN OFFERING DISCOUNTS ON 2021 TRIPS.

GROUP COMFORTS Of course, there’s something to be said for the enjoyment of planning a trip. For some people, a vacation begins when they start to make phone calls, book lodging on their computer and take the countless other steps required to deal with

28 | TRAVEL | APRIL 2021 |

possible into every hour of each day.

For example, one day included a visit to an OAT-sponsored school, where the children greeted the group with a charming folkloric presentation. It was followed by a traditional lunch with a local family and a guided horseback ride through dense forest. Another day began with a hands-on tortilla-making lesson, followed by viewing giant crocodiles at close range and

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ended with time spent on one of Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches.

Our experience underscored the benefits of traveling with a group.

• Follow the leader. Many tour guides live locally or, if not, have been there many times. They can bring the history, culture and other aspects of a place to life in ways that enhance your travel experience.

• Relax on the road. Driving in another country can be stressful at best, and downright dangerous if, for example, it requires sticking to the opposite side of the highway. When a professional driver is at the wheel, you can sit back, relax and take in the passing scenery.

• Safety in numbers. Traveling with a group is safer than venturing out on your own, especially in an unfamiliar place. Plus, guides know what areas of a city to steer clear of and can provide assistance in case you encounter a problem.

• When cost is a factor. Because tour operators receive group

TRAVEL discounts on many aspects of a trip, the total cost can offer more bang for the buck. In addition, guides can provide practical tips like good places to shop and where to get the best currency exchange rate.

• Share the satisfaction. We’ve met people on group tours whose company we enjoy during bus rides and at mealtimes. In some cases, they’ve become friends who share our love of travel and with whom we’ve planned future trips together.

• Staying healthy. In this time of concern about remaining healthy while traveling, going with a tour group can provide peace of mind.

Companies have instituted a variety of measures to keep both trip participants and guides safe.

SAFE TRAVELS OAT’s group tours follow a long list of safety protocols. In addition to using face coverings, hand sanitizer, temperature checks and other well-

known basics, it provides disinfected headsets that allow travelers to maintain “social distancing.” Also, OAT arranges to visit popular locations before or after large crowds congregate and limits the number of people sharing a vehicle. Learn more online at www.oattravel.com.

Untours, another travel site, practiced social distancing long before it became an everyday phrase.

This company combines the planning, services and on-site support of a group tour with the benefits of independent travel.

During our three trips with Un-

tours, the only times that we met with other participants were during a first-day briefing, the goodbye dinner and an optional group activity we opted to take. Other than that, we were on our own.

Our accommodations included an apartment at a vineyard and comfortable lodging on a farm. We had use of either a rental car or public transportation passes. An on-site representative was available to answer questions, offer suggestions and provide additional assistance that we might request.

In an effort to attract clients,

some group travel companies have been offering discounts on 2021 trips. For example, G Adventures offers discounts of up to 15 percent off the price of dozens of tour options.

Finally, Travel Stride is a definitive source of information about, and bookings with, travel companies that offer more than 30,000 guided trips, adventure packages and river cruises. Anyone may use the site, and members can receive a cash bonus of up to $600 per trip.

Ready to get traveling again?

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GJT BEACON SENIOR NEWS

90 years, still flying strong

Grand Junction Regional Airport celebrates big anniversary

By Jan Weeks

N

inety years ago, the first airplanes bounced down on a dirt landing strip north of Grand Junction. In 1935, seeing the potential that air traffic could bring to the town, Walter Walker—owner and publisher of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel—garnered support for what would become the first commercial airport on the Western Slope. Over the next few years, runways and taxiways bloomed where only sagebrush and cactus had been.

In the midst of World War II, the U.S. Government allocated money to build a runway capable of handling large transport aircraft, including airlines. When the war ended, Western Airlines scheduled routine flights to and from Grand Junction to Los Angeles. It wasn’t long before United, Continental and Trans World Airlines wanted access to what was then known as Walker Field for their intercontinental routes. Monarch Aviation and the

U.S. Weather Bureau (now known as the National Weather Service) moved to the airport in the 1940s.

Dick Pond’s Aeroplane restaurant and lounge provided a place for passengers to fuel up before and after a flight. Travelers and locals alike could count on good food, good service, reasonable prices and entertain themselves by watching planes land and take off through large plate glass window that overlooked the runway. Pond also catered the food for inflight meals back in the day.

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS Ted Balbier, the aiport’s unofficial historian, spent 45 years working there—first as the head of maintenance and later as airport fire

VIRTUALLY ANY AIRCRAFT CAN LAND HERE. AIR FORCE ONE HAS LANDED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE CAN MEET ALL EXPECTED FUTURE NEEDS,” ­— AIRPORT DIRECTOR ANGELA PADALECKI

The westward view from the airport’s tower, c.

1972.

30 | APRIL 2021 |

chief. During that time, plenty of celebrities passed through the former airport and the new Grand Junction Regional Airport. Balbier recalled meeting Wolfman Jack in the Aeroplane Restaurant. Comedian George Carlin and actor Lee Marvin also stopped there.

Balbier recalled working one Saturday when James Arness of “Gunsmoke” fame walked up to him and asked, “Son, where’s the head?”

Puzzled because the airport boss didn’t work on Saturday, Balbier replied, “It’s his day off.”

Arness put his hand on Balbier’s shoulder and said, “The restroom, son. The restroom.”

Other notables included Ernie Banks, shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs; Catfish Hunt-

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er, who pitched for the Kansas City/ Oakland Athletics; and “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron, right fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves.

When interest in all things western skyrocketed after the release of the 1991 movie “City Slickers,” Southwest Airlines took advantage of the movie’s popularity to film a commercial. Some of the shots were filmed in Moab, but the final pieces were shot at the Grand Junction airport. Balbier recalled how tons of dirt and dozens of desert shrubs were trucked in to cover the runway so Jack Palance could sit on a saddle perched on top of a Southwest 737.

EXPANDING SERVICES As air traffic through Grand Junction increased, so did the need for more amenities. Several commercial businesses moved in such as West Star Aviation, which services and repairs private planes and has the largest paint facility west of the

The old terminal at the airport formerly known as Walker Field c. 1966 (center) before it was renovated in the 1980s (right).

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President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, arrive in Grand Junction on Air Force One in 1990.

Mississippi. FedEx has an office and terminal, flying packages to Colorado Springs, Memphis and Fresno.

Several companies, such as Colorado Flight Center and Crestone Aviation, offer charter services, pilot training, aircraft cleaning and scenic air tours.

Perhaps the main attraction of the airport has been its access to skiing. Before Aspen, Eagle and Telluride built airports, skiers flying both commercial and private jets had to deplane in Grand Junction and rent cars or take shuttles to mountain destinations. Balbier remembered meeting Gerald Ford when he was on his way to Vail and Beaver Creek, during and after his presidency.

“He was a very nice man, very friendly. He liked to chitchat and asked about ski conditions,” Balbier said.

Ford wasn’t the only president to come to Grand Junction. Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush flew in, as did Bob Dole when he ran for president in 1980. President Barack Obama visited in 2009 to address health care needs at a town hall meeting held at Central High School.

President Donald Trump also made a campaign stop here.

The City of Grand Junction used to run the airport, which included mowing grass and removing snow from runways, streets and sidewalks. Eventually an airport board was created, consisting of three city council members, three county commissioners and one at-large member. Jim Spelman was named the first airport manager in 1974.

BIG PLANS There have been many airport di-

rectors through the years. The current director, Angela Padalecki, has been with the airport since 2018.

Previously, she worked as director of airline affairs at Denver International Airport, but wanted the opportunity to raise her children in Grand Junction.

Padalecki has big plans for the airport. Recently, the abandoned half-building was razed and landscaped.

Future expansion plans include a new runway to replace the aging one. The new one will parallel the present one about 600 feet north and 1,000 feet west. The construction will have no impact on current operations. The existing runway will become a taxiway, about half as wide as it is now.

“Virtually any aircraft can land here. Air Force One has landed multiple times. We can meet all expected future needs,” Padalecki said.

Padalecki is also working to bring nonstop service to and from San Francisco to supplement the seasonal nonstop trips to Chicago’s O’Hare field and the year-round Allegiant flights to Arizona. In the future, she’d like to see Grand Junction become a hub for an airline instead of a spoke. She envisions it becoming a connecting airport that also offers 20 nonstop destinations instead of the eight it currently offers.

Though COVID-19 impacted travel significantly, traffic has bounced back and Padalecki hopes to return to pre-pandemic levels.

From a dirt strip in a small town to an expanding travel destination, Grand Junction Regional Airport has come a long way and is going even farther. ■

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FAITH

Where do you place your hope?

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A

microscopic little thing came upon the earth. It stopped us in our tracks. It paralyzed whole industries like travel, restaurants and the world of entertainment. In parts of the world, it crashed health care systems and overwhelmed the business of burying the dead. It caused us to doubt our livelihoods, our security and the span of our lives.

In this one respect, COVID-19 did us a favor. It forced us to take stock of our lives, to consider what moves us and, most importantly, where we place our hope.

It’s often only the death of a close loved one that can tear away the blissful ignorance we prefer concerning the meaning and purpose of our short lives. It was the death of our 17-year-old son in a car accident that forced Gerda and me to reassess how we wanted to live our lives. Our exuberance about life was tempered by the stark realization that this life will end. But, it also refocused us on the life to come because we have a son on the other side of death, resting in the arms of Christ.

Given this eternal hope, we are less given to fear and more driven by what needs to be crammed in before we lay down our own heads someday.

Released from the “burdens” of life, we became privileged participants in and observers of the eternal work of God—a work that’s not stopped by the curse of death.

On the contrary, death becomes a great mercy that releases us from the temporal world and its cursed

SERVING GOD GAVE US SPIRITUAL SECURITY, DEEP JOY AND AN ABIDING SENSE OF PURPOSE. distractions and welcomes us into God’s eternal presence through faith in Jesus Christ.

Years ago, when Gerda and I surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ, we didn’t know what the future would hold. Since then, we’ve experienced much hardship and many challenges. But, we also feel blessed because we were able to always rest in God’s grace, assured of His loving provision for us. Serving God— the one who sacrificed his son to restore our relationship with him— gave us spiritual security, deep joy and an abiding sense of purpose.

How does one find this security, joy and purpose? It’s hard, but simple.

The hard part is admitting to yourself that there’s something missing in your life, you tried to make it on your own and you’ve failed. That you have no hope, now or beyond the grave.

The simple part is opening your eyes to see Jesus Christ for who he is. He’s the son of God, who came to die for us so that our empty, wasted efforts could be covered by his love and blood. Next, put your hope in his death and resurrection by giving yourself and the rest of your life to him as he gave himself to make your spirit whole. Find a Christian to walk you through this, asking that person to continue encouraging and teaching you as the life of God starts taking root inside you.

It’s a challenging but most rewarding journey towards an eternity joyfully and peacefully spent with God. ■

TALKING DIGITAL

What to know when buying a new TV

W

hile recently shopping for a TV, I ran into several people I knew also perusing the TV aisles.

Overwhelmed by the options, they asked for my recommendations.

So, here are my tips to buying an affordable TV: • Buy locally. TVs are made of giant sheets of glass and they’re virtually all shipped from Korea, Japan and China. This means that the odds are relatively high that your new TV could be damaged before you even take it out of the box.

If you purchased it at a local retailer, you can quickly exchange it. Most one-star reviews for TVs are from people who received damaged TVs, a factor that has nothing to do with the brand or model.

• Don’t splurge for a smart TV. Today, most TVs offer the ability to stream Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and other services without any add-on devices. But, in my experience, the built-in streaming features are rarely as good as an external Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire Stick, which cost less than $100 each. Therefore, you don’t need to pay extra because you can always add that later.

• Screens are measured diagonally. If you have a 52-inch-wide space for a TV, it’ll fit a 58-inch TV. Make sure to measure the space you have available for a TV and compare it to the dimensions on the box. You should find dimensions with and without the legs or stand.

• You get what you pay for, but you can pay too much. Many low-end TVs are made by the same manufacturers. Formerly trusted brands like Sharp, JVC, Toshiba and Westinghouse are made of lower quality materials.

Like anything else, you can have low cost, fast manufacturing or good quality, but you can’t have all three.

WHEN CHOOSING A TV, TRUST YOUR EYES, ONLINE REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OTHERS. If you see the same TV model excessively stocked by all retailers, you can bet that the TV was produced at high volume with inexpensive parts, and it won’t be the same quality as the better brands.

• LED, QLED, or OLED? Anyone shopping for a TV should know they vary in brightness, color and contrast. The least expensive TVs offer an edge-lit LED panel, which means the light is coming from the edges of the screen and shines through the transparent red, green and blue pixels. More expensive LED TVs offer direct-lit LED screens where the backlight runs across the entire screen.

QLED TVs offer higher contrast and brighter screens across smaller pixels in a wider range of colors. OLED screens offer the most contrast with deep blacks and vastly superior color because each pixel makes its own light.

Before you decide, compare the display TVs. If you can’t tell the difference or it doesn’t matter, don’t waste the money.

• Display TVs are calibrated differently. Here’s a dirty little secret: Expensive display TVs are often calibrated by experts for optimal color, brightness and clarity. Inexpensive TVs are just taken out of the box and put on display. You’ll also notice that the most expensive TVs are displayed in dark corners of the store, which make them appear brighter. I often ask for the display TV remote so I can do a quick calibration to see how much improvement can be made.

able if it is carefully repackaged.

• Salespeople are biased. If you ask a Ford dealer what type of car you should buy, they’ll recommend a Ford. The same goes for electronics retailers. When choosing a TV, trust your eyes, online reviews and recommendations from others more than the salesperson whose only experience has been with the demo unit on the sales floor.

• TVs can be safely mounted on a wall. Hanging a TV on the wall is a simple process if you have a couple of helpers, a good stud finder and drill. TV mounts can be purchased anywhere that sells electronics or hardware. Prices vary, so shop around.

Finally, make sure the TV is 4K and offers high dynamic range.

These are standard features that won’t cost extra. 4K ensures the sharpest picture, and HDR ensures better color and more details in the contrast. ■

• Carefully unpack the TV. TVs are fragile and also intricately packed. I sometimes take pictures as I unpack, because if I have to return or exchange it, I’ve found customer service is more agree-

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33

MONEY & SCAMS

Don’t you want buckets of money?

Take care of your retirement first

By Karen Telleen-Lawton

D

id you know that more than 6 percent of student loan borrowers are over the age of 60?

Most are paying off loans taken out for children or grandchildren.

Although generous, holding debt as a senior makes retirement more difficult. Judicious spending and saving are important at any age, but are particularly essential for those over 50.

Wouldn’t it reduce your stress considerably to know you were on track to retire with buckets of money? The buckets represent money destinations, such as fixed expenses, variable expenses, savings and taxes. Fixed expenses are those that you don’t have much control over in the short term (one year), such as mortgages, property taxes

and education loans. Variable ones are everything else—the ones you could trim in an emergency or to improve your bottom line.

These buckets are very different sizes. The variable expense bucket is like a water glass that you drink and refill frequently. It’s a smaller container because you refresh it every payday.

The fixed expenses bucket is larger. You contribute to it every paycheck, too, but your expenses are larger and sometimes infrequent. They’re often stored up for months at a time until a big bill—insurance, property tax, etc.—comes due. Since the expenses are fixed, you can determine how much of each paycheck needs to go in this bucket by totaling your annual fixed expenses and dividing by 12.

The savings bucket may be the hardest to contribute to. If your variable expenses fill a drinking glass and your fixed expenses fill a cooking pot, your savings bucket might fill a large recycling bin. It might seem futile even to attempt to contribute to this one since the drinking glass and cooking pot are so much easi-

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MONEY & SCAMS

ORGANIZING YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE WILL EASE YOUR WHOLE LIFE, EVEN IF YOUR FINANCIAL PICTURE IS WORSE THAN YOU IMAGINED. er to fill. But fill it you must.

The latest figure shows Americans save about 4 percent of their income on average. At that rate, it could take 25 years to save one year’s worth of income. A one or two-year retirement doesn’t jive well with our longer life spans and expectations of an enjoyable and stress-free retirement.

In contrast, a 20 percent savings rate will grow to about 25 times your annual income in approximately 40 years. At that point, you could likely draw 4 percent per year forever. Social Security can reduce that requirement somewhat, and any pension to which you’re entitled reduces the required savings percentage further.

For maximum retirement flexibility, you can build up several funds from which you’ll draw your income. Tax-deferred accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s enable you to hold and grow your income pre-tax until you withdraw it. Roth IRAs hold already-taxed deposits, so there’s no further tax to pay. Individual accounts (such as a personal savings or brokerage account) are not tax advantaged. They are the most flexible, which also increases the risk that you’ll withdraw funds before retirement. With funds in each of these instruments, you can alter your withdrawal schedule

depending on your tax situation in a particular year.

An underrated benefit of sticking to a high savings rate is getting used to a simpler standard of living.

The obvious benefit is that it is fiscally conservative, helping you prepare for whatever surprises await you. An unexpected illness or accident is a lot more likely than an unexpected windfall. Health costs can wreak havoc if we live too close to the financial edge.

I’d argue that a simpler lifestyle is also better for the psyche and better for the environment, too. The best things in life may not always be free, but there’s freedom in not needing expensive experiences to enjoy life.

Finally, living more simply improves your ability and frame of mind for sharing your wealth with whatever causes most touch your heart. This may be elevating the world’s poor or contributing to medical breakthroughs. It could include funding your children’s and grandchildren’s educations, after you’ve taken care of your own retirement.

Organizing your financial life will ease your whole life, even if your financial picture is worse than you imagined. The truth will set you free—free to live and free to give buckets of money. ■

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35

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT

How many electricians does it take to change a lightbulb?

Just one.

Buzz Electric offers electrical services big and small

By Melinda Mawdsley

P

aul Brisco tried a few customer service and retail jobs when he was younger, but nothing sparked his interest until he gave electrical work a try (pun intended).

Brisco’s been an electrician for more than 20 years. In June 2020, he opened Buzz Electric—a bold move in any year, let alone in the midst of a global pandemic. He didn’t make the decision lightly.

Brisco was confident he had the experience and desire to provide the best customer service.

“I wanted to treat customers better,” Brisco said. “I wanted to open a family shop and be honest and fair to everybody. It doesn’t matter if you drive a Mercedes or don’t have a car—I want to be your friend more than for you to be my customer.”

That attitude has resulted in the loyal customers he’s had over the last 20 years, who often hand out his business card. Brisco is so committed to a family-first atmosphere, he compiled a dozen potential business names and let his three young boys choose it. Buzz Electric won, and it works.

“I have three little boys— ages 2, 5 and 7,” Brisco said.

“I love being busy.”

Which is fortunate, because the need for electricians hasn’t slowed down since June. Turns out, when more and more people are spending time indoors—as was the case this past year—they notice more and more things that either need repaired or upgraded.

Whether working remotely, connecting with family and friends via social media or finding new ways to make their home more entertaining or functional, people turn to Brisco.

For example, he can install outlets with USB charging ports for phones and tablets, add lighting for improved virtual work meetings and family/ friend video chats, and upgrade bathroom exhaust fans to play music.

Wait, what was that last one?

“That’s a thing now,” Brisco said with a laugh.

He encouraged seniors to call for even small things like smoke detector/carbon monoxide installa-

tions or battery checks.

“If you have an older smoke detector, those batteries need to be replaced every year, but newer models have a 10-year battery,” Brisco added.

Buzz Electric even offers light bulb switch outs.

“We come in and change all bulbs to one color and make it brighter.

Sometimes you need a little more light, changing the yellow to more

white,” Brisco said. “It saves you going up and down a ladder.”

He can also add recess lighting, ceiling fans, quieter exhaust fans or even add real overhead lighting in older homes where none exist.

“I can do a lot with little to no drywall damage,” Brisco said.

In addition to a lengthy list of residential electrical work he’s qualified to do, Brisco does commercial work, too.

He offers free quotes to all customers and often tries to connect with people within a day or two.

“I’m available and happy to help,” Brisco said.

For a free quote, call Buzz Electric at 4142899. ■

“Absolutely awesome company!”

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36 | BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT | APRIL 2021 |

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EMERGENCY SERVICE

970-414-BUZZ 2

8

9

9

Sometimes the doctor doesn’t know best A n unusual looking spot here or a sore knee there has us Boomers finding ourselves at the doctor’s office more frequently these days.

Hopefully, the wisdom we have gained by having more years under our belts has extended into our medical care. I know mine has.

The medical perspectives shared

by Dr. Phil Mohler on page 8 of this issue are ones I take to heart.

People in the United States are over diagnosed, over treated and over medicated. We should take an active role in our health care, ask challenging questions and understand that doctors are human, too.

For years, I had a family practice physician who was kind, caring and a good listener. However, after too many bad calls and medical experiences gone awry—causing unnecessary physical and financial pain—I began to question his judgment.

In one instance, a visit for a deep plantar wart turned into multiple appointments for liquid nitrogen freezing applications. From past experience, I knew this procedure was pointless, yet I didn’t speak up.

Instead, I incurred a huge bill due to the procedure’s ridiculous coding as “surgery.” I finally wised up, and one trip to a podiatrist took care of the problem at a reasonable cost.

After years of feeling badgered by this same physician about the need to take cholesterol medication, I learned of a better alternative from my brother who had the same experience and took matters into his own hands. He scheduled a simple Calcium CT Scan, which

showed that even though his cholesterol numbers were slightly elevated like mine, zero plaque was lining the walls of his veins. Following his lead, I received the same results and literally got the doctor off my back about an unnecessary medication.

Before meeting Dr. Mohler, I self-prescribed myself calcium and fish oil because I heard they were good for women over 50. Despite being an extremely healthy person with no symptoms to require either, my doctor never questioned their use. I no longer take these supplements and continue on a healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise routine.

In my late 40s, I was over diagnosed two years in a row as a result of routine mammogram screenings. Instead of taking a “wait and see” approach to extremely small unidentifiable specs on the image, which would have been Mohler’s advice, I endured two general anesthesia surgeries. After stress and tears, I was told the results were harmless calcium deposits typical of dense tissue. Have a nice day.

I won’t bore you with more of my experiences as I’m sure you have many of your own.

If you get anything from this column, it’s to drop the old school attitude of “Just do what the doctor says.” Ask what would happen if you don’t take this medication or do this screening or surgery. It’s your body, your life. Be an active participant in your health care instead of a bystander. ■

BOOMER BEAT

BY MELANIE WISEMAN Send your questions to Melanie in care of the BEACON, or email her directly at MelanieWisewoman@Gmail.com

BOOMER BEAT

COMMUNITY CONNECTION VILLAGE COOPERATIVE: Raising Eyebrows for Good Reasons

Architectural rendering of Village Cooperative - Construction Starting Soon

A New Home Ownership Option for Active Adults (62+) is Coming to Grand Junction When Real Estate Equities Development looks to develop a new Village Cooperative housing community for active adults, they carefully select the area using a whole host of data points.

But these communities don’t serve data points, they serve real people. That’s why they are so excited about their Grand Junction community that is now being planned for construction.

What is a senior cooperative?

This home ownership option lives very different from a single-family home, townhouse, condo or assisted living community. When people decide to live here, they’re not only wanting to get rid of the oversized house that requires too much time, effort and money to maintain, but also to live better, to have closer ties to their neighbors and families, and to have the little luxuries they deserve.

The Village Cooperative of Grand Junction offers a unique building design, management style and ownership structure.

Instead of buying a home outright for $450,000 or more, Village Cooperative owners purchase an equity share, typically around $170,000 and then a monthly share of the operating expenses of about $1,600 (based on the size and location of the home) that covers all maintenance outside and inside the homes, including replacing your light bulbs.

While it’s not a new concept, it is new to the Western Slope. In fact, senior housing cooperatives have been around for over 40 years, primarily found throughout the Midwest and designed for active adults who want to own their home with no maintenance.

Contact Lisa Doudy at

(970) 628-3628 to attend an upcoming free informational seminar and get more details about this exciting (62+) community. Or for more information, visit VillageCooperative.com WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | BOOMER BEAT |

37

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

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By Ellen Cochrane

O

n a dark, June night our steps crushed a bloom of bioluminescent dinoflagellates, also known as glowing sea plankton. The footprints behind us shimmered blueish-green, proclaiming the creature’s annoyance. I trudged in a line of naturalists on the edge of California, reveling in the fulfillment of a lifetime dream.

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For years I was determined to place myself back into nature, and not just as an occasional visitor. Twenty years of teaching in an urban, public school had not erased the push of the Pacific wind from my thoughts or dried up the smell of sunbaked oat grass.

I was looking for a chance to nudge my inner child back to Mother Nature. And I had a sense of urgency—being older made me aware of the tick-tock of time.

I realized my dream by going to naturalist school.

Just after sunrise in Heart’s Desire Park, a sheltered cove in the Point Reyes National Seashore, I began naturalist adult camp. For one week, 25 people of all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds practiced survival skills and studied redwood ecology and the Coho salmon watershed. We studied, camped, ate and drank beer together.

Naturalists learn facts. For five or so hours a day, we studied in the classroom. Scientists, non-profit

conservation program directors, volunteers, authors and other naturalists schooled us on local flora, fauna and geology. The remainder of the time we learned outdoors.

A twisty path curled through the redwood forest. We stopped to watch our guide unwrap a tissue, examining what looked like a tomato seed. Interest turned to astonishment when she pointed to a giant of the forest. The minute dot was a redwood seed.

We walked creek trails alongside salmon spawning grounds and learned the breeding cycle from biologists. Later that same day, we helped repot native plant seedlings and redwood sprouts with a botanist. A few days later, we were immersed in the world of mist nets and tagging native bird species.

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“IT’S IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE OLDER PEOPLE TO FIND THEIR PATH AROUND SCIENCES, OUTDOORS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.” We took notes, kept journals and sketched—all staples of the classically trained naturalist.

My most emotional moment came when we examined a washedup female blue whale on the Bolinas Duxbury Reef. It was impossible not to feel pity standing next to the lifeless body of the largest species on earth, most likely hit by a ship. We learned later that she was part of a research project and her migration from Alaska to Mexico had been tracked for 18 years.

By the end of the week, we had developed strong bonds and a network of colleagues, and were ready to volunteer. Having earned our chops, we could join the nationwide movement of building cadres of like-minded people who want to share nature in a positive way, not focusing on conflict resolution or policy battles.

Multiple studies point to the benefits of volunteering, especially later in life. But becoming a steward of the earth, supporting environmental programs and introducing the young to life-changing adventures is not just volunteering—it’s a passion. Most naturalists find their calendars packed and some are much busier volunteering than when they worked. However, this commitment is a calling more than another career.

VOLUNTEER IN NATURE For those interested in naturalism, the start of your journey is just a click away. The Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs’ website, www.anrosp. wildapricot.org, assembles information on nationwide trainings, including a directory of states that currently have programs. To date, 27 states offer instruction and more join every year.

Universities and state agencies oversee the classes, and budding naturalists train 40 hours or more with local environmental partner organizations or instructors who are experts in the immediate geographic area. Students learn about flora and fauna ecosystems and conservation, as well as broader environmental issues.

Some courses are taught in a classroom setting with field trips.

Others, like my class, are 24/7 immersion courses in nature. After you complete the course, you’re ready to work. Some do use the training to seek out encore careers, but others feed their souls by finding the perfect volunteer niche.

University of California Program Director Adina Merenlender observed that naturalist training brings together people from all walks of life, including those who wouldn’t normally interact.

“It’s important to engage youth and older people to find their path around sciences, outdoors and the environment—to find their life’s work,” Merenlender said.

I found my path and fed my soul when the moon set on Heart’s Desire Beach. ■

Trust is earned Western Colorado has turned to Hilltop for compassionate care for over 70 years.

Our award-winning senior living communities offer: n Luxurious apartments with views, spacious floorplans, and paid utilities n Restaurant-style dining n Beautiful outdoor spaces and walking trails n Social activities and trips

n 24-hour emergency response system n Flexible care options to meet your current and future needs n Temporary assisted stays n Customized wellness program helps you “Stay Fit for Life!”

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When you choose Hilltop Senior Living Communities, your money stays right here in our community, supporting a nonprofit that has provided Western Colorado with compassionate and comprehensive human services for over 70 years.

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 |

39

Mesa MeSa County County

CALENDAR Calendar

supportive relationships with members of marginalized communities.

Register in advance.

5-6:30 p.m. | Free | www.mesacoun tylibraries.org/events | 243-4442

Due to COVID-19, please contact event organizers to confirm details before attending.

April 5

April 1

Recycled Book Art Entries

Easter Egg Scramble

Calling all artists who can imagine something special in a recycled book! Mesa County Libraries invites art submissions through April 5 using the book block, pages or cover to create something unique.

Due by 8 p.m. | www.mesacounty libraries.org/recycledbookartshow | 243-4442

Bring grandkids (up to age 7) to the Fruita Community Center for a fun backyard egg hunt, plus a photo op with the Easter Bunny! Participants must preregister for a time slot.

4 or 5 p.m. | 324 N. Coulson St., Fruita | Free | 858-0360

April 3

Widowmaker Race

Run a challenging 6- or 9-mile race on a single-track trail starting from Little Park Road Trailhead with Mesa Monument Striders. Call or email for more details.

10 a.m. | 773-3124 | nachtambule@ aol.com

April 3

Easter Wine Hunt

Mesa Park Vineyards hosts its second annual Easter wine hunt.

Register for either the early bird or afternoon hunt to collect wine, candy-filled eggs, gift cards and more!

Ticket includes a glass of wine and any prizes you find.

10 a.m. or 2 p.m. | 3321 C Road, Palisade | $25 | 628-9113

April 5 Monday Night Group Run Mesa Monument Striders invites runners of all abilities to join a 6-mile group run on the Pollock Bench trail, with shorter options available.

6-7 p.m. | Pollock Bench Trailhead, Fruita | www.mesamon umentstriders.com

April 6

April 7, 14, 21, 28

Hear from mystery novelist Manuel Ramos. Register for the Zoom link.

Workshop space is limited.

6-7:30 p.m. | www.westerncolorado writers.org

Roice-Hurst Humane Society offers a low-cost vaccination clinic every Wednesday by appointment only.

All vaccine costs are in addition to a mandatory $16 pet exam fee. Call to claim your spot.

2-6 p.m. | 362 28 Road, Grand Junction | $16 | 434-7337

Virtual Writers Night: Writing the Mystery Novel

April 7

Virtual Photography Webinar

Explore a variety of wildlife, nature and outdoor images from Colorado photographer Fred McClanahan, Jr. as he discusses tips on how to be in the right place and get just the right shot. Register online.

10-11 a.m. | Free | www.local.aarp. org/grand-junction-co

April 7

Easton Corbin Live

Warehouse25sixty-five hosts a night of live country music.

8-11 p.m. | 2565 American Way, Grand Junction | $40-$60 | 628-4321

World’s Largest Virtual Beer Toast

Celebrate National Beer Day with the third annual World’s Largest Virtual Beer Toast, hopefully breaking the previous world record with your favorite hometown beer!

7 p.m. | www.facebook.com/Beer Goals

Caregiver’s Writing Workshop Build community and explore self-compassion through the use of writing prompts, stories, poems and art at the First Congregational United Church of Christ. Space is limited; register online.

1-3 p.m. | 1425 N. Fifth St., Grand Junction | Free | www.westerncolo radowriters.org | 261-1820

How to Be an Ally

Join Fruita for Equality for a panel discussion on Zoom about allyship, which is the process of building

$5 off

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• Heels • Boots • Shoe Shine

• Sewing Repairs • Stretching • Purses & Belts

Tues-Fri 10:00 - 5:30 • Sat 10:00-2:30 2493 HWY 6 & 50 / Cottonwood Mall WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

April 9-18

Downtown Restaurant Week

Sample the best Grand Junction restaurants have to offer. Enjoy farm-to-table cuisine, local wine, seasonal menus and more at participating downtown restaurants. www.EATdtgj.org | 245-9697

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40 | CALENDAR | APRIL 2021 |

April 9

April 7, 14, 21

April 3

241-9123

Low-cost Vaccination Clinic

Committed to keeping you safe.

Come see us for our fast and friendly service.

We will mail or deliver your prescriptions for free!

We e w lcome Rite Aid ! rs custome

464-5668 | M-F 8:30 – 6:30; Sat. 9 – 5 707 Elberta Ave., Ste. B, Palisade, CO 81526

April 10

Mala Making Workshop

Learn a new skill and have fun discovering the art of Mala making at Pressed Coffee. Ticket price includes all materials needed to construct a 108 gemstone Mala necklace, as well as your beverage of choice. Register in advance.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. | 392 W. Third St., Palisade | $75 | 464-2090

April 10 Altius Quartet virtual concert Western Slope Concert Series offers a live virtual concert of the Altius Quartet performing music by living composers. A donation of $15 is suggested.

3-5 p.m. | Free | www.western slopeconcertseries.org/con certs | 243-7337

suffering the loss of a loved one.

10-11 a.m. | Free | www.local.aarp. org/grand-junction-co

April 21

Take & Make: Art Doll

Create and print your own characters and designs directly onto fabric and sew it together to create an art doll of your own creation. Pick up a kit from a Mesa County Libraries’ branch, watch the tutorial on YouTube, and then follow along with the Artist in Residence on Zoom.

6 p.m. | Free | www.mesacounty libraries.org/events | 243-4442

April 24

NAMI: Family & Friends

LIVE. Or, enter your own slam poetry by April 15 to Western Colorado Writers’ Forum for a chance to win!

6-9 p.m. | www.westerncolorado writers.org | 541-9293

April 27 The History of Chocolate Lecture

Open for Dine-In

Enjoy a guided, virtual chocolate tasting with AARP’s Food Historian Lecture Series, followed by a time of question and answer.

Registration is required.

3:30-4:30 p.m. | Free | www.local. aarp.org/grand-junction-co

This free 90-minute seminar informs people who have loved ones with a mental health condition on how to best support them. Register for the Zoom link.

10 a.m.-12 p.m. | www.namiws.org/ calendar| 270-0213

April 24-25

Redlands Mesa Women’s Tournament

April 13

Navigating Finances after the Loss of Loved One AARP hosts a webinar equipping participants with direction and resources for their finances after

Located at the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa, women are invited to enter this two-person tournament. Bring a package of diapers to donate to Hope of the Grand Valley.

9 a.m. | 2325 W. Ridges Blvd., Grand Junction | $185/person | www.red landsmesa.com | 250-3063

April 27

Slam Poetry on Facebook LIVE

Listen to poets share their slam poetry, including Colorado Poet Laureate Bobby LeFebre on Facebook

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April 28

Virtual Video: Colorado’s Mineral Belt

Join Mesa County Libraries in a brief investigation into Colorado’s mineral endowment and its heyday of extraction, focusing on the origin, geographic extent and characteristics of the Colorado Mineral Belt.

6-7 p.m. | www.youtube.com/user/ yourmcl | 243-4442 ■ COUPON

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41

Clubs CLUBS

MeSa County

Please contact organizers to confirm details before attending. In lieu of in-person, some clubs are meeting virtually.

American Association of University Women meets monthly.

Call for location.

2nd Saturday | 11:30 a.m. | 261-2112 Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Grand Junction.

Wednesdays & Fridays | 12:45 p.m. | 244-9989 Citizens’ Climate Lobby meets monthly online via Zoom. Check their Facebook page for details and contact info.

250-4832 | grandjunction@citizesclimatelobby.org | facebook.com/ CCLGJ Clifton Book Club meets virtually on April 13 to discuss “Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill”

by Sonia Purnell. Register online.

2nd Tuesday | 8-9 a.m. | www.mesa countylibraries.org Colorado Archaeological Society Grand Junction meets monthly.

Call for location.

2nd Monday | 6:30-9 p.m. | 4334312 | www.meetup.com/CAS-GJ/ events Crafting Club meets at Clifton Library.

3rd Tuesday | 2-3 p.m. | 434-6936 Cribbage Lite meets at IHOP. Tuesdays | 5:30 p.m. | 201-7823 Cups Club meets at The Artful Cup

in Grand Junction. Meet people through cards, games, talk and tea.

Wednesdays | 2 p.m. | 257-2390 Daughters of the American Revolution, Mount Garfield Chapter, meets monthly.

719-580-0948 Fleet Reserve Association meets at VFW #3981 in Grand Junction.

All former, retired and active sea service, U.S. Navy, Marines or Coast Guard are welcome.

2nd Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 434-0868 Friendship Force meets at First Baptist Church in Grand Junction.

3rd Thursday | 6:15 p.m. | 778-6191 | www.ffwcolo.com Gem & Mineral Club meets at 2328 Monument Road in Grand Junction.

2nd Thursday, 7 p.m. | 4th Thursday, 6:30 p.m. | grandjunctionrockclub@gmail.com Golden K Kiwanis meets at the Redlands Community Center.

Wednesdays | 9-10 a.m. | facebook. com/gjgoldenk Grand Junction Petroleum & Mining Club meets at Two Rivers Convention Center.

3rd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | www. grandjunctionpmc.com Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at The Commons of Hilltop Garden Room in Grand Junction.

Tuesdays | 6:45 a.m. | 361-1806

4th Tuesday | 6:30-8 p.m. | 623-1455

Grand Valley Pets Alive meets at Church of the Nativity in Grand Junction.

3rd Wednesday | 4:30-6 p.m. | 462-7554

Mesa County Genealogical Society meets at various locations. www.mesacountygenealogy.org

Grand Valley Woodcarvers meets at Redlands Methodist Church.

1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 6 p.m. | 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 1 p.m. | 245-8817 or 257-1549

Newcomers Club meets at First Christian Church in Grand Junction.

2nd Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. | 549-0440 | www.gjnewcomers.org

Grand Valley Woodturners meets at Redlands Methodist Church.

2nd Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 245-8817 or 856-3632

Not Going Quietly meets at Center for Spiritual Living Grand Junction.

This group creates a space of empowerment, grace, community and wisdom for those age 60 and older.

2nd & 4th Tuesdays | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | 433-7799

Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Grand Junction Area Chapter, meets monthly. Call for details.

596-8510

Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets twice monthly. Call for location.

1st & 3rd Monday | 7 p.m. | 208-9228

Guys’ Giving Club meets quarterly at Springhill Suites in Grand Junction. Members donate $100 at each meeting and are invited to nominate a local charity to receive the evening’s total contributions.

1st Tuesday in February, May, August, November | 5:15 p.m. | 243-8829 or 270-6184

Questers, Grand Mesa Peaches, hosts speakers on collecting and restoring antiques.

256-9580

Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction meets at Warehouse 25sixty-five on 2565 American Way. Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 270-6162 Knights of Columbus #1062 typically meets at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Hall in Grand Junction.

2nd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | 261-1952 Knitting Club meets at Community of Christ Church in Grand Junction.

River City Singles meet weekly and for activities throughout the month.

Fridays | 5 p.m. | 210-2390 Rotary Club of Grand Junction meets weekly at the Bookcliff Country Club.

Wednesdays | 12-1:15 p.m. | 234-5030 Senior Social Club meets on Zoom via Mesa County Libraries to chat and share stories. Register online for video link.

243-4442 | www.mesacounty libraries.org

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42 | CLUBS & ACTIVITIES | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Send payment, along with your name and mailing address to:

BEACON Senior News PO Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502

Sons of Norway, Vestafjell Lodge, meets at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Grand Junction.

2nd Saturday | 1:30 p.m. | 245-5649 | www.vestafjelllodge.org

Western Colorado Amateur Radio Club meets at the Civil Patrol Hangar, 2868 Aviators Way. 2nd Saturday | 9:30 a.m. |www. w0rrz.org

SOS: Singles over 65 is an active, hip social club for single seniors!

775-400-8700 | www.meetup.com/ singles-over-65

Western Colorado Astronomy Club meets at Mesa County Libraries’ Central Branch.

1st Tuesday | 6 p.m. | 201-2865 | www.wcacastronomy.org

Sweet Adelines International, Grand Mesa A Capella Chorus, rehearses at Redlands United Methodist Church. Currently, meetings are held over Zoom. Call for an invite.

Mondays | 6:30-9 p.m. | 256-9763 | www.grandmesaacappella.com

Western Colorado Decorative Artists meets at First Congregational Church in Grand Junction.

2nd Saturday | 9 a.m. | 640-2751

Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets weekly. Call for location.

Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 361-1806

Western Slope Coin Club meets at VFW #1247 in Grand Junction.

4th Tuesday | Free currency evaluation at 5:30 p.m. | Meeting at 6:30 p.m. | 250-7036

Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets at Western Colorado Community College, Building B. 4th Tuesday | 7 p.m. | www.thunder mountaincameraclub.org

Western Slope Liberty Toastmasters meets at Chronos Builders in Grand Junction.

1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 6:30-8 p.m. | 361-1806

Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets at Grand Junction Masonic Center.

Thursdays | 261-1670

Wheels West Car Club meets at the Whitman Center, Museum of Western Colorado.

1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | www. wheelswestcarclub.org

Veterans Coffee Club meets weekly at Western Region One Source, 482 28 Road, Grand Junction.

Tuesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 257-3760 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) #3981 meets at the Post Hall, 503 Florence Road, in Grand Junction.

1st Wednesday | 5:30 p.m. | 778-8242

Yoga for Military Members at Western Region One Source, offers a free yoga class for military members and their families.

Wednesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 257-3760 ■

Question

OF THE

Month

Compiled by Lauren Berg & Cloie Sandlin

What was your first home like?

Cynthia G. - Fruita “My dad’s business was in Chicago, but he and Mom wanted to raise their kids in the countryside, so they bought a farm in northern Illinois. I had a place for horses and 4-H cattle.

I liked the fact that my family and I did so many things there and that it was in a small community.”

Tom Rich - Grand Junction “My first home as an adult was the dorm room at University of North Dakota. We have a great hockey team playing for the national championship this year—same as 50 years ago when I was there.”

Marya Johnston - Grand Junction “My childhood home was an all-electric house in Gunnison, Colorado. It turned out not to be such a good idea because it was expensive to heat.”

4 dayS oNly!

Email your club’s information to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Friday nov. 27 - monday nov.30 caSey

Rocking Recliner

4 dayS oNly! $ GRE

AT GIFT ID

S av e

$

250

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AT GIFT ID

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Friday nov. 27 - monday nov.30 A

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25%

orig. $649

yo u r ch oice

399

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orig. $649 $

“We had a building company in ** Tallahassee. Three of our homes I designed and owned the floor plans.

I always designed them with my family’s needs in mind. We’d say, ‘No other family would understand this,’ but we never had trouble selling them.”

off SToREWIDE

ea.

865 North Avenue S a v e 250 Grand Junction (970) 243-0634 ea. off SToREWIDE**

choice

Rocking Recliner

25% Plus!

0% interest until January

2024!

Store Hours: Plus!

Mon-Sat 9 to 5:30 coll aGe Rocking Recliner Sun 12 to 4 orig. 649 until January lazboy.com/grandjunction

0% interest $

*on purchases of $5000 or more (after discount) with your La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Credit Card made between Nov 27 - Nov 30 , 2020. Equal monthly payments required until January 2024. See reverse for details.

2024! doors open at 9am on Black Friday!

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | CLUBS & ACTIVITIES |

*on purchases of $5000 or more (after discount) with your La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Credit Card made between Nov 27 - Nov 30 , 2020. Equal monthly payments required until January 2024. See reverse for details.

yo u r ch oice

Vickie I. - Grand Junction

yo u r ch oice

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43

MeSa County Help wanted at Rocky Mountain Wing The Commemorative Air Force’s Rocky Mountain Wing is looking for a Public Information Officer.

For a formal job description and responsibilities, email rmw. leader@gmail.com or rmw. executive@gmail.com New CDC guidelines for vaccinated For those who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new guidelines: • You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.

• You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, unless any of those people (or anyone they live with) has an increased risk for severe illness

44 | BEACON BITS | APRIL 2021 |

Beacon Bits

from COVID.

• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms or live in a group setting.

Those who have been vaccinated are still encouraged to wear masks and social distance when in public.

Learn more online at www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/ fully-vaccinated.html.

Subsidized spay and neuter vouchers available Mesa County Animal Services is collaborating with area veterinarians to offer spay and neuter vouchers for local pet owners. With these vouchers, the cost of the procedure will be $25. Pet owners will be required to provide proof of a current rabies vaccination at the time of the procedure. If the animal does not have a current rabies vaccina-

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

tion, the owner will be required to pay for that service. Vouchers are valid through September 30, 2021.

For a list of providers, visit http:// blog.mesacounty.us/2021/03/subsidized-spayneuter-voucers-available. html or call 242-4646.

See if you qualify for Food Bank of the Rockies Food Bank of the Rockies Western Slope offers drive-thru distribution of free food boxes for low-income older adults 60+ in Mesa County.

Food boxes are available in Fruita every third Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon at Little Salt Wash Park, as well as in Palisade at 120 N. River Road from 1-3 p.m. Call 464-1138 to see if you qualify.

Emily McConnell named library’s Head of Adult Learning Emily McConnell, a four-year staff member of Mesa County Libraries, has been named Head of Adult

Learning for the library. In that position, McConnell will oversee the library’s English language acquisition and high school equivalency programs for adult learners and ensuring that the program’s volunteers, instructors, and administrative staff are trained to work with adults from a variety of backgrounds. The Adult Learning Center provides education programs to adults at no charge. Classes are taught by trained instructors and involve one-on-one or small-group instruction for adults looking to improve reading, writing, math and study skills. The center also offers GED preparation classes, high school instruction, and classes in English as a second language and citizenship. For more information, call 683-2443 or visit www. mesacountylibraries.org/services/ adultlearningcenter.

The Lodge expands its wellness team The Lodge at Grand Junction announced the addition of its newest team members: Nathan Morford as the new Director of Wellness, Caitlyn Lee as the Life Enrichment Director, and Kayti Unitt as the Director of Culinary Services. This tremendous trio will be a huge asset to the team, and they look forward to serving the Lodge’s residents and partnering with its local referral network.

Raise cash for Catalpa Camp Help the Colorado Canyons Association (CCA) raise money for new tools and equipment for their Catalpa Camp. Every year, hundreds of kids and adults stay at Catalpa, and CCA needs your help to prepare the camp for the busy river season ahead. New tools will help with fire mitigation, trail building, and much more. Donate today by mailing a check to 543 Main St. #4, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

Learn Palisade history with group tours The Palisade Historical Society joins with Pali-Tours for 2021 group history tours. This tour is a safe way to learn about Palisade history during the pandemic. The 2 ½ hour tours are for groups of four to ten people and will be in “Pinzy”—a 1975 Pinzgauer 6X6 made in Austria for the Swiss Military. Historical Society volunteers narrate the tours with information and historic photos about Palisade’s interesting agriculture and coal mining past. Dave Smith of Pali-Tours drives an adventuresome route around historic Palisade sites.

Groups should contact Pali-Tours at 697-8134 for more information and reservations. Tours are offered weekday mornings, depending on demand. ■

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of its member agencies. www.rsvpgrandjunction.com | 243-9839, ext. 5 Food Bank of the Rockies volunteers assist in a variety of areas. www.foodbankrockies.org/ western-slope-volunteer | 464-1138 Operation Interdependence needs volunteers to hand-write notes for care packages sent to U.S. military men and women. carley@oidelivers.org | 523-4217 Grand Junction Visitor Center seeks tourism ambassadors to welcome visitors to the Grand Valley. Flexible schedule. www.visitgrandjunction.com | 256-4054 MOPS Kids (Mothers of Preschoolers) volunteers watch children while parents attend MOPS meetings at Canyon View Vineyard Church Call 549-6637

To be a volunteer, it takes…

Generosity, a willingness to give Generosity your time to others.

Understanding, because their lives might Understanding be very different from your own.

Empathy, an ability to put yourself in someone Empathy else’s shoes, and feel what they must feel.

Compassion, to truly care about making Compassion someone else’s life better.

Patience, because the process doesn’t always Patience go as smoothly as it might.

Dedication, to stick with the project Dedication and see it through.

Volunteer with us!

Call the Foster Grandparent or Senior Companion Programs (970) 298-9092 www.WesternSlopeSeniorVoluneers.org

Grand Junction Vein Center

Treating varicose veins, spider veins, and vein problems

Dr. Andrew Morse

Palisade Historical Society welcomes volunteers who like to share the history of Palisade.

Email pbwalker630@acsol.net Foster Grandparents are needed in school classrooms.

Applicants must be age 55+ and may be eligible for a tax-free stipend.

Call 298-9092 Senior Companions 55+ provide friendship and drive homebound seniors to errands and appointments.

Call 298-9092 Mesa County Spellbinders tell stories to kids in kindergarten through fifth grade once a month during the school year. www.spellbinders.org | 243-7303

Email your business news to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Have Tired Achy Legs?

Call Today For Your Vein Screening!

Covered By Insurance In Most Cases

242-VEIN

GJVEIN.COM

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | BEACON BITS |

45

Support Groups CALENDAR

MeSa Montrose County & Delta

Some support group meetings may be canceled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact organizers to confirm meeting details before attending.

Caregiver Connections meets at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest, 3090 N. 12th St. Tuesdays | 10-11:30 a.m. | 241-2212

Church, 3241 F ¼ Road.

Mondays | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 628-1453

Caregiver Support Group meets at Cappella Grand Junction, 628 261/2 Road. Call to RSVP. 1st Thursday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 822-7070 Come Back Yoga is open to veterans and their caregivers at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road.

Wednesdays | 2:15-3:15 p.m. | 257-3764 Compassionate Friends offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents at Unity Church.

1st Tuesday | 7-8:30 p.m. | 434-3822 COPD Support Group meets at 581 Grand Valley Drive.

4th Friday | 2 p.m. | 317-7556 | jimcampbell3@aol.com

Grief Group for Pets meets at Roice-Hurst Humane Society, 362 28 Road.

2nd Wednesday, bi-monthly | 6-7 p.m. | 434-7337, ext. 103 Head & Neck Cancer Support Group meets at Colorado West Otolaryngologists, 2643 Patterson Road, #503 (St. Mary’s Hospital).

1st Tuesday | 6:30-8 p.m. | 245-2400 Healing Hands Hour meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

Thursdays | 12-1 p.m. | 298-2351 HEARTBEAT/Survivors After Suicide meets at First Congregational Church, 1425 N 5th St., Grand Junction.

3rd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | 778-9274

Gamblers Anonymous’ 12-step meeting is held at The Meeting Hall, 1938 N. First St. in Grand Junction.

Tuesdays | 7-8 p.m. | 917-363-3719

Job Searching After 50 Networking Group meets at Mesa County Workforce Center. You must register as a job seeker at www. connectingcolorado.com.

1st & 3rd Thursdays | 8:30-10 a.m. | 248-7560

GriefShare, a nondenominational Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one, meets at Clifton Christian

Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma Support Group meets monthly in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

3rd Monday | 4-5 p.m. | 298-2351

Tuesdays | 10:30 a.m. | 257-3764

MACHO Men cancer support group meets at the VA Medical Center In-Patient Dining Room, 2121 North Ave. 1st Thursday | 2 p.m. | 298-2351

TOPS Club weight-loss support group meets at Grace Point Church, 606 28 3/4 Road.

Wednesdays | 9 a.m. | 523-0243

Mending Hearts is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Call for location.

Thursdays | 2-3:30 p.m. | 257-2390

Veteran Coffee Club meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road.

Wednesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 257-3764

Mindful Pain Management meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road.

Fridays | 1 p.m. | 257-3764

Veteran Peer Support meets weekly at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road.

Wednesdays | 2-3 p.m. | 257-3764

MS Breakfast Group meets at Village Inn, 757 Horizon Drive.

1st Tuesday | 9 a.m. | 985-4935

Veteran Spouses Grief and Loss ladies-only support group meets at the Grand Junction Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Wednesdays | 9-10:30 a.m. | 263-8986

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) meets at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fruita.

4th Tuesday | 6-7:30 p.m. | www.NAMIWS.org | 303-349-2934 Not Going Quietly, a space of empowerment, community and grace for adults 60+, meets at the Center for Spiritual Living.

2nd Tuesday | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | www. cslgj.org | 433-7799 Parents of Addicted Loved Ones meets at First Presbyterian Church, 3940 27 1/2 Road.

Thursdays | 6:30 p.m. | 379-5786 PTSD Support Group meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road.

Woman to Woman cancer support group meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

3rd Thursday | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | 298-2351 Yoga For Life meets at the St. Mary’s Life Center Aerobics Room.

Tuesdays | 5:30-6:45 p.m. | 298-2351 Yoga for Military Members, hosted at Western Region One Source, offers a free beginner yoga class for military members and their family.

Wednesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 257-3760. n

List your support group for FREE Let seniors know you’re here to help by listing your support group in our monthly magazine.

Your group’s name: _________________________________ Where do you meet? ________________________________ When do you meet? _________________________________ Contact number: ___________________________________ Email: __________________________________________ Website (if applicable): _______________________________

46 | SUPPORT GROUPS | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado

Email:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Call: 970-243-8829 *Subject to space availability

To register for programs, and for COVID-19 updates, call Grand Junction Parks and Recreation at 254-3866 or visit www.gjparksandrec.org.

The Senior Recreation Center remains closed, except for classes

FITNESS Sherwood Park Fitness Circuit

Learn how to properly utilize the newly installed fitness circuit at Sherwood Park as well as secrets to maximizing your workouts!

Meet at the Juniper Shelter on the south side of the park.

5:30-6:30 p.m. | April 15 | Sherwood Park | Free

Gentle Active Yoga

Beginning April 6, this class is designed for an active beginner and above. Variations, props, and more challenging options are offered. Please bring your own mat.

8-9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Fridays | Senior Recreation Center | 10-punch pass $50, $7 drop-in

Splash Aqua Aerobics

Moderate intensity activities incorporate noodles, hand paddles, water weights and more.

Class size is limited. Reservations are required up to one week in advance at www.gjpr.org/ swimreservation. Silver Sneakers membership eligible.

8:30-9:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays | Orchard Mesa Pool | 12-punch card $46.50, $4.50 drop-in

SPORT Beginners Pickleball Clinic

This clinic is designed for players with skill levels of 1.0 (brand new) to 2.5 (beginning). Learn rules, equipment and basic play strategies.

Equipment is provided.

9-11 a.m. | April 10 | Pineridge Park courts | $15

Western Slope Regional Pickleball Tournament

Register by April 30 for a weekend-long pickleball tournament to be signed up for men’s, women’s, or mixed with skill levels ranging from 3.0-4.5+.

May 8 & 9 | $35

DANCE Line Dance (April 12-May 17)

The first 45 minutes focus on learning steps and practicing to music with the tempo adjusted to a speed that makes it easy to learn. The last hour will include both beginning and intermediate line dances at normal speed. No partner required.

12:15-2 p.m. | Mondays | Senior Recreation Center | $18 for session, $5 drop-in

To register for programs and for COVID-19 updates,call the Fruita Community Center at 858-0360 or viswit www.fruita.org/parksrec/page/seniors

GAMES Virtual Bingo

Join others on Zoom for an afternoon of Bingo! Email Jacqui or call the Fruita Community Center for the invite link.

2:30 p.m. Thursdays | Free | jfoster@ fruita.org

FITNESS Silver Seniors Classic

Strengthen muscles and increase range of movement. A chair can be used for seated exercises or standing support.

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Tuesdays | Fruita Community Center

Silver Seniors Circuit

Circuit training for seniors with flexibility exercises.

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Thursdays | Fruita Community Center

HIKES Senior Hikes

Meet at the Fruita Community Center’s west parking lot Wednesdays for lighter walks on river trails, or Fridays for more adventurous trails around the Grand Valley. Group size is limited; register early. Go online for the full list of hikes.

1-3 p.m. | Wednesdays & Fridays | $5 | www.fruita.org/parksrec/ page/55-senior-hikes

MEAL PROGRAMS Canyon West Worship Center

Food boxes are available every second Saturday for anyone– no registration needed.

9-11 a.m. | April 10 | 456 Kokopelli Plaza, Fruita

Food Bank of the Rockies

Food boxes for Fruita seniors are distributed every third Thursday at Little Walsh Park. Call for more information and to register for a box.

11 a.m.-12 p.m. | April 15 | 464-1138

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | FUN AFTER 50 |

47

Calendar

Montrose & Delta

ARTbar: Paint your pet

Culinary nutritionist Michelle Fox walks participants through energy-rich smoothie and muffin recipes.

Shop ingredients ahead of time and blend/bake while watching the webinar.

6:30-7:30 p.m. | Free | local.aarp.org/ montrose-co/events

April 3

Community Easter Egg Hunt

Grab the grandkids and head over to the Montrose Elks Lodge for an Easter egg hunt, face painting, a free photo-op with the Easter Bunny, vendors and more fun activities for kids of all ages.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. | 801 S. Hillcrest Drive, Montrose | $5 | 249-4852

April 3

Virtual Book Club

Discuss “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver with others who’ve read the book, virtually on Zoom. Email lmclean@montroselibrary.org for the link.

9-10 a.m. | www.montroselibrary. org/events | 249-9695 ext. 3

April 3 & 17

Montrose Winter Market

Support your local farmers’ market every other weekend outdoors on South Uncompahgre Avenue between Main and South First Streets.

Nat Geo Live: Women & Migration

April 6

April 1

Eating for More Energy

April 14

10 a.m.-1 p.m. | 433 S. First St., Montrose | Free | 249-0705

Due to COVID-19, please contact event organizers to confirm details before attending.

Bring an 8x11 photo of your favorite pet and learn how to paint your furry friend onto canvas. No experience necessary; all materials and instruction provided, as well as a drink!

6-8 p.m. | 604 Clinton St., Ridgway | $40 | 318-0892

April 8

Drawn by the promise of a better future, women have traveled to wealthier countries, a shift described as “the feminization of migration.”

Learn from renowned photographers about this growing global phenomenon at this online event.

8-9:30 p.m. | $20 | sherbino.yapsody. com

April 15

Free Legal Clinic

Delta County Libraries offers a virtual, free legal clinic for parties who have no attorney. The clinic provides information only and is not a substitute for legal representation.

2-5 p.m. | www.deltalibraries.org/ events | 399-7876

April 10

Altius Quartet virtual concert

Western Slope Concert Series offers a live virtual concert of the quartet performing music by living composers. A donation of $15 is suggested.

3-5 p.m. | www.westernslope concertseries.org/concerts | 2437337

Virtual Pizza Making Class

Chef Chad with Colorado Boy Pizzeria and Brewery shows participants how to make authentic pizzas. Email to sign up for this event.

12 p.m. | Free | tevans@montrose library.org

April 16 & 17

Calling all Artists

Bring your 2-D and 3-D original art

ready for hanging to 610 Arts Collective for the Gallery Open. Accepted art will be exhibited April 21-May 28 with winners announced in May. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | 610 Clinton St., Ridgway | $25/piece | 318-0150

April 17

Peach Valley Clean-up

Join the Colorado Canyons Association in picking up trash in Gunnison Gorge’s Peach Valley in an effort to keep our public lands clean.

9 a.m.-12 p.m. | www.colorado canyonsassociation.org/events | 263-7902

April 17

Pool tournament

Great people, great prizes and cash payouts for winners of this pool tournament at My Place.

11 a.m. | 1410 Valley View Dr., Delta | 818-0303

April 19-22

Partners Online Auction

The Partners Online Auction has over 300 goods and services up for grabs, with proceeds providing mentorship to the tri-county area. Place your bids online. https://partners-west.auction anything.com | 249-1116

April 9

April 20

ARTbar: Palette Knife Painting

Nature Journaling

Be inspired by the Ute Indian Museum’s native plants and learn to see nature in a new way with writing prompts and drawing exercises.

Supplies provided; registration required.

9 a.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | $40-45 | 249-3098

Create a colorful sunset using palette knife techniques with acrylics on canvas. No experience necessary; all materials and instruction provided, as well as a drink!

6-8 p.m. | 604 Clinton St., Ridgway | $40 | 318-0892

Need a ride to get the COVID19 vaccine?

Call to Schedule a Ride

Montrose: 249-0128 | Delta: 874-7334 No fare for trips to pre-scheduled vaccine appointments 48 | CALENDAR | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Our Local Senior Market is Booming!

April 23-25 Paleontology-Geology Raft Trip

Raft the Colorado river with Colorado Canyons Association paleontologist Rob Gay and learn about the billions of years of history written in the rocks. Plus, enjoy locally-sourced, fresh meals prepared by trip guides.

9 a.m. | $525-$575 | www.coloradocanyonsassociation.org/events | 263-7902

ADVERTISE IN THE BEACON Booming Market Seniors are the fastest growing demographic Active & Affluent Baby Boomers are redefining being a senior

Call Debra Romaniec

970-632-2367 Debra@BeaconSeniorNews.com

How do you reach them?

BEACON reaches over 50,000 readers monthly*

April 24

Oyster & Red Dirt Festival

Recognize the county’s agricultural heritage with live music at the Montrose County Events Center while enjoying the western delicacy known as Rocky Mountain oysters.

3-10 p.m. | 1036 N. Seventh St., Montrose | $12-$85 | 964-2180

April 24

Smith Mountain Ultra Marathon

Run your choice of 20 or 40 miles in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, featuring spectacular views along the way. Space is limited, so register online in advance.

7 a.m. | $100 | facebook.com/Cityof Delta/events | 874-7566

April 24

The Return to the Historic Church seminar

In America’s early history, there was a shift away from historical Christianity to the post-Second Great Awakening we know today. Preregister for this lecture by Dr. Charles Erlandson, professor of Church History at Cranmer Theological House, at St. Stephen’s Angelican Church.

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | $20 per person, $30 per couple | 2504 Sunnyside Road, Montrose | 249-4868

April 29

Wild Horses in Colorado Presentation

History Colorado takes a look at the history and present-day conditions for wild horses in the American West, and Colorado in particular, with virtual presentations on Zoom.

6-7:30 p.m. | www.historycolorado. org/events-experiences | 303-866-4600

April 30

Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception

Head over to Blue Sage Center for the Arts to peruse artist Ceclia Calderon’s gallery exhibit.

5-7 p.m. | 226 Grand Ave., Paonia | www.bluesage.org | 527-7243

April 30-May 1 Spring Expo

Explore the annual home and garden show held at Confluence Park in Delta, featuring tons of vendors with the latest trends in home improvement, gardening, recreation and local small businesses.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. | 510 Palmer St., Delta | Free | 874-8616

See more events at

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Make Your Wishes Known National Healthcare Decisions Day is observed annually on April 16th and is aimed at increasing the number of Americans who have completed an advance directive or “living will”. In the Five Wishes document, individuals name the person who will make medical decisions in the event they are seriously ill and can’t speak for themselves.

It’s essential to have this family conversation in advance.

Volunteers of America will be offering free Aging with Dignity’s Five Wishes, a 12-page planning booklet that is easy to use and deals with personal, family and spiritual matters in addition to medical and legal concerns.

Call or email to request your copy: 1-844-862-4968 or advantage@voa.org

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization.

Visit voaseniorliving.org or call 1-844-862-4968 to speak to a Care Navigator WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | CALENDAR |

49

Montrose & Delta

Clubs

Due to COVID-19, please contact organizers to confirm details before attending.

Alpine Photography Club meets at Colorado Mesa University’s Montrose Campus, classroom 100.

2nd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | apcmontroseco@gmail.com Black Canyon Barbershop Chorus sings four-part a cappella at Olathe United Methodist Church.

Thursdays | 7-8:30 p.m. | 765-7020 Black Canyon Woodcarvers meets weekly at the Montrose Senior Center.

Thursdays | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 323-5860

240-9146 | montrose@citizens climatelobby.org | www.citizens climatelobby.org

Crafternoon members meet in the Montrose Library’s meeting room.

Members knit and crochet projects, which they donate to various charities. Supplies provided. Experienced crafters will help beginners.

1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays | 2:304:30 p.m. | 249-9656 Delta Hubwheelers Square Dance Club hosts the Anniversary Dance on April 3 at the Delta First Baptist Church Gymnasium. Watch for free, or join in for $7.

7-9 p.m. | 773-4495 | deltawriter47 @gmail.com

Book Club meets virtually through the Montrose Regional Library.

1st Saturday | 9-10 a.m. | lmclean@ montroselibrary.org

Friendship Quilters of Western Colorado meet monthly at Friendship Hall at the Montrose County Fairgrounds.

4th Thursday | 9 a.m. | 417-4842

Citizens Climate Lobby meets monthly at the Montrose Library.

Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets at Olathe Community Center.

never miss an issue

3rd Friday | 7 p.m. | 417-6142 Montrose Area Woodturners meets at 520 Collins Way, Montrose.

2nd Saturday | 9 a.m. to noon | 986-2550 | lvcribbs@charter.net Montrose Elks hosts bingo at the Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Drive.

Tuesdays | 6:30 p.m. | 249-4852 Montrose Pavilion Dance Club has canceled dances at the Montrose Pavilion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When they resume, dancers of all ages are welcome.

2nd & 4th Saturdays | $5 | 7:30-11 p.m. | 252-7172 San Juan Dance Club offers eight styles of dance lessons at the Lions Clubhouse in Montrose. Singles are

welcome.

Thursdays | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | 2529600 | patdouglas213@yahoo.com Sons of Norway, Vestafjell Lodge, meets monthly at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Grand Junction.

1:30 p.m. | 245-5649 | www.vesta fjelllodge.org Veteran Coffee Club meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road in Grand Junction.

Wednesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 257-3764 Western Slope 4 Wheelers meets at the Montrose Rod & Gun Club’s indoor range, 1211 6450 Road.

1st Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 209-5326 ■

Email your club’s information to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Colorow Care Center is the only Eden Alternative® Certified Community on the Western Slope.

Dedicated to creating quality of life for Elders and their care partners

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BEACON Senior News PO Box 3895 | Grand Junction, CO 81502 50 | CLUBS & ACTIVITIES | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

855 S. Hwy 50 Business Loop Olathe, CO 81425

970.323.5504

www.vivage.com/Colorow We Accept: Medicare • Medicaid • RMHMO • Private Pay • PACE • and More

To register for programs, and for COVID-19 updates, call Montrose Recreation District at 249-7705 or visit www.montroserec.com/637/COVID-19-ReOpening-UPDATES

TRIPS & TOURS Hiking at No Thoroughfare Canyon

This 3.6-mile round-trip hike leads to a small pool and then a waterfall. Wind your way through this tight canyon, which contains the oldest layer of rock within the Colorado National Monument.

8 a.m.-4 p.m. | April 17 | $15 selfdrive, $20 bus | Meet at the MRD Field House

Sage View Ranch and Bross Hotel Tours

Sage View Ranch is an 11.5-acre space nestled in the North Fork Valley that offers you a place to park your RV, tent camp, bus glamp, stay in the main house or host your special event. Tour the grounds and meet the resident goats and rooster. Then, head over to the Bross Hotel in Paonia, which when it opened in 1906 was considered “the only really first-class hotel in the county.” It has since been renovated with an eye to the period in which it was built. Call to confirm the date and time.

Time TBD | April 20 or 22 | $21

Lunch Bunch Group Outing

Join the Lunch Bunch group for a day out of town! People ages 7090+ are invited to travel to Confluence Park to watch the birds, to north Delta to view the cranes, and then to stop and eat lunch at Daveto’s. The group will take the scenic trip back to Montrose, going through Pea Green and the outskirts of Olathe.

10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | April 29 | $15

To register for programs and for COVID-19 updates, call 874-0923 or visit www.cityofdelta.net/parksrecgolf

CLASSES

PAMPERING Reflexology Foot Therapy

Call to reserve a 20-minute treatment with certified reflexologist, Cheryl Adams.

8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | April 9 | Montrose Recreation Center Party Room | $15

Tuesday Needlers

10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Tuesdays | $15

Bob Ross Painting Class

Learn to paint “a happy little cloud” like Bob Ross. Call 618-3639 to register.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. | April 9

Pedicures

Service includes a foot assessment, toenail trim and filing edges, thinning of nails and callus removal if needed. Call to reserve your appointment.

8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. | April 13 & 27 | Montrose Recreation Center Party Room | $35

Chair Massage

Call to reserve a 15-minute chair massage by certified massage therapists.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. | April 12 & 27 | Montrose Recreation Center Party Room | $15

FITNESS Senior Circuit

Circuit training for seniors with flexibility exercises.

9 a.m. Monday through Friday

Pilates

Low-impact movements that improve flexibility, muscular strength and endurance.

12 p.m. Mondays | 9 a.m. Fridays

Body Bar

Get an entire body workout using a weighted fitness bar.

9 a.m. Tuesdays | 6 a.m. Wednesdays

HBSB (Healthy Body Strong Bones) Use simple hand weights to help increase flexibility, balance and bone strength.

9 a.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Silver Sneakers Classic

Strengthen muscles and increase range of movement. A chair can be used for seated exercises or standing support.

10 a.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Body Blitz

Cross-train with this quick-paced muscle conditioning class.

5:30 p.m. Tuesdays | 9 a.m.

Thursdays

Yoga Fusion

This vinyasa flow style class blends yoga, Pilates and barre elements 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays

Dance Fit

Get fit while following along to choreographed dances guaranteed to burn energy and shake stress.

5:30 p.m. Thursdays

POOL FITNESS Cardio Crazy

This water fitness class incorporates high energy cardio to gain strength and muscle toning. Water shoes recommended.

8:30 a.m. Mondays & Wednesdays

Pool Power

Workout in shallow water to focus and tone problem areas. Water shoes recommended.

9:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

Body & Health

Enjoy a combination of aerobic and full body workout in the pool.

10:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

Light-n-Lively

This class is designed for beginners to build endurance and strength in the water.

10 a.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Splash Circuits

This is the aquatic equivalent to gym circuits for a total body workout.

Water shoes recommended.

11 a.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Full Body Cardio

This class includes water jogging, river running, jumping jacks and lunges to tone muscles and raise heart rate.

5:30 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Deep Benefits

Held in the diving well of the main pool, this provides a no-impact, challenging cardiovascular workout.

5:30 p.m. Wednesdays

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | FUN AFTER 50 |

51

BEACON BITS BEACON BITS Beacon Bits

Montrose MeSa Montrose County & & Delta Delta Delta Hospital rebrands as Delta Health To reflect its evolution into being more than a hospital, Delta County Memorial Hospital rebranded to Delta Health. Delta Health’s new mission is to inspire hope by providing remarkable care in a healing environment, encompassed in the acronym INSPIRE: Integrity, Nurture, Stewardship, Professionalism, Innovative, Respect, and Empathy.

Looking to the future, Delta Health is developing a three-year strategic plan focusing on obtaining a Medicare 5-star rating. To stay up-todate with Delta Health, visit www. deltahospital.org.

Ute Indian Museum seeks donations Following the loss of its tipis, the Ute Indian Museum started a donation drive online. All proceeds will go towards restoring the grounds and replacing those well-loved symbols that represent home, protection, sacredness and most importantly, community. The museum’s generous partners have promised to match donations up to $5,000! Drop off cash or checks in person or mail them to: Ute Indian Museum, 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose, CO 81403. Make checks payable to the “Ute Indian Museum” with memo regarding tipis. For more information, call the museum at 249-3098.

Montrose Memorial Hospital six-time awardee Montrose Memorial Hospital (MMH) has been named one of the

Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States for Rural Health for the sixth year in a row.

It’s the only hospital in Colorado with this recognition for six consecutive years. Based entirely on public data and utilizing 36 independent indicators, MMH was assessed across eight pillars of performance, including market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and financial efficiency. Only five Colorado hospitals made the 2021 list, with Montrose Memorial Hospital the only awardee within 100 miles in any direction.

New CDC guidelines for vaccinated For those who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new guidelines: • You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wear-

MONTHLY SPECIALS!

ing a mask.

• You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, unless any of those people (or anyone they live with) has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID. • If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms or live in a group setting.

Those who have been vaccinated are still encouraged to wear masks and social distance when in public.

Learn more online at www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/ fully-vaccinated.html.

Delta surgery department earns low infection rate For patients looking to receive surgery, reviewing a facility’s

Season Outside the Box 2020/2021

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surgical infection rate is critical to the quality of the surgical outcome. Historically, Delta Health has maintained a low surgical infection rate. In 2020 Delta Health’s surgical infection rate was only 0.2 percent; lower than the national average of roughly 3-5 percent. Choosing to undergo surgery is a big decision, and the team at Delta Health is committed to providing remarkable care. To learn more about the surgery department at Delta Health, visit www.deltahospital.org/surgical or call 874-2228.

Roice-Hurst opens location in Delta Roice-Hurst Humane Society (RHHS) partnered with the City of Delta and Delta County to renovate the city-owned animal shelter at 720 W. Fourth Street, which opened on February 28. The shelter houses stray dogs, dogs and cats impounded for bite quarantine, and pets involved in legal cases on evidence holds. Pets that are not reclaimed by owners by the end of the mandatory stray hold period may enter the RHHS adoption program. Sick, injured and neonatal cats and kittens may be accepted on a limited basis. The shelter also hosts a small pet pantry, which will provide food and other pet supplies to qualifying residents. For more information, call 874-1078 or visit www.rhhumanesociety.org. ■

Email your business news to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Question VOLUNTEERS WANTED Sharing Ministries Food Bank in Montrose seeks dedicated volunteers for three hours, one day a week. www.sharingministries.com | 240-8385 Senior CommUnity Meals needs volunteer delivery drivers to help seniors in Delta and Montrose counties. www.seniorcommunitymeals. org | 874-7661 Friends of Montrose Library seeks volunteers to sort donated books, run book sales and serve on its board of directors.

Meetings are held once a month. www.montroselibrary.org | 249-9656 Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans seeks volunteers to help at its ReStore or at its construction sites. www.buildinglives.org | 252-9303 Time Bank of the Rockies is a Montrose-based nonprofit that helps people through a system of exchanged services. www.timebankoftherockies. com | 209-6886 Museum of the Mountain West seeks volunteer tour guides to bring the past to life for visitors. www.museumofthemountain west.org | 240-3400

OF THE

Month

Compiled by Siggie Carpenter

What was your first home like?

Shirley Carson - Montrose “I grew up on a farm in Council Bluffs, Iowa. We were a family of eight. We lived in a simple but sturdy house filled with love and way too much noise for some. We had chores, pet rabbits and went squirrel hunting.”

Robin and David Hebbel - Montrose “Our first home was a single-wide trailer.

It was all we could afford and holds great memories for us. After 32 years of marriage, we now own a spacious ranch-style house and we look back on those days with thanksgiving and gratitude for the life we have today.”

Cindy Talley - Olathe “About a year ago, I was living in a fifth wheeler and loved it. When my brother got sick, I went to help since we were the last of our family. He asked me to settle down. I kept my promise. I sold the fifth wheeler and, with the money he left me, I bought a little place. Though he’s not here, I feel his sweet presence.”

Sharron and Vic Kaufhold - Ridgway

SUPPORT GROUPS Delta Diabetes Support Group meets at Grand Mesa Oncology’s Crag Crest room.

2nd Monday | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 874-6410

NAMI Family Support Group meets at the PIC Place, 87 Merchant Drive, Montrose.

3rd Wednesday | 5:30-7 p.m. | 520-282-9060

“We got married right out of high school and all we could afford was a tiny studio apartment. After 52 years of marriage, we now own a home in Ridgway and one in Texas. Wherever we are, we’re home as long as we’re together.”

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | BEACON BITS |

53

FUN & GAMES

ADD SOME

TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE by advertising here in Fun & Games

Call 243-8829 54 | FUN & GAMES | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

FUN & GAMES

CROSSWORD

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Serving g Servin ld, Mesa, Garfield, e sa, Garfi le e M Pitkin, Eagle and Eag Pitkin, nnison Gunnison and Gu es n Cou ti Counties

ACROSS

1. Take ___ view of 5. Pays attention to 10. Overhang 14. Gaucho’s weapon 15. Violinist Zimbalist 16. Pre-owned 17. Speech problem 18. Start of a Dickens title

19. ___ avis 20. Charms 22. Pen name 24. Find the sum of 25. Gratuity 26. Reptile 29. Off-road wheels,

for short 32. Seeps 36. Mozart’s “___ kleine Nachtmusik” 37. Home of Odysseus 39. ___ Speedwagon 40. Like afterschool activities 43. ___ good deed 44. Nutlet 45. Branta sandvicensis 46. Fishhook line 48. PBS benefactor 49. Languishes with longing 50. Not at home 52. Gun the engine

53. Four-time Indy

500 winner 57. Newspaper 61. Marionette maker Tony 62. Commandment verb 64. Outback hoppers 65. “Splendor in the

Grass” screenwriter 66. Conical native

American tent 67. Sun. speeches 68. Antiquing agent 69. Satisfies 70. This, in Tijuana

DOWN

1. Up to it 2. Slay 3. Ingrid’s

“Casablanca” role

4. Cartographer 5. Got wind of 6. Newts 7. Chapter in history 8. Oscar ___ Renta 9. Refine metal 10. The continent 11. Slippery ___ eel 12. Extremely 13. Dutch export 21. Keats creation 23. Purple bloomer

26. Sows 27. Agnew’s old boss 28. Architectural

piers 29. Take ___ for

the worse 30. Trio 31. Hindu social class 33. Senator Specter 34. “The Family Circus”

cartoonist Bil 35. Sensitive spots 37. Very cold 38. Ltd., in Paris 41. Great grade 42. Cosmos 47. Lengthier 49. Dispenser candy 51. Lab work 52. Taxes, e.g.

53. Land east of

the Urals 54. Singer k.d.

55. Impulse to act 56. Perlman of “Cheers” 57. Open delight 58. Water testers 59. Civil wrong 60. Canadian gas brand 63. Quick on the uptake

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SUDOKU

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Turn to next spread for puzzle answers WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | FUN & GAMES |

55

CLASSIFIEDS To Place Your Ad Call: 243-8829 DEADLINE for next issue is the 15th of the Month FOR SALE EASY TRAVEL “Class A” electrically powered scooter, perfect for people with limited mobility.

Folds up for easy travel, airline-approved, fits in most car trunks. Extra battery.

Call 640-0127 leave message or email salazar5050@msn.com.

FANCY GUPPY FISH FOR SALE $1.25 each. Will deliver purchases of 10 or more locally. Delta, CO. Please send text message. 901-9364.

TONEKOTE AND SEAL ‘N HEAL FOR DOGS Use Happy Jack® ToneKote to treat allergies, stop shedding and ensure a warm winter coat, and Seal ‘N Heal to protect wounds with a bitter taste to prevent gnawing and allow healing. Available at Tractor Supply. www.kennelvax.com

WE’RE HIRING!

HOUSECLEANING Grand Junction area, very clean, honest and reliable, references available. 2701058

FREELANCE

WANTED Please send your letter and resume to:

Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com No Phone Calls Please

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT COUNTRY LIVING OUTSIDE Maintenance-free/maintained country home. North area between Clifton and Palisade. 1100 SF, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage. Chain link fenced yard. $1450 month. Need last and damage deposit upfront. 261-2202

HELP WANTED ​ ETIRED/NEED EXTRA INCOME? R Part-time medical delivery position available. Shift starts at 2:45 a.m.

Good driving record and ability to drive a manual transmission. Flexibility and dependability essential. Call for details.

254-2897

B-N-TREES Tree removal, stump grinding, trimming.

Call Bill 430-1970.

HOME SERVICES

10% Senior Discount on Repairs

970-258-0930

AMBER’S HOUSE CLEANING, LLC Here making an honest living to help make your life easier. Licensed and insured. References available. Mesa County, 985-8178.

SCENE CLEARLY, LLC Window cleaners specializing in making your day a little brighter! Grand Junction area. Call Frank Cordova at 242-1264.

THE CLEANING LADY Spring cleaning time is here, I can help! Competitive rates on downsizing, reorganizing and cleaning—weekly, biweekly, monthly or just a one-time shot. Linda K. 720-841-7505 or 2637364.

ANTIQUES, APPRAISALS, ESTATE SALES With over 40 years in the antique, appraisal and estate sale business, Great American Estate Sales is the Valley’s leader in appraisals and estate liquidation. Settling an estate, moving into a smaller home or just simplifying your lifestyle? Great American Estate Sales can provide a worry-free and quick solution. Free consultation. 216-0048.

20% SENIOR DISCOUNT Call Dragon Heating & A/C, Inc. to get your heater safety checked for winter. Serving the Western Slope since 2006. Your Comfort is Our Business. Call Dan to schedule services and for a free estimate: 858-4775. www.dragonhvac.com.

SERVICES

Pat's Hair Salon & Ceramics All Hair Salon Services Available

Great Prices on Perms Senior Discounts

CERAMIC & PORCELAIN DOLL MAKING CLASSES & SUPPLIES

778-8075

COMPUTER LADY, LLC In-home repair. 18 years serving Mesa County. Windows, Internet, Wi-Fi, Android, tablets, Netflix, Roku. Virus removal, installation and instruction. Dependable, reasonable, qualified. Remote services available. www.CompLady.com or 255-1216.

IN-HOME TOENAIL CARE JQ Foot Care will provide in-home toenail care. This includes cleansing of feet, inspection, nails trimmed, filed and lotion applied with massage. $35 for session.

Education to promote foot health. 2507454.

SENIOR BEAUTY SPECIAL First-time clients receive $10 off single service, $15 off cut and color packages.

Regan’s Regal Beauty, 2500 North Ave., #2, Grand Junction. Call Regan to schedule: 719-425-0543

National & Regional Award-Winning Publication

Love the BEACON? Visit us online!

Our award-winning website has: • More fascinating stories!

• More great photos!

• More exciting events!

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

56 | CLASSIFIEDS | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Like us on Facebook

B&D’s

Resale & Services

No job too big or small Moving, trash haul away, construction cleanup, estate & yard sales

I buy silver, gold, antiques, knives, watches, military, coins, old signs.

Same day service and free quotes. Call Brandon

970-930-1942

SILVER SAGE SENIOR DELIVERY SERVICE Local, safe and dependable, the surprisingly affordable answer to your delivery issues. “You need it…We bring it.” Priority delivery available for medicine and medical supplies. For all your delivery needs, call 314-8753.

HEALTH & WELLNESS MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTOR Days in Montrose and Grand Junction. Got pain? Find out if medical marijuana is right for you. Doctor evaluation and education on cannabis use in a professional HIPAAcompliant setting. Call for appointment times and days. 720-443-2420 or visit www.healthychoicesunltd.com.

WANTED TO BUY USED BOOKS Buy, Sell or Trade. Gently used books on hundreds of subjects. Westerns, romance, mysteries, suspense, kids, young adult, inspirational and many others. Large print. Special orders. 242-3911. Twice Upon a Time Bookshop, 2885 North Ave., Ste. B. located in front of Walmart next to Subway. 10-6 Mon-Sat, 11-4 Sunday. **Bring this ad in for $10 Trade Credit**

NOW OPEN MY LITTLE HAVEN IS NOW OPEN! New and used home furnishings, antiques and collectibles. Inside is way bigger than it looks from the outside. Come in and check us out. 575 25 Road, Grand Junction. Open Tues-Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 986-8141.

CLASSES ALWAYS FREE SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES FOR WOMEN One-on-one or as a group. “Empowering Women Through Self-Defense.” For info or to schedule a class, call Bob McKenna 261-2445.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

VOLUNTEER BE A DRIVING FORCE IN YOUR YOUR COMMUNITY

Interested in giving back to your community and having fun? Volunteer with AARP Driver Safety – a program that helps older drivers stay safe on the road.* Sign up today to be an Instructor for our AARP Smart Driver Class room course: • Training is easy and resources are 100% provided • No special skills or AARP memberships required • Teach at least 3 courses a year, on your own schedule

BECOME A VOLUNTEER TODAY! For more information on becoming an AARP Smart Driver Course Instructor, visit www.aarp.org/ driversafetyvolunteer

Puzzle Answers

Find the BEACON closest to you! www.beaconseniornews.com/pages/beacon-locations

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | APRIL 2021 | CLASSIFIEDS |

57

OPINION TURNING 65 OR NEW TO MEDICARE?

If you have Medicare questions, I can help Looking for better Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans?

Now is the right time to review your current Medicare coverage—and maybe strengthen it.

Let’s make sure you have the benefits you really want in 2021.

Sometimes the help you need is finding the right answers to your questions and sometimes it’s finding the right plan for your needs. At Humana, it’s always about putting you first.

Call a licensed Humana sales agent

Patti Zapf 970-301-8752 (TTY: 711) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. pzapf@humana.com Fb.me/pattizapfhumana www.humana.com/pzapf

Applicable to Humana Gold Plus HMO H0028-025-002.

For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week. At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you.

Call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如

果您使用繁體中文 ，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務 。請致電

1-877-320-1235 (TTY：711) 。 Y0040_GHHHXDHEN21_C

58 | OPINION | APRIL 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Failing to avoid the ’rona

By Sam Beeson

T

o say that things have been on edge at chez Beeson this past year would be a bit of an understatement.

First, I work at a large hospital located in the middle of the largest city in the state. My state, and even neighborhood, have led the country in the number of new COVID infections.

Secondly, my wife and son both have significant risk factors when it comes to COVID. Therefore, I became the “hunter/gatherer” for my family—going to the stores for food and toilet paper. If one of us were to get sick, we reasoned that I’d probably be the best suited to recover without significant health issues.

So when the vaccinations came, it was no small relief when I got a shot of that sweet vaccine juice in my arm.

But before my body had the chance to build up my immunities, I got exposed to someone with the virus and got sick, spreading it to my family who had taken such great steps to avoid catching it. Whoops.

Somehow—either because we correctly assumed that I would be best suited to take the disease in stride should I catch it, or perhaps my body got a head start in creating the antibodies to fight COVID—I didn’t suffer from any symptoms more significant than a bad cold.

My wife and son, however, had significantly more difficulties.

Thankfully, none required more advanced medical care. Knowing how things were going at my hospital, I was extremely relieved.

So, after dutifully confining myself to the same house for the past

I DIDN’T SUFFER FROM ANY SYMPTOMS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN A BAD COLD. MY WIFE AND SON, HOWEVER, HAD SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULTIES. 10 months or so, I now stir inside of it like a tiger at the zoo. I look at the outside world and wish to be free again. I realize now what my family has been living through for nearly a year while I was still “out there” among the rest of the world.

Humans are undeniably social creatures. My family used to love going out to eat, to the movies or to the theater. My wife and I frequently went to friends for a game of cards. My son and I used to love going to dive bars and listening to small bands that no one has ever heard of. We liked to travel a lot.

But that was before “the Rona.”

As I continue to take care of my recuperating family, I tell my friends that they need to continue to take precautions. This is a vicious killer that has already killed a family member, a friend of my wife’s, a former classmate and a member of my bowling league. And that’s just in my small circle.

All in all, I count ourselves lucky.

My family is doing better, and other than general malaise, I’m almost back to my normal ennui. But so many have not been so lucky.

So please, wear a mask. And if your health conditions allow it, get vaccinated. Because this isn’t fun, and I would’ve given anything for my family to not have to go through it. ■

Sam Beeson is a desert rat from Arizona. He has been writing since before he could write, turning stapled pieces of paper into comic books. His most valued gift was an electric typewriter he used to churn out novels which are still sitting around his office somewhere.

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Tax Efficiency in Retirement What role should taxes play in your investment decisions?

What is an after-tax investment? A Roth IRA is a classic example.

When you put money into a Roth IRA, either as a contribution or Roth Conversion, the contributed amount is made with after-tax dollars. As a trade-off, you may not owe taxes on the withdrawals from that Roth IRA (so long as you have had your Roth IRA at least five years and you are at least 59½ years old). With distributions from a Roth IRA, your total taxable retirement income is not as high as it would be otherwise.2 Should you have both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA? It may seem redundant, but it could help you manage your tax situation. Keep in mind that tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal from a Roth IRA also can be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner's death.

Provided by Barbara Traylor Smith Will you pay higher taxes in retirement? Do you have a 401(k) or a

traditional IRA? If so, at age 72 you will be required to begin distributions whether you need the income or not. If you have saved and invested much of your life, you may also end up retiring at a higher marginal tax rate than your current one. In fact, the income alone resulting from a Required Minimum Distribution could push you into a higher tax bracket.

While retirees with lower incomes may rely on Social Security as their prime income source, they may pay comparatively less income tax than you in retirement; some, or even all, of their Social Security benefits may not be counted as taxable income.1

What is a pre-tax investment? Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are

examples of pre-tax investments. You can put off paying taxes on the contributions you make to these accounts until you start to take distributions.

When you take distributions from these accounts, you may owe taxes on the withdrawal. Pre-tax investments are also called tax-deferred investments, as the invested assets can benefit from tax-deferred growth.2 Under the SECURE Act, once you reach age 72, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from a traditional IRA, 401(k), and other defined contribution plans in most circumstances. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be fully or partially deductible, depending on your adjusted gross income.

Smart moves can help you manage your taxable income and taxable estate. If you’re making a charitable gift, giving appreciated securities that you have held for at least a year is one choice to consider. In addition to a potential tax deduction for the fair market value of the asset in the year of the donation, the charity may be able to sell the stock later without triggering capital gains.3 Remember, however, that this article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice, so make sure to consult your tax, legal, and accounting professionals before modifying your charitable giving strategy.

The annual gift tax exclusion gives you a way to remove assets from your taxable estate. You may give up to $15,000 to as many individuals as you wish without paying federal gift tax, so long as your total gifts keep you within the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption of $11.58 million for the year 2020 and $11.7 million for 2021.4 Managing through the annual gift tax exclusion can involve a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before adjusting your strategy, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations.

Are you striving for greater tax efficiency? In retirement, it is especially important – and worth a discussion. A few financial adjustments may help you manage your tax liabilities.

We always recommend working with a professional when it comes to your unique tax strategy. If you would like more information please call our office at (970) 256-1748.

Citations 1. SSA.gov, February 22, 2021 2. IRS.gov, November 16, 2020 3. IRS.gov, March 25, 2020 4. Policygenius.com, December 21, 2020

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744 Horizon Ct., Suite #350 Grand Junction, CO 81506 Phone: (970) 256-1748 Email: info@gjretire.com www.gjretire.com

BARBARA TRAYLOR SMITH Independent Financial Advisor

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