Issuu

The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado

NOVEMBER 2020

Every Day of Freedom is Veterans Day Honor a vet in your life

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Explaining patriotism to the grandkids

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IN THIS ISSUE

National & Regional Award-Winning Publication NOVEMBER 2020 | Volume 33 | Issue 11

Publisher Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher Susan Capps Editor in Chief Cloie Sandlin Multimedia Editor Lauren Berg Graphic Designers B. Bigler Chrissy Martin Office Manager Stacey Splude Advertising Executives Debra Romaniec Siggie Carpenter Melodie Simon Advertising Assistant Lindsey Christensen Proofreader Jan Weeks Delivery Cora Gentry Lauren VanGundy JR Milner Riki Metzner

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

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Email:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com The BEACON is published at the beginning of the month. Our goal is to inform and inspire the 50+ community in 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 preceding publication. Display advertising rates are available upon request. © Copyright 2020 • All Rights Reserved

10 7 Editor’s Column

34 Faith: Have you lost your first love?

8 Cover Story: One-stop shop for veterans

35 Talking Digital: Futuristic tech bargains

10 Explaining patriotism to the grandkids

36 Finance: 6 savvy tips for surviving the holidays with your finances intact

12 Recipe

38 Business Spotlight: All Points Transit

13 Ask the Old Bag: Politics has created a rift in our family

39 Operation Interdependence says “thank you” to vets

14 Healthy Geezer: How to identify health frauds

40 How to self-publish your autobiography

15 Dear Pharmacist: Recipe hacks for healthier meals 16 16 unusual symptoms of anxiety 18 Laughing Matters 20 Families change, but Thanksgiving never will 22 Alive & Digging: Air-cleansing plants 24 Boomer Beat: Become a pen pal 26 Missing in America: Honoring our forgotten heroes

On the Cover

42 Movie stars who did (and didn’t) pose with a Thanksgiving turkey 44 Mesa County 44 Calendar 46 Clubs & Activities 48 Beacon Bits 50 Support Groups 52 Montrose & Delta Counties 52 Calendar 54 Clubs & Activities 56 Beacon Bits 58 Fun & Games

28 Philanthropic travel in Tanzania

61 Classifieds

30 2021 BEACON Best: Rules and ballot

62 Remembering my first time

Wreaths Across America

David Abeyta, 88, shares stories from his service in the U.S. Navy and Air Force at Western Region One Source’s Wednesday Coffee Club for veterans.

28 40

Honor our fallen heroes by sponsoring a wreath to adorn veterans’ gravesites in our local cemeteries. Wreaths are $15 and are tax-deductible. A special wreath ceremony will be held at Grand Junction’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 10 a.m. on December 19. Call Western Slope Patriot Guard Riders at 2501174 for details and to sponsor.

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EDITOR'S COLUMN

Every day is Veterans Day. Parade not required. I

’ve always thought it appropriate that Veterans Day and Thanksgiving are both in November. Among the reasons to be thankful, our freedom should be at the top of the list. Even though both holidays will look a little different this year—no parades or big events, absent family members at the dinner table, and outdoor visits with loved ones—it’s important to tell our local veterans how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. My favorite way of doing this is by sitting down with them and listening to their stories. During a recent Wednesday morning visit to the Western Region One Source, I met several local veterans who were eager to share their stories as well as their hardships. I talked with 88-year-old David Abeyta (pictured on the cover) who served in two branches of service. A Navy man at first, he did a cruise on the USS Tortuga. Later, he decided he wanted to do something different and signed up with the Air Force. Tom Tubach and Steve Wolford are Navy men who later joined the Grand Valley Combined Honor Guard, a group of veterans that provides full military honors to veterans at their funerals. Tubach joined the Navy at the beginning of the Vietnam era and did three tours on a ship off the coast of Vietnam and home ported in Pearl Harbor. Prior to joining the Navy, Wolford had never been outside the region near his home in Wisconsin. But in four and a half years, he “did a lot of growing up” and a lot of traveling. “Now I enjoy the honor guard because every veteran deserves the respect,” said Wolford.

ARE YOU A VET NEEDING HELP? Read this month’s cover story about veterans’ services offered on the Western Slope, including those at the state-run Western Region One Source. And check out the BEACON’s event calendar this month for details on veterans events, as well as our monthly support group section.

GET (OR GIVE) A FREE BEACON SUBSCRIPTION The best way to ensure that you get your BEACON every month is to subscribe. Normally, it’s $20 for one year or $30 for two, but in the spirit of the holiday season, you can gift the BEACON to a friend for free when you purchase a subscription for yourself. It also guarantees you won’t miss out on any senior-related news and events including the upcoming BEACON Guide, our annual resource directory. This popular publication includes hard-to-find contact information for clubs, medical offices, reputable businesses and government agencies, which are verified annually for accuracy. Do you know of an organization we should include? Call us at 243-8829 or email Beacon@ PendantPublishing.com.

BEACON READERS KNOW BEST! Tell us who stands above the rest with the 2021 BEACON Best Awards! Recognize those businesses that have earned your trust and your business with this coveted award for superior customer service, and let them know you’re rooting for them. By voting, you’re entered in a chance to win prizes and gift cards to some of your favorite spots. Mail in the ballot on page 31 or vote online at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com. ■

LETTERS

from our readers “Just want you to know I enjoy the magazine so much! Well done!” - Gloria V. RE: October cover “You publish a good monthly resource for seniors. However, I was appalled at your choice for the cover picture for the October issue. Adults sticking out their tongues and making goofy faces! Really? I understand you were attempting to show the element of surprise or amazement, but I feel your selection of this particular photo was a poor choice. Seniors are generally more mature acting than that!” - Charlotte B. “After seeing this cover picture I almost trashed this email. REALLY?” - Jo Ann RE: “Where’s all the meat?” (September) “This article was well-timed, but misleading. ‘Vegetarians and vegans pontificate that plants provide protein.’ That plants provide protein is a fact, not opinion. All protein originates from plants. Where do you think the animals we raise for meat get their protein? Moreover, protein derived from a whole-food plant-based diet is significantly healthier than protein derived from meat and dairy.” - P. Andrews RE: “Female problems!” (September) “I’m a BEACON fan. I really like your jokes! In the September issue, on page 21, that’s the funniest thing I have ever heard. I desperately need copies of September’s issue!” - Marge Dubois RE: “Face Masks” (August) “I write to commend the editor for having the courage and respect to allow different viewpoints in The BEACON…It has always been an individual’s right and responsibility to decide how s/he will think and act on information. If you rely solely on experts, you deny your own authority and intelligence to discern what is appropriate and needed. If you don’t agree with something, you can ignore it or offer supporting alternative evidence in a civil manner. I thought Ms. McCune’s article was thoughtful and respectful, making it clear what were her opinions and the basis for them, allowing readers to decide what is right for them.” - Brenda C WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Cloie Sandlin, Managing Editor

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

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | EDITOR'S COLUMN |

COVER STORY

One Source

Western Region By Jan Weeks Additional reporting by Cloie Sandlin

The one-stop shop for Western Colorado vets

efore the Western Region One Source (WROS) opened in May 2019, veterans had to go to the VA Medical Center to arrange for health care benefits, then to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery to make funeral arrangements, and then to county veterans services or organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) that assist with benefit applications. Now all of that can be done in-house, according to WROS Property Administrator Heather Benjamin. Located in the former Colorado National Guard armory at 482 28 Road in Grand Junction, the One Source is the triage of resources for active military, veterans, their families and caregivers in western Colorado. Staff connect them with resources to meet needs for housing, health benefits, vocational rehab and employment, long-term support services, transportation, medical equipment and more. “Ninety-nine percent of these resources are offered somewhere, but often people don’t

Veterans Clint, David and Robert at the One Source know how to find them,” said Benjamin. “That’s why we say we’re the one-stop-shop. We can be very helpful in getting to the heart of what they need and connecting them to the very best option in a quick manner.”

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Veterans stop by WROS for appointments with Brian Oney, the county’s veteran service officer, for help filing benefits claims through the VA. “We are trained to assist with all programs

From left: VA Support Specialist David Muniz, Quentin Peters, Jim Solomon and Bob Maurer.

8 | COVER STORY | NOVEMBER 2020 |

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the VA has to offer and facilitate any communication the veteran needs to make with the VA,” said Oney. Possibly the biggest attraction—and most unique—is the office for Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), which provides ID cards and benefits for veterans and qualifying dependents. “Most DEERS offices are typically on a military base, so it’s unusual that our office here is not,” said Benjamin. DEERS technician Jessica Olsen visits with people from across Western Colorado daily, since the next nearest offices are in Denver, Salt Lake City or Colorado Springs.

“PEERS CAN GIVE SUPPORT IN MORE EMPOWERING WAYS THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SERVED, ESPECIALLY IN COMBAT AREAS.”

Veterans Ray Gooch and Rick Crabtree share stories over coffee.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS WROS leases space to community organizations facilitating programs that serve veterans in some form. Homelessness is a huge issue among veterans, according to Scott Whiteman, a veteran support specialist with Rocky Mountain Human Services. From his office inside WROS, he oversees the grant-funded Homes for All Veterans (HAV) program, which provides help for veterans who are experiencing literal homelessness or are in danger of becoming homeless. “HAV provides outreach, case management and support accessing resources to more than 1,000 veterans throughout the state of Colorado each year,” he said. WROS provides space for similar programs, including the VA HUDVASH program, which helps veterans sustain permanent housing by combining HUD housing vouchers with VA support services, and Volunteers of America, which provides veterans with temporary financial assistance for rental application fees, security and utility deposits, emergency supplies and monthly bus passes. The One Source’s newest tenant is the Western Colorado Area Health Education Center, a nonprofit that promotes healthier communities through education, including health seminars geared toward veterans on opioid abuse.

CARE AND SUPPORT While there are many organizations that veterans can join for assistance, support and comradeship, WROS’ services and support

groups are free of charge. For vets, there are no eligibility requirements beyond having served in the U.S. military. “Before COVID we’d have coffee on all day long. It wasn’t unusual for vets to just pop in and visit with each other or with a staff member,” said Benjamin. Veterans of all ages and branches off service swap stories over coffee on Wednesday mornings, and the VA and Vet Center host weekly groups for peer support and vets suffering from PTSD. “Peers can give support in more empowering ways than those who have never served, especially in combat areas,” said Joanne Iglesias, the Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs West. “Feelings of loneliness, rejection, and discrimination are dealt with by those who have been there, done that.” Veterans’ caregivers are also welcome to rest and rejuvenate their minds and bodies with weekly Comeback Yoga classes. “Teachers are specifically trained to serve the military population, and the practice helps vets build confidence, re-regulate their nervous systems, stretch bodies and calm their minds,” said Iglesias. The One Source’s partners also offer addiction services, suicide prevention resources and even recreation therapy to give veterans the support they’ve earned. “Right now our biggest population of veterans are those Vietnam vets who weren’t welcomed home, and a lot of them feel the impacts,” said Benjamin. “We could’ve failed

them coming home 40+ years ago, but we don’t have to fail them now.” Veterans should bring proper identification (VA ID, HINQ, DD214 or Statement of Service) to

receive services. For information about the benefits at Western Region One Source, visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/ dmva/wros or call 257-3760. ■

VETERANS RESOURCES American Legion Post 2006, Fruita..............................................................640-7971 American Legion Post 50, Palisade.............................................................260-3209 Base Camp 40 (outdoor excursions for veterans).......................................250-2858 Commemorative Air Force...........................................................................256-0693 Disabled American Veterans, Grand Junction..............................................263-2848 Disabled American Veterans, Montrose & Delta..........................................240-4698 Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 244.......................................................434-0868 Grand Valley Combined Honor Guard...........................................................243-0476 Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).........................................241-8714 Operation Interdependence (care packages for troops)..............................523-4217 The Vet Center, Grand Junction (counseling and readjustment).................245-4156 VA Benefits........................................................................................... 800-827-1000 VA Caregiver Support........................................................................... 855-260-3274 VA Clinic, Montrose......................................................................................249-7791 VA Eligibility and Enrollment........................................................................263-2813 VA Medical Center, Grand Junction..............................................................242-0731 VA Mental Health..........................................................................................263-2824 VA Women Veterans Program.....................................................242-0731, ext. 2192 Veteran Service Officer, Mesa County..........................................................248-2733 Veteran Services Officer, Montrose County.................................................249-2115 Veterans Art Center, Grand Junction............................................................462-3126 Veterans Committee of the Western Slope..................................................589-6238 Veterans Golden Age Games CHAMPS.........................................................245-6175 Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Grand Junction............................................263-8986 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1247, Grand Junction.................................242-9940 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3981, Grand Junction.................................778-8242 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4663, Clifton...............................................434-9470 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 784, Montrose............................................249-4989 Veterans Services, Delta County..................................................................874-2082 Veterans Transportation Service, Grand Junction........................................263-5095 Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans..........................................................765-2210 Western Region One Source........................................................................257-3760 Western Slope Patriot Guard Riders............................................................250-1174

Grand Valley Combined Honor Guard members Tom Tubach and Steve Wolford. WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 |

Explaining patriotism to the grandkids By Steve Nelson

though I did not look forward to it. When I arrived, I joined a line of about 35 other veterans—mostly fathers, no women—who were a mix of Army, Air Force and Marines. The kids arrived holding small flags, glancing sidelong at us with great curiosity. I’m not sure the younger kids knew exactly what “veteran” means. Maddie grinned at me as she passed. We vets were seated in a row in front of 700 kids and their teachers as the uber-enthusiastic principal (also a Marine veteran) asked us to rise, place hands on hearts and re-

’ve always been somewhat cynical about my own military service. I’m also suspicious of “Thank you for your service,” “Support the troops!” and most other forms of uncritical patriotism or nationalism. But Veterans Day last year shifted my view. November 11, 2019, marked the 50th Veterans Day since my discharge from the Army in 1969. I served for three years and was a first lieutenant at the time of my discharge. For 49 years I paid scant attention, as neither my veteran status nor patriotic holidays held deep meaning to me. Or so I thought. That particular Monday dawned brilliant in Colorado. The grandchildren had spent the night with us, and when 8-year-old Maddie came down to the kitchen I offered to make pancakes. She suggested a flag pancake in honor of Veterans Day, using frosting for

Author Steve Nelson with his granddaughter, Maddie.

stripes and a Christmas cookie cutter to make stars. There was more than a flag pancake in store for me on this Veterans Day. Maddie’s school planned an afternoon assembly to honor the

school’s parent and grandparent veterans. She invited me, and it seemed quite important to her. Given that I would walk on broken glass for my grandchildren, gritting my teeth to be part of a patriotic ceremony was within my capacity,

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THE KIDS WERE FULLY ENGAGED. MY BRIEF STORIES OF MILITARY TRAINING LEFT THEM WIDE-EYED WITH AMAZEMENT. cite the Pledge of Allegiance. I don’t love the Pledge of Allegiance. But I’m mature enough to save my conspicuous skepticism for other occasions, so I placed my hand over my heart. We passed a microphone from vet to vet, each of us introducing ourselves, the nature and time of our service, and a few words of wisdom. I was one of only two from the Vietnam War. I felt briefly fossilized and wanted to yell out, “I can still run and stuff!” The others talked about honor and service. Many implored the kids to consider a life of service to others, whatever form it might take. One exhorted them to study hard, lest they end up in the Navy. That brought chuckles from the row of vets and crickets from the kids. Just before my turn, I caught Maddie’s eye and got tears in my own. This was indeed important to her. I introduced myself as Maddie’s grandfather and said a few things about being in the Army and how you should never be afraid to ask “why” when ordered to use force or do something that seems wrong. I tried to sprinkle a few grains of “question authority” into an atmosphere of “respect your elders.” The assembly concluded with a set of songs with “thanks for your service” lyrics.

Afterward, I learned that Maddie was to interview me in front of the class. She was delightfully composed as we worked through a list of 20 or 30 questions that were prepared in advance. I honored my late father-in-law, sharing how he was wounded and captured during the disastrous Dieppe Raid in World War II. Maddie was transfixed as I told his story. The kids were fully engaged. My brief stories of military training left them wide-eyed with amazement, especially the parts about getting all my hair shaved off and cleaning toilets with a toothbrush. After the prepared questions, they were invited to ask their own. Hands shot up. Boys asked what guns I got to fire and if I got to drive tanks. They liked my answers: “many” and “yes.” I’m generally troubled by flag-waving patriotism, but I know my cynicism is due to the bad wars instigated by politics, not the good service provided by military women and men. On that one Veterans Day, I was glad to be among the other veterans who served or are serving the ideals of liberty and justice. For a moment, I allowed myself to reflect on the unfinished nobility of the American experiment rather than on the many ways we fail. ■

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ASK THE OLD BAG

Politics has created a rift in our family Dear Old Bag: We have a rift in our family brought on by politics. It seems the younger kids in our family support one political side and the older ones (moms, dads, grandparents) feel another way. At family gatherings, the young people tease us and say we are old and set in our ways. My wife says, “Maybe they’re right and we should hear what they have to say.” I say we should stand firm in our beliefs, or they will think we’re weak or willy-nilly. What do you think? Signed, BN

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Dear BN: Nothing is ever lost in listening to another’s point of view. Listening does not mean you have to change; It says you are willing to learn why the other person thinks the way they do. I have black grandchildren and listening to their feelings, experiences and misfortunes opened my eyes. I learned that I had hidden prejudices I hadn’t recognized. Once I did, I could change. I would never have known this had I not listened. You have the opportunity to learn from the younger generation and they have the opportunity to learn from you. Listen up! OB Dear Old Bag: I’m in a relationship with a man who is pretty set in his ways. He likes routine—eating at the same time every day, always sleeping on the left side of the bed. I find routines boring. I like to change things up so I don’t get stuck. I’m pretty much the opposite of him, and yet we really click. We’ve been dating a year but cooled it a little with the pandemic. Am I treading on dangerous waters or could we complement each other? Signed, GG Dear GG: I tend to subscribe to the theory that opposites attract, but they don’t always make for good long-term relationships. When people are in love and it’s early in the relationship, the attraction can make them overcome a lot of faults. Then, down the road, they get aggravated at those differences. The little things become big things, and you find yourself saying, “What am I doing here?” Of course, if you’re both generous of nature, each of you could change enough to meet in the middle. It’s rare, but I have seen it happen. Good luck! OB Dear Old Bag: I am 58 years old. My husband and I agreed that I could quit my job so I could go back to college and fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer. I worked to put him through college and get started in business. Now that I’m in school, he doesn’t seem to like the idea so much. He often makes remarks like, “Why can’t you get the laundry done and put away? You’re not working anymore.” He doesn’t understand that carrying a full-time load of classes and studying is more than equal to my old job. He won’t help me, saying he is tired after his long day at work. Sometimes he says, “Well, it was your idea to go back to school.” I find myself building resentment toward him. Any advice? Signed, Ticked Off Dear Ticked: It doesn’t sound as if you two are communicating very well! I suggest you engage in conversation when neither of you are “ticked off” and put your feelings on the table. Talk to each other. Having been in your situation before, I suggest hiring a cleaning person to help with household chores. If you have adult kids, enlist their help with meals. This will help both of you not to feel overloaded and neglected. Good luck, OB ■

ASK THE OLD BAG

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HEALTHY GEEZER

IF YOU’RE CONFRONTED WITH A PITCH FOR A REMEDY THAT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.

How to identify health frauds Do copper bracelets help relieve arthritis pain?

here’s no scientific evidence that copper bracelets do anything more than make a fashion statement. However, there’s also no proof that the bracelets don’t provide relief to arthritis sufferers. Wearing copper bracelets for arthritis has been practiced for over a century. Many people swear by them. Some doctors suspect the positive reports are based upon symptoms going away by themselves. I’ve also heard that you can get relief by rubbing WD-40 on painful joints. I’m not being facetious; there are people who believe this multi-purpose liquid is an arthritis fixer. For the record, there’s no proof that WD-40 helps either, but it will make you smell like a lubricated door hinge. These folk remedies seem to

be harmless. However, they often delay effective medical treatment, so these so-called “cures” are not completely benign. Unfortunately, con artists tend to target people who suffer from serious conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, AIDS, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and arthritis. They also tend to go after the overweight with quick-loss schemes, as well as seniors looking to battle the effects of aging. A government study found that most victims of health frauds are over the age of 65. Fraudulent products can be very harmful to your body. They’re rarely covered by insurance so many of them hurt your wallet, too. To avoid medical scams, beware of these claims: quick results, cures for multiple conditions, scientific breakthroughs, secret ingredients,

miraculous anything, ancient remedies, revolutionary innovations, painless treatments and no dieting. Also, the following expressions should immediately sound alarm bells in your brain: “Limited availability,” “advance payment required,” “exclusive product,” “money-back guarantee,” “no questions asked,” “only available by mail,” “not yet understood by medical science,” “comes with free gift,” “like magic,” and “the fountain of youth.” If you’re confronted with a pitch for a remedy that seems too good

to be true, it probably is. Your first step is to contact your physician for advice. Treating yourself with an unknown product without consulting a doctor is simply nuts. And never give your Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security number to anyone you don’t know. Report a product that you believe is fraudulently labeled by calling the U.S. Food & Drug Administration at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). ■

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

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Recipe hacks for healthier meals

t’s that time of year when families gather and eat a lot of food. So how do you indulge without increasing the bulge? Here are some recipe tweaks to make your holiday meals healthier: • Turmeric. A quarter teaspoon of this spice added to your green bean casserole will go virtually unnoticed in taste, but it adds some anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory benefits. It also reduces the build-up of brain plaque.

• Shiitake mushrooms. Using these in your stuffing adds some biologically active compounds that may protect against cancer and inflammation. A 2015 study in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” concluded that regular consumption of these mushrooms resulted in improved immunity and a reduction in a pro-inflammatory compound. • Cauliflower. Most people know about making cauliflower mash as a substitute for high-carb mashed potatoes. This also prevents a big blood sugar spike! • Coconut water. In my cranberry sauce recipe, I always replace the plain water with a high-quality coconut water. It doesn’t alter the flavor at all! Coconut water is hydrating and it contains compounds that are antifungal and antioxidant in nature. It may help if you’re prone to kidney stone formation or if you have diabetes. • Tea seed oil. Tea seed comes from the seeds of Camellia sinensis, the plant that gives us green tea. The tea seed oil has a mild, neutral flavor, making it a great substitute for inferior oils such as

vegetable or canola. It boasts antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. • Pumpkin seed oil. Add two teaspoons to your pumpkin pie filling before cooking it for a profoundly richer flavor and powerful medicinal benefits. Pumpkin seed oil is rich in vitamin E, zinc, omega fatty acids and is well known to support prostate and breast health. • Dried tart cherries. Instead of cranberries, mix some dried tart cherries into your stuffing. Tart cherries are known to contain natural melatonin, which is deeply relaxing, and have been studied for their ability to suppress gout. They also reduce muscle breakdown and speed up recovery from exercise. They have virtually no fat or sodium and offer a satisfying not-too-sweet flavor. • Almond flour. To get the pain-relieving benefits of almonds, use ground almond flour instead of all-purpose flour for your gravy. If you want to reduce the sodium content commonly found in traditional gravy, substitute chicken broth with plain water. If you do, you’ll want to add spices like onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika and fresh rosemary to avoid compromising flavor. • Avocados. Instead of mayo, use crushed avocados as a spread. This tastes great on leftover turkey sandwiches. ■

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

DEAR PHARMACIST COVID-19

IN MESA COUNTY WE Wear a face covering over the nose and mouth Wash our hands frequently Get tested if symptoms appear Stay home if we're sick Keep our distance from others

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

16 unusual symptoms of

By Kimberly Blaker

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magine, out of the blue, you feel your brain spin 180 degrees at lightning speed as if fueled by an electrical current. This bizarre feeling isn’t lightheadedness, dizziness or anything you’ve ever experienced. You panic and wonder, “Am I going crazy?” Or worse, “Am I going to die?” You try to brush it off when, suddenly, it happens again. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly one in five Americans will experience an anxiety disorder in a given year. What’s more, there are over 100 possible symptoms, many of which you’d never expect to be caused by anxiety. For that reason, when they occur, they often exacerbate anxiety because of the worry caused by the symptoms.

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IDENTIFY THE SYMPTOMS The following are some of the more bizarre symptoms of anxiety, though most are not uncommon. If you experience symptoms that persist, seek medical attention to rule out a non-anxiety-related medical condition. 1. Indigestion. Anxiety can cause temporary or even chronic indigestion. Burping, passing gas, diarrhea and heartburn can all be symptoms.

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2. Phantom ringing. Tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears, can be a sign of stress or anxiety. According to www.anxietycentre. com, you may hear buzzing, ringing, humming, whizzing, chirping, roaring, swooshing or any number of other sounds. 3. Burning sensation. This unusual symptom can be felt on your skin, lips, tongue and even in your eyes. It can feel like a sunburn despite no sunburn being present, a prickling sensation or even shooting sparks. 4. Heart irregularities. Skipped heartbeats, palpitations or a racing heart can all be symptoms of anxiety. The problem is differentiating between heart irregularities caused by anxiety versus a heart attack. When in doubt, seek medical treatment right away. 5. Physical numbness or tingling. These feelings can occur in your hands, feet, arms, legs or face. 6. Excessive yawning. During anxiety attacks, hyperventilation is a common response resulting in your body feeling like it isn’t getting enough oxygen. As a result, you might experience frequent yawning. 7. Phantom smell. Phantosmia, an olfactory hallucination, sometimes occurs with anxiety. It can

HEALTH & WELLNESS cause you to smell something that isn’t there, or rather, a neutral smell becomes unpleasant. 8. Brain shivers or zaps. Most often, this bizarre sensation is caused by antidepressants or withdrawal from them. However, sometimes it’s associated with anxiety. Brain shivers can range from mild to severe and feel different from person to person, though they usually last only a brief time. They can feel like an electrical jolt or a shaking, vibration or tremor in the brain. 9. Phantom vibrations. If you’ve ever felt your phone vibrate only to discover it hadn’t, attachment anxiety may be the cause. This is a genuine phenomenon, according to a study reported by the University of Michigan in 2016. 10. Tremors. Anxiety can cause numerous types of tremors. In addition to shaking or trembling, other typical forms include arm or leg spasms, cramping or longer or slower shaking than usual. 11. Derealization. This is the experience of feeling like you’re not in reality. You may feel disconnected from the world and people around you, sort of like being in a dream state. Alternatively, you may have a distorted perception of space, time and the size of things. Everything might feel foggy or fuzzy, or that you’re very ill or going crazy. 12. Globus hystericus. This symptom can feel like a lump in your throat, or you might have difficulty swallowing. Some people also feel a tightness in their throat. 13. Eye problems. Blurred vision, dilated pupils, watery eyes and shapes that float in front of the eyes can all be a result of anxiety. 14. Skin rashes. Stress can cause hives, itching and rashes. If you already have rosacea or pso-

riasis, anxiety and stress can exaggerate it.

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15. Shooting pains. You may experience these in several areas of your body, including your face, abdomen, arms and chest during episodes of anxiety. 16. Freezing hands and feet. Stress and anxiety can cause decreased circulation. As a result, your hands and feet may feel icy.

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HOW TO ALLEVIATE ANXIETY Depending on whether you have a diagnosed anxiety disorder or the severity of the symptoms, anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication may be a viable solution. But there are other things you can do as well to reduce anxiety and its symptoms. During periods of high stress, get plenty of rest. This will help keep anxiety under control and result in fewer or less severe symptoms. Additionally, practice slow breathing. Alice Boyes Ph.D., in her article, “Breathing Techniques for Anxiety,” says the key is to focus only on breathing out. While concentrating on slowly, steadily and gently breathing out, allow the tension to flow out of your body and relaxation to flow in. Mindfulness meditation is another useful technique for reducing anxiety according to a growing body of research. You can start by meditating for just a few minutes each day and gradually increase it to more extended periods. Get some exercise. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy workout. Even a 10-minute brisk walk can provide several hours of anxiety relief, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Finally, if your doctor has told you your symptoms are anxiety-related, remind yourself of this when symptoms strike. Try not to worry about the symptoms, which only serves to exacerbate anxiety and cause the symptoms to persist. ■

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LAUGHING MATTERS

LAUGHING MATTERS OLD GOATS Submitted by Cooper Hansen A group of Americans were traveling on a tour bus through Holland. As they stopped at a cheese farm, a young guide led them through the process of making cheese with goat milk. The guide showed the tourists the pasture of goats that were too old to produce milk. The guide asked the tourists, “What do you do with your old goats in America?” A spry older man piped up and said, “They send us on bus tours.”

PRAYER FOR HEARING Submitted by Wyatt Johnson Our country church may be small, but we make up for it with an active prayer ministry. On Sunday nights we hold a special prayer service that attracts people from all over the county. One night, at the end of the

service, the preacher called out, “Anyone here who wants to be prayed over, please come forward to the altar.” A young man wearing bib overalls got in line. He appeared a bit nervous. When it was his turn, the preacher asked, “Son, what do you want us to pray about for you?” Rather reluctantly, the young man replied, “Preacher, I need you to pray for help with my hearing.” Ready to get to work, the preacher put a finger of one hand in the young man’s ear, placed his other hand on top of the boy’s head, and then commenced to pray in a mighty way. He prayed and prayed and prayed. The congregation joined in with great enthusiasm. After winding down the prayer, the preacher removed his hands, stood back and asked, “Son, how is your hearing now?”

18 | LAUGHING MATTERS | NOVEMBER 2020 |

The young man answered, “I don’t know, sir. My lawyer said the judge scheduled it for next Thursday.”

PERKS OF BEING OVER 50 Submitted by Gloria Vance 1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you. 2. In a hostage situation you’re likely to be released first. 3. No one expects you to run… anywhere. 4. People call at 9 p.m. and ask, “Did I wake you?” 5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. 6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way. 7. Things you buy now won’t wear out. 8. You can eat supper at 4 p.m. 9. You can live without sex but not your glasses. 10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans. 11. You have a party and the neigh-

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bors don’t even realize it. 12. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge. 13. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room. 14. You sing along with elevator music. 15. Your eyes won’t get much worse. 16. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. 17. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service. 18. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either. 19. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size. 20. You can’t remember where you read this list.

MEASUREMENTS Submitted by Jan Weeks 2000 pounds of Chinese Soup = won ton

LAUGHING MATTERS 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour = 1 knotfurlong 365.25 days of drinking low-calorie beer = 1 lite year 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling Half a large intestine = 1 semicolon 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower Shortest distance between two jokes = a straight line 2000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton 1000 ccs of wet socks = 1 literhosen 4 nickels = 2 paradigms

WHY MEN ARE HAPPIER

The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, they can still be your friend.

Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Wedding dress: $5,000. Tux renta: $100. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park.

You can do Christmas shopping for all your relatives on December 24 in 30 minutes. No wonder men are happier. ■

Men are just happier people. What do you expect from such simple creatures?

is our Laughing Matters section e it r o v a F 1 # ’ s r e d a re in the BEACON To advertise call

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Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. Your belly usually hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes, both one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can “do” your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

Submitted by Gloria Vance

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BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Families change, but Thanksgiving never will By Lynn Walker Gendusa

love Thanksgiving Day for many reasons. When I was small, I remember Mama worrying over her turkey being too dry and exclaiming, “I just can’t get my cornbread dressing right!” Year after year, my brother John complained about the food because he never liked anything on the table but the mashed potatoes. I have special memories of my dad sneaking another piece of pecan pie, and all of us laughing when Mama caught him. Those were the youthful Thanksgivings when I sat in front of the television watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and patiently waited for Santa Claus to come on screen. Christmas was ushered in amid the aroma of turkey, apple pie and sweet potato souffle wafting through the house. For this little girl, Thanksgiving was the pinnacle of happiness! Once I became a mother myself,

our extended families would gather on Thanksgiving, where a children’s table was added. We traveled to each other’s homes bearing pecan pies for Dad, diaper bags for babies and still declaring that Mama’s cornbread dressing was fine. In those days, I never really thought about Thanksgiving changing or a time when I would long to see some of those folks again in the future. It’s those days when God protects us from viewing tomorrow and allows us just to enjoy the day. As the years flew by, Thanksgivings did change. I have a photograph taken of my entire family gathered at my home on Thanksgiving. My parents, John and his family, plus my children, smiled as they turned toward the camera. By then, I was divorced, and all the children were grown. The aroma of roasting turkey, sweet potatoes and Mama’s “not quite right” dressing still filled the air and warmed the soul.

The last picture taken of “the family that was” on Thanksgiving. Terminal cancer took my brother, pictured center, in April the following year. It was the last picture taken of the family that was. Terminal cancer took my brother in April the following year. I was very grateful we celebrated that Thanksgiving together. Eighteen months after John died, my father joined him two

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days before another Thanksgiving. Afterward, the children scattered across the country, and while all would come home for Christmas, they rarely flew in for Thanksgiving. In the years that followed, there often would be only two or three folks around my table. But Mama

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WE OFTEN YEARN FOR THE PAST, BUT TODAY I AM THANKFUL KNOWING I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE ONCE SAT AT A TABLE WITH THOSE FINE FOLKS. and I were thankful we had the memories of good times and would laugh at the thought of Heaven having to make all those pecan pies and mashed potatoes for Dad and my brother. Then one Thanksgiving Mama didn’t complain about her dressing. I figure an angel taught her how to finally “make it right.” Dad and John were glad when she was able to join them on a heavenly Thursday in November. We all witness the ever-changing face of family over the years. We mourn the loss of days when we celebrated the holidays with those who are now gone. We often yearn for the past, but today I am thankful knowing I was blessed to have once sat at a table with those fine folks.

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Now on Thanksgiving, I never know who might join us around the table. We could serve a turkey for two or 20. There is one thing about life that is certain; you never know with God in charge what a new day can bring. This year, my husband, along with two of my three children, my Medicaid/Medicare Certified | Local Not-For-Profit Since 2002 stepchildren, and three grandchilNursing and Therapy Services dren, will gather here. The children Personal Care, Homemaking, IHSS will watch the Macy’s parade on Personal Safety Devices television, and shouts of joy will Serving erupt when Santa heralds in the g Servin ld, Mesa, Garfield, Christmas season. I need to start e sa, Garfi le e M Pitkin, Eagle and Eag the ovens, gather the yams and pull Pitkin, nnison Gunnison and Gu es out the pecan pie recipe. I will worCounti Counties ry over the turkey in the oven and I www.summitwestcare.com will fret over the dressing being just 970-263-0202 Grand Junction right. However, I do know those 970-945-6455 Glenwood Springs Branch babies love mashed potatoes! ■

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don’t remember much from high school. But there was one thing my environmental science teacher told my class that stood out: For most people, air quality is worse inside the home than it is outside during the winter. It’s worth noting that I did not grow up in the country, so the fact that a living room could be more toxic than a commuter-littered metropolis was mind-boggling. In the winter, we close up our windows, often leaving them so for months. According to my teacher, we live and breathe in stagnant air while our furniture oozes formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, she said! Clearly, it stuck with me. As a result, many have looked to indoor plants to help purify the air. But do houseplants actually clean the air in your home? The answer is: sort of.

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

A funny article in The Atlantic debunks the long-held (although understandable) myth that houseplants clean the air inside your home. “For several years, research really did suggest that houseplants might cleanse the air of certain pollutants. But now, most scientists say that’s not right,” wrote Robinson Meyer in the article. Plants do, of course, transform the carbon dioxide you exhale, plus light and water, into sugar. Oxygen is a beneficial byproduct we need to survive. But a few decades of research informs us that we’d need a lot of plants in our houses to improve the air. Plus, they’re out-competed by material items that release a type of air pollutant called volatile organic compounds (VOC). According to the article, “VOCs are regularly released by common household products such as drywall, house paints, nail polish,

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A FEW DECADES OF RESEARCH INFORMS US THAT WE’D NEED A LOT OF PLANTS IN OUR HOUSES TO IMPROVE THE AIR.

ALIVE & DIGGING shampoo and almost anything with a scent.” But, there are real ways to improve the air quality in your home. Every few weeks, open the windows to get fresh air flowing through your house. Take the opportunity of a warmer day, or use a fan to help with circulation. The temperature in your home might drop a bit, but you don’t have to leave them open long. Also, rid your home of non-toxic items. It’s astounding what synthetic chemicals are allowed into household products, as well as the negative effects they’ve been scientifically proven to have on our health. Being more conscious about even a few household items, particularly cleaning products, can make a big impact on indoor air quality. But, of course, I’m not here to stop you from filling your house with plant life. Maybe our houseplants aren’t the air filtration systems we’d love them to be, but they do play a role

in helping us live healthier, cleaner and more enjoyable lives. Any ritual—in this case, remembering to water your plants—brings you into the present. Tending to houseplants connects us to nature, even when we’re cozied up inside with a blanket and a book. Bringing your garden indoors, even if it’s not an edible one, is a wonderful way to stay connected to and intentional about being alive.

10 CLASSIC HOUSE PLANTS Tropical 1. Money Tree - Water when soil is dry with medium, indirect light. Give it room to grow big. 2. Peace Lily - Water when leaves droop, placing in medium, indirect light. If leaves yellow, give it less sun. 3. Snake Plant - Water every two weeks; does well in any light. Great for limited space, as it grows upward rather than outward.

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5. ZZ Plant - Water every two weeks in low, indirect light.

Succulents 6. Aloe - Water when soil is dry; does well in any light. 7. Angel Wings Cactus - Water every two to three weeks. Place in bright, direct light.

Cascading 8. String of Pearls - Water when soil is dry in bright, direct or indirect lighting. 9. Pothos - Water when soil is dry;

place in low to medium indirect light. 10. Philodendron - Water when soil is dry in low to medium indirect light. There are so many wonderful houseplants to choose from. Think first and foremost about the lighting and space you have available. Will they fill the corner of a room? Sit on a windowsill? Hang from the ceiling? When you know those two elements, you can choose the best houseplants for your needs. May your houseplants be lovely reminders of connecting with the natural world, living in the present moment and cultivating well-being. ■

ALIVE & DIGGING BY PAIGE SLAUGHTER Send your questions to Paige in care of the BEACON, or email her directly at paige@fruitionstudio.com

Poinsettias Christmas Cactus Fresh Evergreen Boughs Fresh Evergreen Wreaths

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4. Zebra Plant - Water once a week in either bright, direct or indirect light. Place it on a windowsill or in a bathroom, where it will enjoy the humidity.

Join us for our annual event ~ we’ll have hot cider, coffee, cookies, gifts, and more! Amaryllis Bulbs Paperwhite Bulbs Unique Gifts Gift Certificates & More!

Open 10am-4pm Daily

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WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | HOME & GARDEN |

BOOMER BEAT

St. Mary’s Foster Grandparent & Senior Companion Programs Wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! We’ve had many inquiries regarding what our volunteers are doing during the pandemic. While some of our Foster Grandparent Volunteers are serving in their assigned schools, many of our volunteers are anxiously awaiting the day when they can step back in to their classrooms and reconnect with their students again. In the meantime, they are keeping their minds active via weekly trainings designed to keep the cobwebs away. Senior Companion Volunteers have continued to serve their clients as essential “workers.” Our clients still need help getting groceries and running errands, and our volunteers are helping while staying safe. We are always looking for more volunteers – no experience required. And, if you’re on a fixed income, you might qualify for our nontaxable stipend!

Give us a call! (970)298-9092

WE TAUGHT OUR ATM NEW TRICKS 200 Grand Ave. Coming Soon to Fruita

Travel challenged? Become a pen pal. J

umping on a plane and traveling to the other side of the world is challenging these days, but it’s not impossible to immerse yourself in different cultures without ever leaving home. Instead of picking up pen and paper, pen pals have evolved into “e-pals” or “key pals”—writing a text, sending an email or recording an audio message. I became a modern day e-pal with Methew from Arusha, Tanzania, after I met him at a Serengeti safari camp earlier this year (read more about my trip on page 28). I knew I wanted to know more about this gentle and kind person, so I gave him my contact information. A few weeks after returning home to Colorado, I received an email from him. I was elated, and our regular chats have lifted my spirits in the weeks since. I share pictures of my camping trips, hikes and outdoor adventures with Methew, and he proudly sends pictures of his wife as well as his two sons enrolled in university. The names now have faces. We’ve discussed his lack of work in the travel field due to COVID-19, the little bit of farming he tends to, and the many other things we have in common. It’s also election time in Tanzania. Yet, he boasts of our open democracy compared to the challenges of theirs, where most people don’t bother voting due to the predictability and lack of change. Methew inspires me with his positive spirit, reminding me that

“every situation has its end” when praying for the elbow I fractured this summer. My dear Tanzanian friend wished me a speedy recovery and let me know that, if I were in his country, his tradition would’ve been to slaughter a goat for quick healing! Although the method of communication has changed, we still have the opportunity for a rich and personal cultural exchange with people outside our borders. So find a pen pal to connect with and write on! ■

SAFE WAYS OF FINDING A MODERN DAY PEN PAL The Internet makes it easier than ever to communicate with people all over the world. While websites such as www.penpal world.com and www.globalpen friends.com offer secure ways of chatting without revealing your personal information, Friendship Force of Western Colorado is a verified, local alternative. Friendship Force International (FFI) is a worldwide network of clubs driven by the belief that one of the best ways to achieve world peace is through friendship and cultural understanding. The nonprofit gives members the opportunity to make new friends in the U.S. and abroad through inbound and outbound journeys and social activities. To connect with the local chapter, call 778-6191 or email rebekahmcdermott@gmail.com or margueritecollard@gmail. com.

BOOMER BEAT BY MELANIE WISEMAN Send your questions to Melanie in care of the BEACON, or email her directly at melaniewisewoman@gmail.com

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• Your application, if you’ve completed it — you can simply drop it off

Rocky Mountain Health Plans You Have Options! Before you enroll in a Medicare plan, visit a Rocky Mountain Health Plans Resource Center. Enrolling in a Medicare plan that fits your needs starts with finding the right information. The Rocky Mountain Health Plans Resource Center is a great place to start. Stop by when it fits your schedule to speak with an agent one-on-one and get answers to your Medicare questions. Space may be limited. Your safety is our top priority, and we will adhere to all CDC safety guidelines.

• PHONE Call to schedule a one-on-one meeting 970-712-8672 • STOP BY Feel free to stop by our office. No appointment needed: Monday - Friday from 11:AM to 2:PM • LIVE SEMINARS Every Saturday at 10:AM

What to bring: • Your questions for a Rocky Mountain Health Plans licensed sales agent • Your Medicare ID card • A list of your doctors and prescription medications

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CALL NOW! 970-712-8672 A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at meetings, call 970-712-8672. Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its afﬁliated companies, Medicare Advantage organization with Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Missing in America Veteran Mike Shults works to honor our forgotten heroes

Can CompassMedical Medical Center helphelp with?with? What What Can Compass Center Spinal Decompression Osteoarthritis Spinal Decompression Neck and Back Pain Neck and Back Pain Sciatica Sciatica Neuropathy Neuropathy Joint Pain/Knee Pain Joint Pain/Knee Weight LossPain

Osteoarthritis Headaches Headaches Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative Disc Disease Automobile Accidents Automobile Accidents

Compass Medical Center variety of services Compass Medical Centeroffers offers aavariety of services to help! to help! Regenerative Medicine Regenerative Medicine Joint Injections Joint Injections Spinal Decompression Spinal Decompression Weight Loss Weight Loss

Medical Centerisis CompassCompass Medical Center devoted to providing access devoted to providing access to excellent care in the Grand and excellent care to the Valley. We are a Physical and 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 n 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 of other surgeries. were 3.5millions million totaljoint joint In increasing numbers, people replacements and many milare seeking non-surgical ions 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.

Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Medical Services Medical Services Chiropractic Chiropractic Massage Massage who have been toldmedicine they need theraRegenerative joint replacement surgery. py is a great option for people It can potentially regenerate who have been told they need your joint and help you avoid joint replacement surgery. surgery. It can potentially regenerate your and help you avoid We usejoint umbilical cord and birth Missing in America Project is a federal nonprofit dedicated to lotissue donated from jointproducts replacement surgery. cating, identifying and interring the unclaimed cremated remains of carefully screened We use an umbilical cord American veterans and providing honor and respect to those who mothers from a highly tissue / blood product from served by securing a final resting place for those forgotten heroes. respected laboratory that a highly respected lab that capture the greatest captures all the greatest regenerative properties that By Jan Weeks would otherwise beproperties discarded. of this regenerative Center (NPRC) in Washington, The proprietary method of otherwise discarded tissue. t was a tragedy, the death of his DC. Without more information, his isolating growth factors, cells, Their proprietary method mother and youngest son, which efforts were stymied until he found extracellular matrix and a of isolating growth factors, brought local Navy veteran Mike Mr. Knowles’ obituary. Armed with variety of other healing cells and stem cells gives Shults to Snyder Memorials several birth and death dates, he asked the properties, give the patient the thepossible patient the from bestapossible years ago. But those losses lead best benefits local Veterans Administration (VA) benefits from a regenerative Regenerative Medicine product. Shults on a mission—honoring for his Social Security number. The medicine product. The use of The use of Regenerative forgotten veterans’ remains. VA referred him to the Missing in Medicine has shown this to stem cells and growth factors When the owner of Snyder America Project (MIAP), a federal be oneshown of the best therapeutic has them to be one of Memorials learned Shults, 73, was a nonprofit dedicated to locating, methods to help aid in tissue methods the best therapeutic vet, she revealed that she’d disidentifying and interring the unhealing and repair. to help aid in tissue healing covered the cremains of a veteran claimed cremated remains of Amerand repair.

hidden under a pile of tombstones left by the previous owners. Unfortunately, they couldn’t bury the veteran because of missing information. Shults agreed to look Let us help you express your full health potential!into getting the vet interred at the 2478 Patterson Rd Suite 17 Grand Junction, CO 81505 Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Let us help you express your full health potential! 985-4506 Grand Junction. 2478www.compassmedicalco.com Patterson Rd Suite 17 Grand Junction Knowing only the man’s name, Howard Knowles, Shults contacted www.compassmedicalco.com the National Personnel Records

985-4506

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ican veterans and providing honor and respect to those who served by securing a final resting place for those forgotten heroes. With MIAP and NPRC’s help, Howard Knowles, U.S. Army, was finally put to rest. “The NPRC verified that he was eligible to be buried in a veteran cemetery. A few weeks later we had the service for him,” Shults said.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

★ ★ ★

NOW, ALL CREMATED VETERANS CAN RECEIVE THE FULL HONORS THEY’RE ENTITLED TO: A THANK-YOU FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THIS COUNTRY.

INVESTIGATING RECORDS Fueled by this experience, Shults joined MIAP and next went to Martin Mortuary to see if they had any unclaimed cremains. He was shown into a large, file cabinet-filled room. “Richard at Martin Mortuary said they were taking care of some unclaimed cremains, and would be glad to see if any of them were veterans,” Shults said. “There must have been 20,000 to 30,000 folders.” Undaunted, Shults began searching. He found records for 28 veterans whose ashes had not been claimed either due to no surviving relatives or relatives who were never notified of the death. More obituary searches and newspaper ads led to four vets’ ashes being claimed by family. Ultimately, 24 cremains were placed in blue marble boxes provided by

Martin Mortuary. Martin held a chapel ceremony for relatives and other interested parties before transporting the cremains to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery for military services. Fire trucks decorated with flags, an ROTC and motorcycle honor guard, and a 21-gun salute honored the deceased veterans, including those of Walter Bonney, whose family attended the ceremony. His great-nephew received the folded flag, and left his remains there to be inurned. “About a month later their headstones were placed, each having the final words under their names ‘you are not forgotten,’” Shults added.

GIVING FULL HONORS After Shults’ success, the MIA project tapped him to coordinate

the Western Slope search for other unclaimed cremains. He is the only coordinator for the area. “I’d really like to have more volunteers in different towns who can visit funeral homes and find cremains. Otherwise, I’ll probably have to drive to them,” Shults said. Unfortunately, Shults was frustrated by the refusal of other local funeral homes to grant him access to their files. So he searched bills from other states regarding veterans’ unclaimed cremains and authored Colorado House Bill 201051, which requires any funeral home to provide access to remains by the MIAP and its representatives. The bill was passed on March 20, 2020, and went into effect on September 15. Now, all cremated veterans can receive the full honors they’re entitled to: a thank-you for their dedication to this country and all it stands for. Interested volunteers can contact the national office of MIAP at www.MIAP.us. ■

Tis the Season to Shop Small Give a thoughtful gift Support small businesses Spread holiday cheer!

Keep Your Dollars Local!

FruitaChamber.org

Planning ahead is simple. The benefits are immense. When you plan ahead, you can design every detail of your own final tribute and protect your loved ones from unnecessary emotional and financial burdens.

We remain deeply committed to the health and well-being of our community and are observing the highest level of cleanliness at our facilities.

CALLAHAN-EDFAST

MARTIN

MORTUARY & CREMATORY GRAND JUNCTION

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WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 |

TRAVEL

Philanthropic travel in

Tanzania Vacation while supporting nonprofits By Melanie Wiseman

“J

ambo! Jambo!” Our guide, Sultan, rang out this cheerful greeting before every meal and learning experience we had in Tanzania, Africa. For years, I had longed to see wild animals in their natural habitat. In January, my dream of going on an African safari came true when my husband and I traveled to the harmonious country in East Africa with a small group through Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). To my surprise, the animals were the cake but the people were the frosting. In two weeks, we immersed ourselves in the lives of the country’s 50 million people—their dance, dress, language and art. We prepared and ate local foods, drew water from wells, visited locals’ homes and listened to their stories. Despite being considered a third world country, we found we had much to learn from Tanzanian people. In 1964, the states of Tanganyika and Zanzibar combined to create the country of Tanzania. Their inaugural president, Julius Nyerere, is revered to this day for bringing the nation together. First, he declared Swahili as the national language, bridging the tribal gaps. In this divisive world, Tanzania is a breath of fresh air with 126 tribes— plus many subtribes—living and loving together peacefully as one.

HANDS-ON PHILANTHROPY One reason we chose to travel with OAT was because of their worldwide philanthropy and conservation and sustainability efforts. Part of our trip cost went to aid worthwhile projects, but the greater satisfaction was participating in personal philanthropic experiences in each country we visited. On our very first day in the city of Arusha, we had two such experiences.

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In two weeks, we immersed ourselves in the lives of Tanzania’s 50 million people—their dance, dress, language and art. We prepared and ate local foods, drew water from wells, visited locals’ homes and listened to their stories.

The number one health problem in Africa is limited access to clean water. The nonprofit Safe Water Ceramics of East Africa (www.swcea.org) produces handmade clay water filters for families and schools throughout Tanzania and Kenya. We actually rolled up our sleeves and put our hands in the clay to help make the filters. We watched the firing process, followed by an astonishing before-and-after demonstration that turned dirty water clean. At $50 each, a filter provides five years of clean water with proper maintenance. As a group, we bought four filters and gave them to remote villagers drawing from an unclean well, educating them on proper usage and cleaning. Our next stop was the Albino Peacemakers women’s sewing group. Tanzania has the highest population of albinos in Africa. These people face serious challenges—80 percent die of skin cancer by the age of 30, and local superstitions view them as an evil curse. Albinos are often re-

TRAVEL

Safe Water Ceramics rep demos the process of filtering dirty water. jected by their villages and families, or even worse, murdered. Sister Martha Mganga, who has albinism herself, started the sewing group in 2014 to help women with albinism support their families through covered work protected from the sun. We were inspired by their stories and craftsmanship, gladly purchasing their beautifully created aprons, totes and placemats sewn from traditional African fabrics.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Part of our trip costs supported

DESPITE BEING A THIRD-WORLD COUNTRY WE HAD MUCH TO LEARN FROM TANZANIAN PEOPLE. a greenhouse and shade trees on the Njia Ya Panda Primary School grounds. The children sang and danced for us, and excitedly practiced speaking their second language: English. For people who have so little in comparison, theyâ€™re so full of joy. We left smiling and with our hearts warmed. Furthermore, the lack of food for lunches inspired many in our group to continue supporting the school even after returning home. Our last stop on the trip was

Shanga, a craft center that used mostly recycled materials to give blind, deaf and handicapped adults work, income, purpose, community and interaction. We were taught basic hand signals so that we could communicate with and acknowledge the pride in their endeavors, which we gladly supported and purchased. We also learned that some of our trip expenses contributed to wildlife protection, supporting people who collect illegal wire snares

Dan Wiseman teaches handshake to schoolchildren. and educating villagers on the value of wildlife by engaging them in animal protection versus poaching. We directly benefited from their efforts when we saw first-hand the amazing animals that inhabit Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks. My dream of going on a safari was finally fulfilled. But it was the people of Tanzania who warmed our hearts by sharing their lives and giving so freely. We left with the joy of knowing that each of us, in our own way, gave back and left something of ourselves in Tanzania. â–

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | TRAVEL |

BEACON BEST

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

2021

December 4 & 5, 2020 Parade of Lights Christmas Masque Parade Winter Farm Market Soup Challange Silent Auction Outdoor Gingerbread Booth and More!

BEACON readers know BEST

Tell us who stands above the rest with the 2021 BEACON Best awards

OLDE Fashioned Christmas Presented by:

For more details visit Palisadecoc.com or call 464-7458

Sometimes we all need a little help caring for a loved one

olorado’s senior population is growing, causing local businesses to step up their game in appealing to these loyal customers and getting them to fall in love with their products and services. Unfortunately, customer service isn’t always what it used to be with some businesses treating it as if it’s old fashioned or out of style. Here at the BEACON, we do our best to assure our readers, especially those new to the area, that honesty and courtesy are alive and well. In fact, they’re often what motivate many businesses to excel and become even better. It’s time for you to spread the word and recognize those organizations that have earned your trust and business with the 2021 BEACON Best awards. This coveted award acknowledges an elite group of your most loved locales that are selected for their people, products and services that make your life easier and more enjoyable. This year’s competition allows you to vote in 30 categories. By voting, you’re entered to win prizes and gift cards to some of your favorite spots.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS READERS Who can vote? You can! Just fill out the ballot inside the November and December issues of the BEACON. Mail it back to us or vote online at www.Beacon SeniorNews.com for your chance to win a gift card to one of your favorite places. All right, I voted. What next? Make sure to let your favorite places know you’re rooting for them, then pick up February’s BEACON to read about the winners. When do I find out if I’ve won a gift card? Make sure to include your phone number and email on the ballot so we can contact you. Gift card winners will be notified in January.

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care Hilltop’s Senior Daybreak is a unique day program that keeps seniors with memory loss safe and active while providing their caregivers the flexibility and support they need to care for their loved ones at home. We also offer valuable information and support groups specifically designed for those caring for someone affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Call (970) 241-7798 seniordaybreak.org L O C A L L Y

O W N E D

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H I L L T O P

BUSINESSES What does it mean to be named BEACON Best? BEACON Best distinguishes the extraordinary from the ordinary in terms of people, customer service and quality products and services as chosen by Western Slope boomers and seniors. What’s in it for me? A plaque, exposure to our readers and social media followers (and your clients), and bragging rights attesting to the fact that Western Slope seniors agree that you are the best at what you do! When will the winners be announced? Winners will be announced in a special section in February’s BEACON, but we’ll contact you for a photo with your award prior to publication. ■

OFFICIAL BALLOT Photocopies will not be accepted

BEST S

Best Hair Salon_______________________________________ Best Real Estate Agent_________________________________ Best Art Gallery_______________________________________

LOCAL

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2021

Best Local Band/Musician______________________________ Best Pharmacy_______________________________________ Best Hardware Store__________________________________

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Share the LOVE!

Best Optical Store____________________________________ Best Pet Supply/Services_______________________________ Best Insurance Agent__________________________________ Best Auto Dealership__________________________________ Best Auto Repair______________________________________ Best Garden Nursery__________________________________

Help the BEACON determine the best and most-loved hot spots for boomers and seniors in Western Colorado. Nominate your favorite locales in the following categories and return this ballot to the BEACON by December 31 to be entered to win gift cards to some your favorite places. The winners will be announced in a special section in the February BEACON.

Vote online: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Best Heating and Cooling Service_______________________ Best Landscaping/Lawn Care Service____________________

Mail your ballot to: BEACON Senior News, PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

Best Restaurant for Breakfast___________________________ Best Restaurant for Lunch_____________________________ Best Restaurant for Dinner_____________________________ Best Place for Dessert_________________________________ Best Place for Coffee__________________________________ Best Winery__________________________________________ Best Local Beer_______________________________________

L OV E D

CONTEST RULES: • • • •

One entry per person. One vote per category. Entries must be clearly printed. Entries must include voter’s name, address and phone number. Entries become property of the BEACON, which reserves the right to publish nominations in an upcoming issue. • Entries must be received by December 31. Winners will be published in the February BEACON.

Best Liquor Store_____________________________________ Best Date Night Location______________________________

Name:______________________________________________________

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Address:____________________________________________________

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City:___________________________ State:________ Zip:____________

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Email:______________________________________________________ WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 |

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2021 is Here! Good News For Those Facing High Costs of F Plans! • If you currently have a Plan F Supplement you can move to a Plan G Supplement between January 1, 2021- June 30, 2021, without having to answer medical questions. • Why would you want to move from a Plan F to a Plan G? The premiums for a Plan G can be significantly less money!

• Will your coverage be the same under a Plan G Supplement? The ONLY difference between a Plan F and a Plan G is that you pay the annual Medicare Part B deductible (which in 2020 was $198). We have seen that Plan G savings are more than enough money to pay the Part B deductible and have money left over!

• Can you move to a Plan G now and not wait until January 1, 2021? Yes! You will need to answer medical questions if you apply now, but if you are in relatively good health, you can apply and if accepted, start saving money now!

DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE MEDICARE Do you know the answers to these questions? 1. Do all your physicians accept the plan you are considering? 2. Does the plan you are considering allow you to see any physician or go to any hospital in the country? 3. Do all supplement plans offer an annual open enrollment?

SOME PLANS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM.

There are some important things to be aware of: Some companies will be dropping their Medicare Supplement and/or Medicare Cost plans in 2020, forcing you to choose new coverage for 2021. Here are a few things to keep in mind: • If an insurance carrier “drops” your plan, you can switch to any carrier or to any plan without being turned down for coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions. But you have only a limited time to enroll in a new plan so be careful!

• Can’t I switch to a new supplement every year during open enrollment? No! Not all Supplements have annual open enrollment which comes as a shock to many people on Medicare. You must have a qualifying event to make this change – otherwise

you will have to answer medical questions and you can be turned down for coverage based on medical conditions. • WE ARE LOCAL BROKERS familiar with your doctors and your needs.

PLAN COMPANY. CHECK OUT YOUR OPTIONS! 4. Do you need to review your drug coverage every year? 5. If a physician charges above Medicare’s approved amounts does the plan you are considering pick up the additional Part B charges? 6. How do I choose the right plan for me not only for today but also in the future when my healthcare needs change as I age?

DON’T GET TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF!

FAITH

First United Methodist Women's

Holiday House BazaaR Goes Online! Shop Online November 6-7 • www.umwbazaar.com

Have you lost your first love? By Vic Stinemetze, Living Stone Church

remember when God first called me into ministry. I’d grown up in a Pick Up Orders Nov. 8 & 9 Pick Up Hours: Christian home, and my father was 12:30-5 p.m. Sunday First United Methodist Church a lay pastor who filled the pulpit 522 White Ave., Grand Junction 5-8 p.m. Monday in small churches all over central Kansas. My parents were godly people, and I’m blessed to be their son. But when I went to college, I had this idea that the Christian life wasn’t Joyfully, to Love all, fun, exciting or adventurous. I driftto Serve all, and to share ed away from God and ran from Jesus Christ with the world Him for 26 years. ••• In 1993, my wife and I began Open Hearts, Open Minds attending church again. But it wasn’t until a friend invited me to and Open Doors a Promise Keepers Wake-up Call in 19 S. PARK AVENUE, MONTROSE Wichita, Kansas, that God radically 970-249-3716 • WWW.MONTROSEUMC.ORG changed my life. Early in the morning during a time of intermittent prayer and worship, the speaker said that God was looking for men who will stand S Townsend Ave up and be counted as leaders in BAPTIST CHURCH E Niagara Rd their homes, their churches and Turning Montrose Around their communities. That day I made RosemontBaptist.org a covenant with the Lord—I would be that leader. FAMILY FELLOWSHIP COMMUNITY For the next several months, I felt like I was literally running to keep Sunday Bible Study (all ages) 9:15 am 1598 E Niagara Rd up with all that God was doing in Worship Service 10:45 am Montrose, CO 81401 my life. We were starting ministries, Office: 970.249.4887 praying diligently and reading the Bible. Every waking moment was spent thinking about the Lord and what he wanted to do for our comService Times Service Times munity. We started a Promise KeepCelebration Celebration Service Service ers men’s ministry in my church, and am Sunday 10:00 am10:00 Sunday I later became an area ambassador. I Family Night was on fire for the Lord! Family Night But just like our relationships pm Wednesday 6:30 pm 6:30 Wednesday with our spouses, a relationship with Christ requires time with him. In Revelation 2:1-5, Jesus said of the church of Ephesus, “I know all 515 S. Dr. Hillcrest Dr. 515 S. Hillcrest the things you do. I have seen your Montrose, Montrose, CO 81401CO 81401 hard work and your patient enWhere Passion 970-249-4319 ere Passion for God and for God and 970-249-4319 durance. I know you don’t tolerate for People meet…. mpassion Compassion for People meet…. evil….You have patiently suffered for

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me without quitting. But I have this one thing against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first. Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.” I believe the same can be said about many in today’s churches. We’ve become so accustomed to our luxurious lives, and haven’t really suffered persecution. It’s been easy for us to become distracted and slip into our routines of going to church on Sunday morning but allowing the day-to-day activities of our life dominate our midweek. I have to get up and strive every morning to begin my day with time in prayer with the Lord. Otherwise, the relationship just seems to fade away without me realizing it. It’s imperative that we, as Christians, return to our first love. We must seek Him while he can be found. We must spend time in relationship with Him. Then, we must pray for our nation. We must stand courageously for what is good and stand against what is evil. We must cast our votes for godly men and women and for moral agendas at our elections. If we stand for righteousness and morality, our God will fight with us. Let’s renew our relationship with God, stand with Him and stand for righteousness. ■

Futuristic holiday tech bargains

ovember is a great month to buy technology for two reasons: clearance shelves tend to be stocked with last year’s overstock, and it’s the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Here are some of my favorite affordable tech devices that would’ve once been considered luxuries or even science fiction.

GoPro action camera

GIANT 4K TV You may think a 75-inch TV is out of the question, but manufacturers always bet big on TV sales during the holidays and produce more than retailers can sell. In fact, they often take back overstock and dispose of the excess quantity sometime in late January or early February. As a result, you can find a lowend—but still fantastic—name brand large 4K TV for under $500. I also use a 50-inch 4K TV as a computer monitor. It’s a great option for anyone with cataracts or low vision.

ACTION CAMERA (GOPRO) If you don’t need fancy features like 20x zoom lenses, a smartphone will take photos that rival any traditional digital camera. However, your smartphone is expensive and limited. Perhaps you’ve received a phone call in the middle of shooting a video? What about dropping your phone while

taking a landscape photo outside a car window? Action cameras are great. They are tiny, feature-packed cameras that fit in the palm of your hand. They’re designed to perform all sorts of tricks like filming underwater, taking time lapse videos and some even film in 360-degrees. Best of all, action cameras are built to be dropped, thrown, shaken and submerged. You can mount them to your car, bike helmet or a model rocket! For $150-400 a camera, record memories or have fun filming subjects you’d never get with a smartphone or fancy standalone camera.

SMART HOME SECURITY Remember how rich people in science-fiction movies and TV shows used to talk to their appliances and doors to activate them? Not only is that technology now available, but it’s affordable and practical.

Video doorbells and smart locks are great accessories for your home. Using your smartphone, you can make sure the house is locked when you leave and you can answer your door from anywhere in the world. Best of all, nobody will know that you aren’t at home. These devices can often double as burglar alarms and surveillance equipment to ensure that your property is safe while you’re away. I work from an office in my backyard and regularly use my video doorbell to watch my family come in and out of the house, monitor for a package delivery or even see what my dogs are barking at. Smart locks are also great because you can provide visitors a temporary code for getting in. I don’t have to loan the neighbor a key if they are feeding the dogs or checking on the house. And, I can monitor to ensure they lock the door when they’re done.

VIRTUAL REALITY I could write a whole column on the Oculus Quest, an amazing futuristic gadget. The Oculus company,

TALKING DIGITAL owned by Facebook, specializes in virtual reality hardware. Virtual reality (VR) typically involves a headset and hand-held controllers that allow you to play games, watch movies and even exercise in a simulated environment. The Oculus Quest is a standalone device that offers dozens of programs that allow you to escape reality and enjoy an immersive 360-degree—and often 3D—environment. From your living room, you can tour the glow worm caves in New Zealand, explore China’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park or simply watch a movie on a 5,000 square-foot screen in a small private theater. Best of all, Oculus Quest and other VR games require that you move to play. Sword fights, boxing or shooting games are designed so that you must turn your whole body and move your arms to play. While virtual reality may seem very science fictiony, you can have the closest thing to your very own holodeck (that’s a Star Trek reference) for less than $300. Take advantage of this holiday season’s great deals and propel yourself or your loved one into the future with a great new gadget. ■

TALKING DIGITAL BY ADAM COCHRAN Send your technology questions to Adam in care of the BEACON, or email him directly at adamc@talkingdigital.org

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FINANCE

6 savvy tips for surviving the holidays with your finances intact

By Kimberly Blaker

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n the midst of a pandemic, many holiday gift buyers will find their finances even tighter than usual. During the 2019 holiday season, a survey by American Research Group, Inc., found that the average American planned on spending roughly $976 on gifts. Throw in the costs of holiday cards, decorating, baking, holiday dinners and unplanned purchases, and holiday shopping can add up to a heap of change. Many people are set back financially for months, if not longer, following the holiday season. One big reason for this is that credit cards make it easy to overspend, leaving individuals and families to suffer the consequences later. The problem with credit cards isn’t just the monthly payments. It’s the longterm cost from accrued interest. So what can you do to ensure you start the new year without new debt?

➊

BUDGET

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36 | FINANCE | NOVEMBER 2020 |

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Create a holiday budget, including gifts, food, decorations, wrapping supplies, potential travel and postage for holiday cards. Then review your list, and decide where you can cut costs. Gifts to extended family and friends are an excellent place to start. Talk to those you exchange

gifts with, and see if they’ll either forego the gift exchange or set a dollar limit. Another option for families or groups is to draw names, as this will reduce the number of gifts everyone has to buy. Doing a white elephant gift exchange is another fun alternative. Planning your gift budget based on value rather than the amount to spend on each person is also an excellent way to reduce your holiday expense. Decide in advance on a gift value for each recipient. Then, look for great buys. Let’s say you’ve decided on a gift value of $50 for your sister. Now, try to find a gift that’s a $50 value but only costs you $30 or $40. If you have many gifts to buy, this can shave a lot of expense.

➋

PICK UP THE PHONE Do you usually send out more holiday cards than you receive? If so, opt instead for a phone call during the holiday season. Or, if you’ve

FINANCE learned the world of video calls, try a virtual hangout over Zoom or FaceTime. This is particularly meaningful for those you don’t talk to often, and it won’t cost you a thing. A third option is to only mail cards to those who send one to you.

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PLAN AHEAD

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THE COOKIE MONSTER ISN’T COMING

Plan your shopping before you head out the door. Do online research to find the best deals for the items on your shopping list. If you can’t find a good deal on something, consider an alternative. Also, check newspaper fliers and the coupon pages of the store websites you plan to shop at. Cut back on the baking. When’s the last time you heard someone complain of a shortage of holiday goodies? Probably never. Most of us eat far more than we’d like to just because it’s there.

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HOST A POTLUCK If you’re hosting any parties, hold potluck dinners instead of playing head chef. You could offer to provide the meat, and then ask everyone to bring a specific type of dish to avoid duplicates.

If possible, leave credit cards at home when you go shopping to avoid impulse purchases. Many people spend far more than they intend by purchasing irresistible spur of the moment bargains. Finally, if you use your credit card, try to make a realistic plan to double or triple your monthly payments. This will reduce your interest expense and quickly eliminate your debt. ■

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WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | FINANCE |

BUSINESS PROFILE

All Points Transit

An essential service for area seniors By Jan Weeks

etting around in rural areas can be a real challenge for older folks who no longer drive, either by choice or through circumstances. Seniors have more medical appointments than the general public, and shopping for groceries and other necessities can be a challenge. Fortunately, Montrose residents have All Points Transit to get them around town, and even to Olathe, Delta, and San Miguel counties. According to Mobility Manager Bill Towle, All Points Transit has been around for more than 40 years. The Montrose County Senior Citizens Transportation launched in 1979, it was incorporated in 1989 and a year later approved for 501(c) (3) nonprofit status. Yet another iteration occurred in 2008 when the Dial-A-Ride program expanded to Delta and became part of All Points Transit. More services were added when the Montrose Public Bus came into being in 2010. The Dial-A-Ride service offers door-to-door transportation at the cost of $3.50 for those over 60, and $5 each way for those under 60. Medicaid covers medical rides for its recipients, and travel vouchers may be available for those over 60 through Region 10 and the Area Agency on Aging, according to Towle. All Points Transit also offers

the Public Flex Route. This service follows fixed routes in Montrose and Olathe, and “flexes” to go off route up to three-quarters of a mile to pick up those who have a hard time accessing the normal stops. For those not on the regular route who want to use the flex route to be picked up, flex rides must be scheduled the day before. Currently, the flex route is free and stops at three grocery stores, Target and Walmart. The transfer station for the flex route is also convenient for downtown shopping. In spite of the pandemic, the transit service has operated nonstop while practicing social distancing and limiting the number of passengers per vehicle. “Despite constraints from COVID-19, we continue to safely provide vital transportation for older adults, disabled persons and/or those with lower incomes to their destinations. All Points practices enhanced cleaning and disinfecting in accordance with CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of both passengers and employees alike, and has collaborated with other agencies in food delivery services,” Towle said. All Point Transit’s 25 buses work every day, giving seniors and others without private transportation access to activities and events they

38 | BUSINESS PROFILE | NOVEMBER 2020 |

IN SPITE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE TRANSIT SERVICE HAS OPERATED NON-STOP WHILE PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS PER VEHICLE.

otherwise would’ve had to give up or rely on friends and family for. The buses make 80,000 trips a year and run on a 30-minute schedule. Medical transportation is also available in all of its service areas and can be arranged by contacting

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

All Points Transit at 549-0128 and 874-7334 in Delta County. For general information and to access routes and maps, visit www. allpointstransit.com or call 5490128. ■

BEACON GUIDE HIGHLIGHT

OI says “thank you” with care packages for troops

ew of us take the opportunity to thank a service member or veteran for the sacrifices he or she has made to our country. But Operation Interdependence (OI) says “thank you” to thousands of service men and women every month with care packages sent to troops stationed around the world. Handwritten notes and over 10,000 factory wrapped items complement the volunteer-packed gift bags, which contain items such as playing cards, candy, travel toiletries, condiments, shampoo and toothpaste. In 2019, the nonprofit shipped 1,145 boxes containing 53,625 care packages at a total cost of $34,695.50 (OI pays all postage).

CIVILIAN SUPPORT OI was started in 2001 by a retired Marine in Fallbrook, California. He worked part-time in the Camp Pendleton mailroom, which was often bogged down, especially during the holidays. His solution? Larger boxes that could fit 25 care packages—enough for everyone in a unit without anyone being left out—sent to the troop’s commanders. Today, Grand Valley resident Karon Carley oversees the national organization and the Colorado

Chapter. She, along with her late husband, Al, have been involved with the volunteer-run organization since 2004. Carley, 77, said 95 percent of OI volunteers are seniors who are retired or work part-time. “OI has some 15-20 regular volunteers, though not all of them can attend every meeting,” she said. In a typical month, Colorado chapter volunteers assemble and send about 2,500 care packages a year (70-145 boxes shipped). They also handwrite around the same number of notes every month. These packages and notes from home are meant to make service members as comfortable as possible. In response to requests— which can be made on OI’s website—boxes have been shipped to South Korea, Japan, Guam, numerous African countries, Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, Poland, Italy and more. While OI typically focuses on sending smaller items, there is the occasional request for specifics. Recently, a quarantined group asked for shower shoes and Frisbees.

as is its product inventory. Hard expenses include insurance, utilities and that all-important postage, which can cost $3,000 a month. To offset costs, Carley said she tries to host a fundraiser every month, which can take the form of gift shop sales, garage sales, craft shows, plays and themed dinners. Randy’s Southside Diner holds an annual fundraising dinner for OI and grant funding is also helpful. Businesses will also hold their own fundraisers to benefit OI with employee donations of money or products.

Another rewarding way community members show their appreciation is by helping write notes to the troops. Each note is sent to a specific service person or veteran. It’s even more special when the individual writes back! There’s an abundance of work to do, and much of it can be done remotely. Visit www.oidelivers.org for a list of needed items and ways to get involved, or call Carley at 760-468-8001. ■

It’s your life.

We’re here to help you live it.

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BEACON GUIDE HIGHLIGHT

How to self-publish your autobiography Fruita veteran Bill Chinn shares details from his amazing life By Debra Dobbins

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riting one’s autobiography can be time-consuming and taxing, but it’s a labor of love and a precious gift to family members. Bill Chinn spent 18 months writing his autobiography at the request of his daughter. “After my mother and sister died, I realized that there were few, if any, family members alive who could tell the history of our family, so I urged my dad to write it all down,” said Chinn’s daughter, Diana Cato, 69. Once he finished the manuscript, Diana spent an additional six months inserting family photographs, binding the manuscript and giving it a professional polish. Now, Chinn looks back with pride at this 132-page collection of family history he titled “Bits and Pieces of my Life.” The process took two years, but it will last for generations to come. Now 95, Chinn is a self-published author. He is also an ex-Navy man with a subsequent career in the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) that spanned more than 25 years.

A MAN WHO’S SEEN IT ALL Chinn’s autobiography contains plenty of humor, like his being ordered to be the lookout as his father made moonshine. Or the time he really wanted to kiss a girl, only to find she chewed tobacco. That put an end to that. Like many kids in the Great Depression, Chinn had a hardscrabble life growing up outside of Fruita. In high school, he played football for a while but had to quit when he could not afford properly fitting shoes. In fact, he didn’t have a proper pair of footwear until he left high school to

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join the Navy. “It was the first time in my life that I had shoes that did not hurt my feet,” Chinn wrote. Chinn served on three Navy destroyers. One of them was the USS McCord, which is believed to have destroyed an enemy submarine and severely damaged others with depth charges. After the war, Chinn found true love in Wanita Webb. They were married in 1946 and eventually had two daughters, Karen and Diana. About a year later he accepted a job with the AEC and reported to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for training and eventual Protective Force assignment to Los Alamos, New Mexico. “At this time the AEC was in the process of transforming the Manhattan Project from military to civilian control as directed by the Atomic Energy Act—a very interesting period in atomic weapon history,” Chinn said.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS Being on Protective Force meant that he frequently acted as a courier for extremely sensitive and classified documents for the AEC. “The early days were shrouded in secrecy. Sometimes our families didn’t know where we were,” Chinn recalled. “It was an interesting and sometimes dangerous three years of my life.” After accepting early retirement from the AEC, Chinn sold insurance for a while before becoming a quality control manager. Wanita and he later escorted tour groups around the U.S. Through their professional and personal travels, the couple saw much of the lower 48 states, as well as Hawaii. In later years, Chinn finally got to wear a cap and gown when he took part in the Operation Recognition program, which honored veterans who were away at war when their high school class graduated. He “walked” with the Fruita Monument High School class of 2006. Chinn now spends much of his time painting and making jewelry. His love of the arts dates back decades. He is a member of the Brush & Palette Club and has exhibited many of his paintings throughout the years.

WRITING IT DOWN Chinn offered these tips on how

to get started with compiling your autobiography:

All Gave Some Some Gave All

• The public library has many books with detailed instructions. • Find a good time of day to write without distractions. It could be early in the morning before everyone else gets up or mid-afternoon when folks are napping or running errands. • It doesn’t have to be in chronological order, i.e. birth to death. • Don’t assign a title until the piece is completed. • The more pictures and illustrations, the better. • Stay on topic. This is your story; don’t get too involved with auxiliary characters. • Don’t be picky about the events you include. If you think it’s interesting or important to your story, include it. Just be careful to avoid the mundane. • Don’t expect perfection in your first draft. Just get your ideas down. You can always reread later and polish up your prose.

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Movie stars who did (and didn’t) pose with a Thanksgiving turkey

By Jacqueline T. Lynch

hanksgiving brought out some weird impulses from Hollywood studio publicity departments in the form of photos of starlets posing with turkeys. This pictorial parade every November became such a cliché that actress Teresa Wright put her foot down. She would pose for no pictures with turkeys, or any other holiday props for that matter. You’ll recognize many of the starlets who were obligated by the publicity department of their studios to provide fodder for the newspaper and magazine holiday editions. There’s one of young Judy Garland dressed as a male Pilgrim. She looks like she is befriending the turkey rather than stalking it for dinner. Bette Davis, as a female Pilgrim, appeared to be employing a turkey as a draft animal to pull a kiddie wagon full of harvest bounty from the fields (or the prop department). Barbara Bates was clothed as a sexy Pilgrim who appeared to be Top: Barbara Bates Middle: Doris Day Bottom: Bette Davis

BEACON SENIOR NEWS MARILYN MONROE DRESSED AS A CUTIE-PIE SEXY PILGRIM AND DID NOT APPEAR PARTICULARLY THREATENING TO THAT TURKEY. I THINK HE LIKED HER.

dressing up the turkey in formal attire. Perhaps they were going out on a date to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Mocambo. Marilyn Monroe dressed as a cutie-pie sexy Pilgrim and did not appear particularly threatening to that turkey. I think he liked her. Doris Day appeared ready to get down to business with a hatchet. I can’t think of a grimmer publicity photo for Thanksgiving, and for that reason it makes me laugh more than the others. But Teresa Wright would have none of it. Wright—the future star of “Mrs. Miniver,” “The Best Years of Our Lives,” “Shadow of a Doubt” and “Pride of the Yankees”—was just an ingenue of 21 playing in “Life with Father” on Broadway. Her introduction to film came when she was hired by producer Samuel Goldwyn to play Bette Davis’ daughter in “The Little Foxes.” Wright came to Hollywood with a certain level of wariness, and her contract with Goldwyn contained the following unusual clause—now famous in film industry lore—that showed Wright’s independence of thought, her serious attitude towards acting and a sly sense of humor. “Teresa Wright shall not be required to pose for photographs in a bathing suit unless she is in the water. Neither may she be photographed running on the beach with her hair flying in the wind. Nor may she pose in any of the following situations: in shorts, playing with a cocker spaniel; digging in a garden; whipping up a meal; attired in firecrackers and holding skyrockets for the Fourth of July; looking insinuatingly at a turkey for Thanksgiving; wearing a bunny cap with long ears

for Easter; twinkling on prop snow in a skiing outfit while a fan blows her scarf; assuming an athletic stance while pretending to hit something with a bow and arrow.” That must’ve had the legal department in a panic. Incredibly, Wright won an Academy Award nomination for that first movie role, and then two more for the next two movies she made, both in the same year. She also won a Best Supporting Oscar for “Mrs. Miniver.” No one to date has equaled that magnificent start to a film career. But her independence of thought would later compromise her career when Goldwyn fired her for refusing to go on a publicity tour. Wright expressed no regrets at leaving the studio system, declaring, “We have no privacies which producers cannot invade. They trade us like cattle, boss us like children.” Her public declaration of independence was as famous as her no-cheesy-photoswith-Thanksgiving -turkeys contract clause had been. Though her career did not end there, it never took on the remarkable ascent of its early years. That might have happened regardless, as Hollywood was always a difficult place to survive for aging female stars. Some of Wright’s best work in later years was on television and back on the stage. She showed many fine qualities in her excellent work, that funny and intelligent contract clause not least among them. Recently, I had to stop my car only about a mile from my home to let a small, flustered flock of wild turkeys half-fly, half-stumble across the road. No Hollywood starlets were chasing them with a hatchet, so I’m pretty sure they got away. ■

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Thanks for Giving Celebrating the spirit of giving this November!

Week 1: "Thank You for Giving to the Pets" - Supply Drive Week 2: "Thank You for Giving Your Time" - Volunteer Week Week 3: "Thank You for Giving In Memory" Donate in honor of a beloved past pet and we will include them in a memorial pet collage

Week 4: "Thank You for Being You!" It’s our turn to give thanks for YOU! Tune in Friday, November 13 from 10am-3pm for A Day of Giving Radiothon! Roice-Hurst will join Alicia Selin and take over the airwaves at Mix 104.3. Call in and donate for song requests and to win fabulous prizes!

Promoting bonds between pets and their people since 1963. 362 28 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-434-7337 ~ rhhumanesociety.org

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 |

MeSa County

CALENDAR November 6

Editor’s note: Some events may be canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact event organizers to confirm details before attending. November 1-13 Poinsettia Sale

Order a poinsettia through Friends of St. Mary’s Hospital with proceeds benefiting the St. Mary’s Fund. 1-5 p.m. | $15 | sandra_hicks18@ yahoo.com | 303-356-7757

Culture Fest Art Show

View Mesa County Libraries’ online art gallery celebrating community artists. 6 p.m. | www.youtube.com/user/ yourmcl | Free | 243-4442

7 p.m. 8-10 p.m. | 645 Main St., Grand Junction | $20-$30 | www. avalontheatregj.com | 263-5700

November 6-7 Ski Swap

November 6

Senior Law Day: Long-Term Care Medicaid

Shauna Clemmer presents a free virtual Medicaid presentation as part of Senior Law Day. RSVP online. 10-11 a.m. | www.eventbrite. com/e/113397007502

November 6

Cottonwood Kolsch release

November 2

Grand Mesa Nordic Council Fundraiser

Purchase Kannah Creek Brewer’s Choice beer to benefit the Grand Mesa Nordic Council. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | 1960 N. 12th St., Grand Junction | 263-0111

November 5

Virtual RiversEdge Gives Day

Laugh as the RiversEdge West staff race in T-Rex costumes for the virtual fundraiser. RSVP online. 12-1 p.m. | facebook.com/ RiversEdgeWest/events | 256-7400

November 5

Copper Club Brewing Company teams with RiversEdge West to create small-batch beers for river restoration. Taste the first beer of the series, Cottonwood Kolsch. 3-9 p.m. | 233 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita | 858-8318

Powderhorn National Ski Patrol hosts a ski swap at the Maverick Pavilion on Colorado Mesa University’s campus from 5-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. 1100 North Ave., Grand Junction | $5 | 270-6703

November 6-7

Methodist Women Virtual Holiday Bazaar

First United Methodist Church Women bring their popular holiday bazaar to you virtually. Shop online, then pick up your items at the church on November 8 or 9. See ad on page 34 for pick-up hours. 522 White Ave., Grand Junction | www.umwbazaar.com | 243-3352

November 6

November 7

Raspberry Hill Boutique provides the supplies; you get to paint a set of Thanksgiving-themed items perfect for a tiered tray, centerpiece or shelf. 6-8 p.m. | 1224 O½ Road, Loma | $30 | 901-1363

Get an early start to your holiday shopping with one-of-a-kind items at the Moose Lodge craft fair and bake sale. Continental breakfast and lunch available. Masks required. 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | 567 25 ½ Road, Grand Junction

Paint Thanksgiving decor

Led Zeppelin IV

Moose Lodge Craft Fair

holiday market from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | 405 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita | 858-3490

November 7

Concealed Carry Course

Sign up for the CHP concealed carry course, offered by Rocky Mountain Gun Club. This course is one of the most extensive in the state. Call to sign up. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | 545 31 Road, Grand Junction | $65 | 523-7642

November 7

Comedian Drew Lynch

Enjoy laughs at the Mesa Theater with comedian Drew Lynch, second place winner on America’s Got Talent. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. | 538 Main St., Grand Junction | $30 | www.mesatheater. com | 773-1775

November 8

Veterans Car Show

Wheels West Car Club members display their vehicles under parking canopies at the VA Medical Center. A mini parade and salute to veterans to follow at 2 p.m. Noon | 2121 North Ave., Grand Junction | Free

November 7

The Black Jacket Symphony recreates the iconic album “Led Zeppelin IV” in its entirety, plus some of the band’s greatest hits at the Avalon Theatre. Doors open at

Navajo Dinner & Bazaar

Fruita United Methodist Church hosts its annual Navajo Taco Dinner from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m., and a

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November 10

November 13

Join the Clifton Branch Library virtually to discuss “Harry’s Trees” by Jon Cohen with others who’ve read the book. 8-9 a.m. | Register at www. mesacountylibraries.org | Free

Stain and decorate a vintage style wood sled decor piece in your choice of colors and embellishments. Raspberry Hill Boutique provides the supplies. 6-8 p.m. | 1224 O½ Road, Loma | $45 | 901-1363

Virtual Book Club

November 11

Veterans Day Ceremony

Honor fallen service members at Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, the newly appointed leader of Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, will also be present. 11:11 a.m. | 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction | Free | 263-8986

Sled workshop

November 13-14

Fall Dance Concert

Colorado Mesa University’s dance department presents “Embracing the Shadow,” a play on dance, space and lighting. Live performance at Robinson Theatre or watch it virtually. Buy tickets at www. coloradomesa.universitytickets.com Live: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturday | Virtual: 12 p.m. Friday | 1299 N. 12th St. Grand Junction | $13-$16

November 14

Discovery Garden Cleanup Day

November 12

Our Communities Over Coffee Come together for thoughtful conversation regarding the future of Grand Valley community, hosted by the Fruita and Palisade chambers at Timberline Bank. 9:30 a.m. | 649 Market St., Grand Junction | 464-7458

November 13

Senior Law Day: End of Life Planning

Stephanie Holguin presents a free virtual law presentation as part of Senior Law Day. RSVP online. 10-11 a.m. | www.eventbrite. com/e/113397007502

Help put the garden to bed for the winter by weeding, spreading leaves, clearing out the annual beds and more. Call to register. Bring your own gloves. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 517 Chipeta Ave., Grand Junction | 683-2432

November 20

November 21

Senior Law Day: Titling Assets & Beneficiary

Snowflake Dot Art

Come create a beautiful wall hanging for your home, all supplies provided, at Homespun Shipping & Gifts. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | 325 I-70 Business Loop, Clifton | $28 | tandiemorgan@gmail.com | 210-1896

Chris Mahre presents a free virtual law presentation as part of Senior Law Day. RSVP online. 10-11 a.m. | www.eventbrite. com/e/113397007502

November 20-22

Mountainfilm On Tour

View the same exhilarating blend of filmed adventure and inspiration from the comfort of your own home, complete with an online silent auction. 9 a.m. | mountainfilm. myeventscenter.com | Free

November 21 Craft Fair

Shop from over 100 vendors at Holy Family Catholic School. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | 786 26 ½ Road, Grand Junction | facebook.com/ holyfamilygj/events | 242-6168

November 21

Matthew Food Bank

Bethel Assembly of God gives food to those in need. 9-11 a.m. | 2945 Orchard Ave. | Free | 243-8247

November 28

Blue Pig Art & Chocolate Walk

Shop Palisade stores and receive free chocolates. Get your card punched at each vendor and turn it in at your last stop for a chance to win a basket of goodies. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Downtown Palisade | Free | www. thebluepiggallery.com | 464-4819

November 18

Sound Design & Foley Effects Artist in Residence Evan Curtis releases a video on basic sound techniques, available online. 6-7 p.m. | www. youtube.com/ user/yourmcl | Free | 243-4442

November 21

Downtown Tree Lighting

Catch the spirit of the holidays in Downtown Grand Junction with a tree lighting and an appearance from Santa! 5-7 p.m. | 4th and Main Streets, Grand Junction | Free

Free Legal Advice for Seniors

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MeSa County

CLUBS

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

Editor’s note: Some club meetings may be canceled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact organizers to confirm meeting details before attending.

Golden K Kiwanis meets at the Redlands Community Center. Wednesdays | 9-10 a.m. | facebook.com/gjgoldenk

American Association of University Women meets monthly. Call for location. 2nd Saturday | 11:30 a.m. | 261-2112

Grand Junction Petroleum & Mining Club meets at Two Rivers Convention Center. 3rd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | www.grandjunctionpmc.com

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 Facebook page for details and contact info. 250-4832 | grandjunction@citizens climatelobby.org | facebook.com/ CCLGJ

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. | grandjunctionrock club@gmail.com

Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at The Commons of Hilltop Garden Room in Grand Junction. Tuesdays | 6:45 a.m. | 241-1900 Grand Valley Pets Alive meets at Church of the Nativity in Grand Junction. 3rd Wednesdays | 4:30-6 p.m. | 462-7554 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 Grand Valley Woodturners meets at Redlands Methodist Church. 2nd Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 245-8817 or 856-3632 Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Grand Junction Area Chapter, meets monthly. Call for details. 596-8510 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 Tuesdays in February, May, August, November | 5:15 p.m. | 243-8829 or 270-6184

Colorado Archaeological Society Grand Junction meets monthly. Call for location. 2nd Monday | 6:30-9 p.m. | 433-4312 | www.meetup.com/CAS-GJ/events Crafting Club meets at Clifton Library. 3rd Tuesday | 2-3 p.m. | 434-6936

Knitting Club meets at Community of Christ Church in Grand Junction. 4th Tuesday | 6:30-8 p.m. | 623-1455 Mesa County Genealogical Society meets at various locations. www.mesacountygenealogy.org Newcomers Club meets at First Christian Church in Grand Junction. 2nd Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. | 549-0440 | www.gjnewcomers.org 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 Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets twice monthly. Call for location. 1st & 3rd Monday | 7 p.m. | 208-9228 River City Singles meet regularly at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction. These young-at-heart adults get together for activities throughout the month. Fridays | $20/year | 242-2807 Rotary Club of Grand Junction meets weekly at the Bookcliff Country Club. Wednesdays | 12-1:15 p.m | 234-5030. 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 SOS: Singles over 65 is a gender-balanced club for seniors who may be single, retired, new in town or not!

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775-400-8700 | $20/year | www.meetup.com/singles-over-65 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 Amateur Radio Club meets at the Civil Patrol Hangar, 2868 Aviators Way. 2nd Saturday | 9:30 a.m. | www.w0rrz.org

Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets at Grand Junction Masonic Center. Thursdays | 261-1670 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

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

HEALTH Silver Sneakers Program

Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets weekly. Call for location. Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 250-3969 Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets at Western Colorado Community College, Building B. 4th Tuesday | 7 p.m. | www.thunder mountaincameraclub.org

FUN AFTER 50

Now available at Parks & Rec

Western Colorado Astronomy Club meets at Mesa County Libraries’ Central Branch. 1st Tuesday | 6 p.m. | 201-2865 | www.wcacastronomy.org Western Colorado Decorative Artists meets at First Congregational Church in Grand Junction. 2nd Saturday | 9 a.m. | 640-275 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 Western Slope Liberty Toastmasters meets at Chronos Builders, 637 25 Road, Grand Junction. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 6:30-8 p.m. | 661-974-9904 Wheels West Car Club meets at the Whitman Center, Museum of Western Colorado. 1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | www.wheelswestcarclub.org ■

Email your club information to: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

The Silver Sneakers Program is now available at Grand Junction Parks and Recreation facilities for adults 65+. Many insurance plans provide free membership. Visit www.silversneakers.com or call 254-3866 to see if you qualify

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Aqua Aerobics

Moderately intense activities incorporate noodles, water weights and more. Social distancing will be observed. 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Orchard Mesa Pool | $46.50 punch pass, $4.50 drop in or Silver Sneakers pass

Thursdays Thai Chi

Reduce your stress and improve immune function, balance and range of motion. Session is November 19 through December 17. Register by November 17. 12:30-1:30 p.m. (intro class) | 1:30-2:30 p.m. (level 2) | Bookcliff Activity Center | $55

Tuesdays & Fridays Gentle Active Yoga

This yoga class is designed for active beginners and above. 8-9 a.m. | Senior Recreation Center | $50 punch pass, $7 drop in

DANCE Mondays

Line dancing

Dancers of all abilities welcome. No partner necessary. Session is from November 2 to December 14. 12:15-2 p.m. | Senior Recreation Center | $18 per session, $5 drop in

SPORT Indoor Pickleball Beginning November 9

Meet at the Bookcliff Activity Center, weather permitting, to play the most addicting sport! 9 a.m.-12 p.m. daily | 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday | $45 for 10-punch pass, $6 drop in

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464-5668 | M-F 8:30 – 6:30; Sat. 9 – 5 707 Elberta Ave., Ste. B, Palisade, CO 81526 WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | CLUBS & ACTIVITIES |

MeSa County

BEACON BITS BEACON BITS

Editor’s note: Some events may be canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact event organizers to confirm event details before attending. Senior Law Day goes virtual Colorado Legal Services and the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Colorado are proud to present the Virtual Senior Law Series. Professionals present informative virtual seminars for seniors and their caregivers on legal topics. Participants receive a free 2020 Senior Law book plus the opportunity for a 15-minute one-onone consult with an attorney. All presentations are free and run from 10-11 a.m. Attendees must register in advance at www.eventbrite. com/e/113397007502. • November 6 - Long-Term Care Medicaid • November 13 - End of Life Planning • November 20 - Titling Assets and Beneficiary • December 4 - What You Need to Know When Someone Dies Veteran Artist of Month: Jacqui Allen-Benson The Western Region One Source (WROS) announced Jacqui Allen-Benson as the newest Veteran Artist of the Month. Allen-Benson, from Gypsum, paints with oil and is inspired by vast Colorado sceneries

and landscapes. She served in the Marine Corp. during the Vietnam War era. Her paintings will remain on display at the WROS through early December. Interested veterans can call 257-3764 to be considered for future displays. Medicare Monday virtual workshops The Colorado Gerontological Society offers Monday and Wednesday workshops providing education on Medicare. Register at www. senioranswers.org or call 303-3333482. • November 2, 6-7:30 p.m. - Medicare Changes • November 4 12-1:30 p.m. - Medicare & Federal Retiree Plans, VA, TriCare • November 9, 9:30-11 a.m. - New to Medicare • November 11, 12-1:30 p.m. Medicare, Medicaid & LowIncome Services • November 16, 1-2:30 p.m. Medicare Changes • November 18, 12-1:30 p.m. Medicare While Still Employed Culture Fest goes virtual Culture Fest, Mesa County Libraries’ annual celebration of cultural

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CareFlight of the Rockies celebrates 40 years CareFlight has been providing air medical transport to the region since 1980. The CareFlight team is made up of highly trained flight nurses, paramedics, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal intensive care nurses, obstetrical nurses and respiratory therapists to provide critical care. To commemorate the

Free caregiver workshops in Grand Junction Explore self-compassion and resiliency skills at free workshops sponsored by Postvention Alliance and the Writers Forum, using writing prompts, stories, poems and art. Workshops are November 4, 11 and 18 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1425 N. Fifth St., Grand Junction. Space is limited. Register at www.westerncoloradowriters. org or call 261-1820. View Plein Air Gallery virtually View artwork as part of Colorado Canyons Association’s and the Colorado National Monument Association’s celebration of the Western Slope’s monuments and canyons. This year’s gallery will be held virtually through December 20. View the artists’ galleries online and purchase their magnificent artwork at www.coloradocanyonsassociation. org/plein-air. Fleet Reserve Association announces essay winners Fleet Reserve Association’s (FRA) Colorado West Branch 244 presented awards and a $50 check

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Free Medicare help with Mesa County SHIP Let state-certified volunteers help you navigate the confusing world of Medicare and government health insurance during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 through December 7). This year, Mesa County SHIP won’t be seeing clients in person, but will still conduct telephone appointments to help clients review and change their plans. Call 243-9839, opt. 1 and leave a message. A SHIP counselor will return your call.

event, Kathy Shoemaker, a flight nurse who started with CareFlight in 1987 and recently retired as chief flight nurse, was flown in on the helicopter for the celebration at CareFlight Hangar at Grand Junction Regional Airport on October 8.

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diversity on the Western Slope, is online for 2020. This year’s Culture Fest highlights video interviews with area residents from around the world who share about their homelands, their traditions and how Mesa County feels like home. The first video premieres at 6 p.m. on November 4. Videos will be on Mesa County Libraries’ YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/yourmcl) through February 2021.

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to the first-place winners of the sponsored Americanism/Patriotism essay contest. Shipmates Richard Reno, newly elected branch president, and Charles (Bud) Johnson delivered the awards to three students this past spring: Tessa Berry, 12th grade, Fruita Monument High School; Lisa Azevedo, 8th grade, Centennial Middle School in Montrose; and Konnor Zehniser, 7th grade, Grand Junction High School. The winning entries were forwarded for judging at the regional level. FRA Branch 244 meets on the second Wednesday of the month at VFW Post 3981 Hall in Grand Junction. For details, call 434-0868. Nominate a veteran for Quilts of Valor The local chapter of Quilts of Valor (aka Grand Valley Valor Quilters) has been busily sewing and quilting through the pandemic. If you know a veteran who has been touched by war and would like to nominate her/ him to be awarded a Quilt of Valor, contact Sue at 241-7457 or Jacque at 768-5124. Food Bank of the Rockies food distribution Adults 60 and older can call 4641138 to see if they meet the qualifications to receive free grocery boxes. Senior drive-thru pantries are available: • Fruita: 3rd Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon at Little Salt Park. Call 464-1138. • Palisade: 3rd Thursday of the month from 1-3 p.m. at 120 N. River Road. Call 434-1138. • Grand Junction: Four Tuesdays per month at Salvation Army, 1235 N. Fourth St. Call 242-7513. ■

Email your news briefs to: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Question VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of our member agencies. Call 243-9839, ext. 5 Food Bank of the Rockies seeks volunteers to help in a variety of areas. Volunteer shifts are available Monday through Friday starting at 8 a.m. and afternoons starting at 1 p.m. Call 464-1138 | www. foodbankrockies.org/westernslope-volunteer Grand Junction Visitor Center seeks volunteer tourism ambassadors to welcome visitors to the Grand Valley. Flexible schedule. 256-4054 | kerryg@gjcity.org MOPS Kids (Mothers of Preschoolers) is looking for volunteers to watch children for several hours a month during MOPS meetings at Canyon View Vineyard Church in Grand Junction 2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 9-11:30 a.m. | 549-6637 Palisade Historical Society welcomes volunteers who would like to share the history of Palisade, and/or work on various committees and projects. Email pbwalker630@acsol.net Foster Grandparents are needed in nonprofit school classrooms throughout Mesa County. Applicants must be 55+ and may be eligible for a tax-free stipend. Call 298-9092 Senior Companions 55+ are needed to provide friendship and drive homebound seniors to errands and appointments. Call 298-9092 Mesa County Spellbinders seeeks volunteers to learn a few storytelling skills and make a difference. Tell stories to students in kindergarten through fifth grade once a month during the school year. Call 243-7303

OF THE

Month

Compiled by Melanie Wiseman

What’s the most memorable history-making event you’ve witnessed in your lifetime? Jeannie Davis, Grand Junction “I was 14 and in Washington, DC visiting relatives when we watched the crew of Apollo 11 land on the moon. I also consider these history-making moments in my life: the 1960s civil rights movement, John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinations, Woodstock, The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, microwaves, color TV and the Challenger explosion in January 1986. It was my children’s first disaster.”

Doug Beyer, Grand Junction “My greatest memory in history is flying home to Chicago for Christmas in 1968 and seeing Chicago burning at night from the plane because of riots protesting the Vietnam War. The many fires burning all over the city made a big impression on me as a kid.”

Linda Larson, Grand Junction “The first thing that comes to mind is 9/11 and the nearly 3,000 people killed. But the coronavirus pandemic is a global event that will forever change our definition of ‘normal.’ Whoever would have imagined wearing masks, refraining from hugging loved ones, school restrictions and social distancing? To me, this is by far something all of us will not forget any time soon.”

Steve Jordan, Grand Junction “The Apollo space flight and the first humans on the moon. I still remember where I was and what I was doing when the news flash came in.”

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | BEACON BITS |

CALENDAR SUPPORT GROUPS

Montrose MeSa & Delta County

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

Editor’s note: Some support group meetings may be canceled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact organizers to confirm meeting details before attending. Alcoholics Anonymous meets weekly in various locations. Mondays | contact@aa-western colorado.com | 245-9649 Caregiver Connections meets at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest, 3090 N. 12th St. Tuesdays | 10-11:30 a.m. | 241-2212 Caregiver Support Group meets at Cappella Grand Junction, 628 261/2

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Road. Call to RSVP. 1st Thursday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 822-7070

Healing Hands Hour meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room. Thursdays | 12-1 p.m. | 298-2351

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

HEARTBEAT/Survivors After Suicide meets at First Congregational Church, 1425 N 5th St., Grand Junction. 3rd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | 778-9274

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 Gamblers Anonymous, a 12step meeting to help compulsive gamblers recover, is held at The Meeting Hall, 1938 N. First St. in Grand Junction. Tuesdays | 7-8 p.m. | 917-363-3719 GriefShare, a nondenominational Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one, meets at Clifton Christian Church, 3241 F ¼ Road. Mondays | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 628-1453 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

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 Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma Support Group meets monthly in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room. 3rd Monday | 4-5 p.m. | 298-2351 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 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 Mindful Pain Management meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road. Fridays | 1 p.m. | 257-3764

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MS Breakfast Group meets at Village Inn, 757 Horizon Drive. 1st Tuesday | 9 a.m. | 985-4935 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) meets at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fruita. 4th Tuesday | 6-7:30 p.m. | www.NAMIWS.org | 462-3989 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. Tuesdays | 10:30 a.m. | 257-3764 TOPS Club weight-loss support group meets at Grace Point Church, 606 28 3/4 Road. Wednesdays | 9 a.m. | 523-0243 Veteran Coffee Club meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road. Wednesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 257-3764 Veteran Peer Support meets weekly at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road. Wednesdays | 2-3 p.m. | 257-3764 Veteran Spouses Grief and Loss ladies-only support group meets at the Grand Junction Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2830 Riverside Pkwy. Wednesdays | 9-10:30 a.m. | 263-8986 Western Slope Visionaries, a low-vision support group, meets at Center for Independence, 740 Gunnison Ave. Transportation is available. 3rd Wednesday | 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | 241-0315 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 ■ Email your support group information to:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Before you enroll in a Medicare plan, visit a Rocky Mountain Health Plans Resource Center. Enrolling in a Medicare plan that fits your needs starts with finding the right information. The Rocky Mountain Health Plans Resource Center is a great place to start. Stop by when it fits your schedule to speak with an agent one-on-one and get answers to your Medicare questions. Space may be limited. Your safety is our top priority, and we will adhere to all CDC safety guidelines.

Visit Us. Medicare Resource Center 327 N. 7th Street Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-243-3100 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Saturday Free Parking in Back What to bring: • Your questions for a Rocky Mountain Health Plans licensed sales agent • Your Medicare ID card • A list of your doctors and prescription medications • Your application, if you’ve completed it — you can simply drop it off

Montrose & Delta

CALENDAR November 6

Editor’s note: Some events may be canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact event organizers to confirm event details before attending.

Senior Law Day: Long-Term Care Medicaid

November 1

November 4

Magic Circle Players presents a spooky rendition of Washington Irving’s story available in person or live stream. 2 p.m. | 420 S. 12th St., Montrose | $12-$16 | www.magiccircleplayers. com | 249-7838

Instructor Jodine Broscovak will lead you in demonstrations, individual attention, group critiques and lots of fun at Montrose Center for the Arts. Masks required. 1-4 p.m. | 11 S. Park Ave., Montrose | $35 | 787-9428

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

November 1

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Paradise Theatre in Paonia continues its annual tradition of showing the cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Costumes encouraged. 7-10 p.m. | 215 Grand Ave., Paonia | $10 | 527-6610

Watercolor Wednesday

November 5

Beaded Loom Bracelet Class

Make your very own beaded loom bracelets, taught by Amerson Woodie (Oglala Lakota/Navajo) at the Ute Indian Museum. 5:30-8 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | $20 | 249-3098

Shauna Clemmer presents a free virtual Medicaid presentation as part of Senior Law Day. RSVP online. 10-11 a.m. | www.eventbrite. com/e/113397007502

November 6

If Alleys Could Talk art exhibit Journey through the mutimedia exhibit and experience artistic interpretations of carriage houses and other structures along historic alleyways. 5-7 p.m. | 11 S. Park Ave., Montrose | 787-9428

November 8

military. Register at www.eventbrite. com by searching “Veterans Day film screenings The Warrior Tradition.” 1 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Ave., Montrose | Free | 249-3098

November 12

Voices of the Western Slope

Poet and World War II veteran Phil Ellsworth presents “Comrade, I Remember,” as part of Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center and Delta County Libraries’ Voices of the Western Slope. If you miss the live event at Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center, a recording will be available on YouTube. 6 p.m. | 195 W. Main St., Cedaredge | $10 | 856-9195

Griffin House in concert

Singer-songwriter Griffin House performs his new album “Rising Star” at the Sherbino Theater. 7:30-9:30 p.m. | 604 Clinton St., Ridgway | $18-$25 | www.sherbino. org | 318-0892

November 4

Art Exhibition

Ridgway resident Shauna Tewksbury presents “Love in the Time of Corona,” photographs capturing the quiet beauty of nature, at 610 Arts Collective. 12-6 p.m. | 604 Clinton St., Ridgway | Free

November 11

Veterans Day Yoga

Yoga House offers a free class for veterans as a thank you to those who’ve served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Please bring proof of service. 5:30-6:30 p.m. | 207 E. Main St., Montrose | Free | 462-9977

November 5

Shopping Night

November 11

Women in Business hosts an evening of shopping at S&K Parks and Event Center. 5:30-8 p.m. | 5955 Sawmill Mesa Road, Delta | Free | 874-8616

Veterans Day Film Screening

History Colorado and the Ute Indian Museum present “The Warrior Tradition,” a documentary that follows the stories of Native American soldiers in the U.S.

The

November 13

Senior Law Day: End of Life Planning

Stephanie Holguin presents a free virtual law presentation as part of Senior Law Day. RSVP online. 10-11 a.m. | www.eventbrite. com/e/113397007502

November 14

Thanksgiving-themed crafts

Help grandkids make beaded Indian corn, a tabletop tipi and painted feather at the Ute Indian Museum

Your guide to aging well in Mesa, Montrose & Delta Counties

Guide

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FUN AFTER 50

while learning about Native cultures. 12-1:30 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | $10 | 249-3098

November 18

Lakota Style Beaded Bag

Make your very own beaded bag, taught by Ute Indian Museum director CJ Brafford. Space limited. Call to register. 5:30-8 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | $20 | 249-3098

November 19

Ushering in the Season

Women of Grace Community Church invites you to a night of worship and fellowship! Make centerpieces for your holiday table. There will also be Soup in a Jar gift giveaways and a silent auction. Register at www.gracemontrose.org. 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 16731 Woodgate Road, Montrose | $15 | 249-5306

November 22

Shavano Valley Twilight Tour

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

Explore this picturesque, ancient rock art site led by a trained petroglyph docent. Meet at the Ute Indian Museum. Bring a flashlight 3-5 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | $15 | 249-3098

November 25

Cookie Exchange

Gunnison Valley Women’s Networking hosts their annual cookie exchange to celebrate the holiday season, make new connections and enjoy delicious treats. Bring three dozen of your favorite cookie! RSVP online. 5:30-7:30 p.m. | 211 Elk Ave., Crested Butte | www.gunnisonvalleywn.com

TRIPS & TOURS December 10-11

Christmas Show in Glenwood Springs Enjoy an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs to watch the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue’s Christmas Show. Price includes hotel stay and show ticket. Register by December 1. Leave at noon | $100 per person (double occupancy) | Call Gary 874-0923

November 20

Senior Law Day: Titling Assets & Beneficiary Chris Mahre presents a free virtual law presentation as part of Senior Law Day. RSVP online. 10-11 a.m. | www.eventbrite. com/e/113397007502

November 20-22

Mountainfilm On Tour

View the same exhilarating blend of filmed adventure and inspiration from the comfort of your own home, complete with an online silent auction. 9 a.m. | mountainfilm. myeventscenter.com | Free

November 25

Porcupine Quill Earring Class

Make and take home porcupine quill earrings taught by CJ Brafford (Oglala Lakota). 5:30-8 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | $20 | 249-3098

November 28

Small Business Saturday

Kick off your holiday shopping and help support your local businesses. Main Street, Delta | Communitywide, Cedaredge ■

Don't ignore varicose veins! If left untreated blood clots can travel to the heart or brain.

Performed by Dr. Merkel who has 25 years of personal training, teaching and experience. Treatment from the groin to the ankle, not just the thigh. No scar, no incision and minimal downtime and pain. Laser ablation is often combined with chemical ablation (sclerotherapy) for maximum effect. Performed with local anesthesia & IV sedation. Safety is our priority; patient's vitals monitored during procedure.

Call for a consult today. 970-242-9127. DoctorMerkel.com

FITNESS Tabata

Burn a ton of calories with high-intensity interval training with four-minute intervals. 6 a.m. Mondays | 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Senior Circuit

Circuit training for seniors with flexibility exercises. 9 a.m. Monday through Friday

HBSB (Healthy Body Strong Bones)

Simple weight lifting with hand weights, this program is designed to help increase flexibility, balance and bone strength. 9 a.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Silver Sneakers Classic

Strengthen muscles and increase range of movement for daily life activities using handheld weights, elastic tubing with handles, and a ball. A chair can be used for seated exercises or standing support. 10 a.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Body Blitz

Cross-train during this highenergy workout! This is a quickpaced muscle conditioning class is guaranteed to get your heart pumping. 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays | 9 a.m. Thursdays

Yoga Fusion

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

This vinyasa flow style class blends yoga, Pilates and barre elements. This class combines stretching and body weight exercises.

HIIT

Spin-Bata

5:30 p.m. Mondays

5:30 p.m. Wednesdays | 6 a.m. Fridays

Body Bar

Dance Fit

Pilates

12 p.m. Mondays | 9 a.m. Fridays

High-intensity interval training incorporating boxing, kickboxing and other martial arts-style movements.

Get an entire body workout using a weighted fitness bar. 9 a.m. Tuesdays | 6 a.m. Wednesdays

5:30 p.m. Wednesdays

This non-impact, high intensity workout combines Tabata with spin bikes.

Get fit and have fun while following along to choreographed dances guaranteed to burn energy and shake stress. 5:30 p.m. Thursdays

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | CALENDAR |

Montrose & Delta

CLUBS Friendship Quilters of Western Colorado meet monthly in the Pioneer Room of Friendship Hall at the Montrose County Fairgrounds. 4th Thursday | 9 a.m. | 417-4842

Editor’s note: Some club meetings may be canceled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact organizers to confirm meeting details before attending. Book Club meets virtually through the Montrose Regional Library. 1st Saturday | 9-10 a.m. | lmclean@montroselibrary.org

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 acappella at Olathe United Methodist Church. Thursdays | 7-8:30 p.m. | 765-7020

Citizens Climate Lobby meets monthly at the Montrose Library meeting room. 240-9146 | montrose@citizens climatelobby.org | www.citizens climatelobby.org

Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets at the Olathe Community Center. 3rd Friday | 7 p.m. | 417-6142 Delta Hubwheelers Square Dance Club is seeking new dancers. Call if interested in future square dancing classes. 7-9 p.m. | 773-4495 | deltawriter47@gmail.com

Crafternoon members meet in the Montrose Library’s meeting room. Members knit and crochet projects, which they donate to various charities. Supplies are provided, but yarn donations are always welcome. Experienced crafters will help beginners. 1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays | 2:30-4:30 p.m. | 249-9656

Adult Day Centers Improve the Quality of Life for Seniors

An important care option that keeps families together

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54 | CLUBS & ACTIVITIES | NOVEMBER 2020 |

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Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances at the Montrose Pavilion. Dancers of all ages are welcome. Bring a snack to share. 2nd & 4th Saturdays | $5 | 7:30-11 p.m. | 252-7172

Call us today for a free estimate

♥ Specialized care for adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dementia, diabetes, Parkinson’s, MS, brain injuries, mental health issues and those with physical disabilities.

970-249-1590

Montrose Elks hosts bingo at the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Drive. Tuesdays | 6:30 p.m. | 249-4852

The professionals at England Fence Company know the challenges of installing secured fencing from basic to custom gates and operators. We design archways, decorative arbors, pergolas and decking.

At Riverside Adult Day Program, we provide:

♥ Transportation to and from the adult day program.

Montrose Area Woodturners meets at 520 Collins Way in Montrose. 2nd Saturday | 9 a.m. to noon | 986-2550 | lvcribbs@charter.net

All work includes a two year workmanship warranty.

England FEncE company

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1568 N Townsend Ave, Montrose • englandfence.com

FUN AFTER 50

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

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. | 252-9600 | patdouglas213@yahoo.com

COVID-19-ReOpening-UPDATES

Sons of Norway, Vestafjell Lodge, meets monthly at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Grand Junction. 1:30 p.m. | 245-5649 | www.vestafjelllodge.org

TRIPS & TOURS Drive yourself or reserve your spot on the bus (limited availability). Prices listed include bus ride. If you drive yourself, the trip fee will be reduced by $5 per person.

Veteran Coffee Club meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road in Grand Junction. Wednesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 257-3764

November 6

Historical Scavenger Hunt

Women’s Giving Club of Montrose meets quarterly at The Bridges Country Club. 1st Monday in February, May, August, November | 5:30 p.m. | givingclubofmontrose@gmail.com

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 information to: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Downtown Montrose has nine buildings listed on the historical register, not counting many others of historical interest. Take a walking tour of downtown while searching for items on the scavenger hunt list. Bring money for lunch, or bring a sack lunch. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Register for meeting location | $10

November 11

Hike Colorado National Monument

special

Take a 1.5-mile hike along Canyon Rim Trail for views of Praying Hands, Independence Monument, and other statuesque monoliths in Monument Canyon, followed by an easy 1-mile hike of the Coke Ovens Overlook Trail. 8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Montrose Recreation Center | $19

Choose from the following Mile High Burger • Blue Bacon Burger • Ranch Burger Mushroom Swiss Burger • Bacon Onion Cheddar Burger Chili Cheese Burger Served with your choice of fries or salad and soda or tea

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11 a.m. | Montrose Senior Center | Free with registration

CLUBS Fridays

80s and 90s Club Social

Make friends your own age, have fun and make a difference while socializing over lunch at the Our Town Matters building. Bring a sack lunch if you’d like. Wear your facemask and social distance. Noon | 1245 E. Main St., Montrose | Free

PAMPERING November 3 & 17 Pedicures

Services provided by Darlene Sprague, RN, and includes a foot assessment, toenail trim and filing edges, and callus removal if necessary. Call to reserve your appointment. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Montrose Recreation Center Party Room | $35

November 9 & 23 Chair Massage

Registration required for all seminars. Call 252-4884.

November 10

November 13

Ageism is the stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of their age. Learn about the Changing the Narrative initiative and how we can end ageism together in this interactive presentation. 11 a.m. | Montrose Senior Center | Free with registration

Call to reserve a 20-minute treatment with certified reflexologist Cheryl Adams. 8:30 a.m. to noon | Montrose Recreation Center Party Room | $15

Ageism Seminar

Expires: Nov. 30, 2020

Seminar TBA

Call to reserve a 15-minute chair massage by certified massage therapists. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Montrose Recreation Center Party Room | $10

SEMINARS

$9.99

November 17

Reflexology Foot Therapy

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | CLUBS & ACTIVITIES |

Montrose Montrose & & Delta Delta

BEACON BITS BEACON BITS

Editor’s note: Some events may be canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions. Please contact event organizers to confirm event details before attending. Take the Montrose Rec Center Survey Your feedback will help the Montrose Recreation District decide how to best resume operations safely as they move into the fall and winter months. To take the survey, visit the recreation center’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/montrose. recreationdistrict or email mrd@ montroserec.com.

• November 2, 6-7:30 p.m. Medicare Changes • November 4 12-1:30 p.m. Medicare & Federal Retiree Plans, VA, TriCare • November 9, 9:30-11 a.m. New to Medicare • November 11, 12-1:30 p.m. Medicare, Medicaid & LowIncome Services • November 16, 1-2:30 p.m. Medicare Changes

Medicare Monday virtual workshops Colorado Gerontological Society offers free Monday and Wednesday workshops providing education on Medicare. For more information and to register, visit www.senior answers.org or call 303-333-3482.

• November 18, 12-1:30 p.m. Medicare While Still Employed Senior Law Day goes virtual Colorado Legal Services and the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Colorado are proud to present the Virtual Senior Law

A Life Lived Well Through the halls at Colorow Care Center have passed many veterans. We continue to care for courageous veterans and their dependents. Whether for a short stay of rehabilitation or for longer term care, being of service to others with dignity and respect equates to a life lived well.

Decorate Downtown Delta

Delta Chamber of Commerce is offering free electricity for downtown owners to display decorative lights outside their building. This is a great opportunity to light up the town, attract attention to local businesses and kick off the holiday season. For regulations and details, contact the chamber at chamber@deltacolorado.org or call 874-8616. Series. Professionals present informative virtual seminars for seniors and their caregivers on legal topics. Participants receive a free 2020 Senior Law book plus the opportunity for a 15-minute oneon-one consult with an attorney. All presentations are free and run from 10-11 a.m. Attendees must register in advance at www.eventbrite.

com/e/113397007502. • November 6 - Long-Term Care Medicaid • November 13 - End of Life Planning • November 20 - Titling Assets and Beneficiary • December 4 - What You Need to Know When Someone Dies

Seniors and Retirees have Different Real Estate Needs We help buyers and sellers transition into the next phase of life. The Real Estate Store has the highest number of certified Senior Specialists in one office in Western Colorado.

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Delta Police bands together to improve firearms range The Delta Police Department (DPD) was able to secure grant funds totaling $8268.50 for the range improvements at the shared law enforcement/ law enforcement academy at the Technical College of the Rockies (TCR) firearms range. Prior to the improvements, the range consisted mostly of deep gravel, which made movement challenging. With these funds, Fleet Reserve Association announces essay winners Fleet Reserve Association’s (FRA) Colorado West Branch 244 presented awards and a $50 check to the first-place winners of the sponsored Americanism/ Patriotism essay contest. Shipmates Richard Reno, newly elected branch president, and Charles (Bud) Johnson delivered the awards to three students this past spring: Tessa Berry, 12th grade, Fruita Monument High School; Lisa Azevedo, 8th grade, Centennial Middle School in Montrose; and Konnor Zehniser, 7th grade, Grand Junction High School. The winning entries were forwarded for judging at the regional level. FRA Branch 244 meets on the second Wednesday of the month at VFW Post 3981 Hall in Grand Junction. For details, call 434-0868. Learn about new energy legislation Citizens’ Climate Lobby has the answer to Carbon Emissions Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend ACT HR 763. Find out more at www.citizensclimatelobby.org, a nonpartisan website, or at the local Montrose chapter by emailing chapmanjanet@yahoo.com or calling 240-9146. ■

DPD was able to purchase 230 tons of the premium trail mix. All gravel was removed and the area was backfilled and leveled off. This team effort was completed in eight hours by DPD officers.

Question

OF THE

Month

Compiled by Siggie Carpenter

What’s the most memorable history-making event you’ve witnessed in your lifetime? Judy Coons, New Castle

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

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Sharing Ministries Food Bank in Montrose seeks dedicated volunteers for three hours, one day a week. Call 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. Call 249-9656 Museum of the Mountain West seeks volunteer tour guides to bring the past to life for visitors. Call 240-3400

“On January 20, 1961, I was an 18year-old member of the Navy’s Drill Team stationed in Maryland. We had the privilege and honor to march in John F. Kennedy’s inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. It’s one of my favorite treasured mementos.”

Bob Hogan, Montrose “It was 1961. My mom and I were looking through the paper and we came across a photo of U.S. combat troops boarding a plane. It was the first time the U.S. publicly announced our involvement by sending military advisors and troops to South Vietnam. It left a lasting impression.”

Marilynn Huseby, Montrose “I will never forget 1969. I was watching TV along with the whole world and saw Neil Armstrong put his feet on the moon. When he said, ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,’ everyone believed in the possibility of peace and healing humanity...just what we’re all hoping for now.”

Rex Swanson, Montrose “As a former mayor of Montrose, passing legislation is always a historical moment.”

Email your news briefs to: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | BEACON BITS |

FUN & GAMES

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Call 243-8829 58 | FUN & GAMES | NOVEMBER 2020 |

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FUN & GAMES

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Emanuel 5. Lively 9. Sonja Henie’s birthplace 13. Converse competitor 14. One of the 12 tribes of Israel 15. Capital of Calvados 16. Gentleness 18. Hue 19. Incept 20. Thick soup of crabmeat 22. Cordwood measure 23. Physicist Enrico 24. The Beatles’ “Back in the___” 26. Attract 31. Possess, to Burns 34. Comfortable state 37. Cravat 38. Like afterschool activities 42. Pretend 43. Adverse fate 44. Is doubled? 45. Ample 47. Body shops? 50. Lofty nest 53. Rib 57. Savior

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classic horror movie 66. Nursemaid 67. “Comus” composer Thomas 68. Golfer Ballesteros 69. Arrow poison 70. Resting places

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notched 39. Director Howard 40. Architectural piers 41. Mischievous fairy 46. Aden native 48. Aleutian island 49. Aquanaut’s base 51. V-shaped fortification 52. Papas of “Zorba the Greek” 54. Love, to Luigi 55. In good condition 56. Much of Mississippi? 57. AAA recommend ations 58. Overhang 59. 554, in stone 60. Model Macpherson 61. Filthy place 64. Compass dir.

Turn to page 60 for your puzzle answers WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | FUN & GAMES |

FUN & GAMES

WORD SEARCH R C R T D N C S A U E U N L O G O R T T B U O N T T A M M O N S O O U A H R N S O U G T O M R O C P C T H E L T A P T O L O U N O O N I I D R T Y D O B A E P A J O N H I M N T N N O S L R A C R M I L R A T K T S K N T C V N F R N N L B A J R O E E N I I K I N O A A N U A I M S O F O R M N O T N R O H T O L N I M A E E A J P T R A U E E S S S O M D V G R I N N L K M E I P S P N N W A W A I T E O C M H T L M O F O O H R E D N A V F E E N E N U R O M U M O O H E A E O E T N K I A O W C R V M J L J O T M T R T S R Y E P S R A L A E N N W E O S H O U P B N R H O E I E N C L E T H C U B R N R I E K A T R O Y U T N K N N W L H R I E M H C B N O R T A S T C O T A N I T N T E T O N A L O H D I R I T T E R U N R U L R N N N R N N S N C H N H A R G I E T E I R O A F R O O R N R O Y L B T E T N O A U

FIND THE 35 FORMER COLORADO GOVERNORS 1. Routt 2. Pitkin 3. Grant 4. Eaton 5. Adams 6. Cooper 7. Waite 8. McIntire 9. Thomas 10. Orman 11. Peabody 12. McDonald 13. Buchtel 14. Shafroth 15. E. Ammons 16. Carlson 17. Gunter 18. Shoup 19. Sweet 20. Morley 21. E. Johnson 22. Talbot 23. T. Ammons

24. Carr 25. Vivian 26. Knous 27. W. Johnson 28. Thornton 29. Love 30. Vanderhoof 31. Lamm 32. Romer 33. Owens 34. Ritter 35. Hickenlooper

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60 | FUN & GAMES | NOVEMBER 2020 |

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Answers from page 59 and 60

CLASSIFIEDS

HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL OR A SERVICE TO OFFER? List it here—pricing starts at just $29 per month!

Call Stacey at 243-8829, ext.102, to reserve your space in next month’s issue. FOR RENT MAPS 55+ Living Open Now! Affordable, independent senior living in Moab, UT now accepting applications, age 55+. 1-bedroom units still available, pet friendly. Housing Choice Voucher accepted. 435-355-0557. maps@sellersgroup.net

FOR SALE Kids Saddle Kids saddle for sale, too big for a mini-pony. $200. Delta, CO. Text 9019364 for more info. Fancy Guppies Fancy Guppy Fish for sale, $1.25 each. Will deliver purchases of 10 or more locally. Delta, CO. Text 901-9364.

HELP WANTED Part-time Site Leads Riverside Educational Center seeks site leads and staff to provide tutoring, enrichment and support for elementary school students. Apply at www.rec4kids.com and click the Employment tab.

WE’RE HIRING! ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES FREELANCE WRITERS

Send your letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com No phone calls, please.

HOME SERVICES B-N-Trees Tree removal, stump grinding, trimming. Call Bill 430-1970.

The Cleaning Lady Fall is a perfect time to declutter your house! Competitive rates on downsizing, reorganizing and cleaning—weekly, biweekly, monthly or just a one-time shot. Linda K. 720-841-7505 or 263-7364.

B&D’s Resale & Services

Scene Clearly, LLC Window cleaners specializing in making your day a little brighter! Grand Junction area. Call Frank Cordova at 242-1264.

I buy silver, gold, antiques, knives, watches, military, coins, old signs.

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.

SERVICES 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. 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.

Moving, trash haul away, construction cleanup, estate & yard sales, most small jobs & financial needs analysis.

Please call Brandon for quotes at 970-930-1942

Pat's Hair Salon & Ceramics All Hair Salon Services Available

Great Prices on Perms Senior Discounts

CERAMIC & PORCELAIN DOLL MAKING CLASSES & SUPPLIES

778-8075

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. 250-7454. Regan’s Regal Beauty Perms, color, haircuts for women and men. New location at 2500 North Ave., #2, Grand Junction. Licensed cosmetologist. Call Regan Clements at 719-425-0543 to book today!

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 HIPAA-compliant setting. Call for appointment times and days. 720-443-2420 or visit www.healthychoicesunltd.com.

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.

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 MonSat, 11-4 Sunday. **Bring this ad in for $10 Trade Credit**

HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL OR A SERVICE TO OFFER?

List it here! Call Stacey at 243-8829

to reserve your space in next month’s issue. WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 2020 | CLASSIFIEDS |

OPINION

Remembering my first time By Lilli-Ann Buffin

I WAS OPEN ABOUT IT AND DISCUSSED IT WITH MY FRIENDS WHO WERE DOING IT, TOO.

o you remember your first time? The passion of youth? Awakening to new feelings, a new type of energy? I was born in the late 1950s. My youth was stained by tears following the assassination of a president. Later, everyone cried again as a man walked on the moon just as the slain young president had predicted. In my teen years, the propriety I was raised in descended into chaos as the country became further embroiled in the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. Some people gathered at peace rallies while others set fire to the streets. Protesters shouted, “Down with the establishment!” The women’s movement was picking up steam, and young women like me were reading “Our Bodies, Ourselves.” For the first

time, most of us were taking the SATs and thinking of college after high school instead of marriage. As we tried to understand Watergate and the impeachment of a president, we also lived our high school years trying to understand a new lottery game in which there were no winners. I carried my transistor radio to school so my friends and I could hear the birth dates picked in the draft lottery. First prize was an all-expense-paid trip to Vietnam. The boys I knew were thinking of their futures. Many hoped it would not include Vietnam but maybe a union job at the steel mill where their fathers worked, or college— maybe even Ivy League. They grew their hair long. “Mercy,” grown-ups

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said. “What’s this world coming to?” I don’t recall adults really talking to us about issues of sex, self-protection or any of the other important issues of the day. There was a long list of don’ts, but not much on “how to.” Some words were never uttered out loud—words like pregnant and cancer. Adults described these conditions using acronyms like PG and CA. We had to learn from what we overheard and try to decipher the code. Despite all that, we thought we knew everything, as teenagers do, and we were passionate about what we did know. That was the setting for my very first time. I faced it excited, passionate and involved, even if a bit naïve. I tried to read up on it and

get to know the person I chose. I was open about it and discussed it endlessly with my friends who were doing it, too. And so, on a pre-determined day, I did it. I voted. For the first time, I elected a president. The entire process was exhilarating. Perhaps you have lost that feeling since the very first time you voted. If so, I would recommend some love sonnets to get you back in the mood. Read “The American Spirit” by David McCullough. You will fall in love with America and democracy all over again. This time, when you decide to go for it, use protection by educating yourself. You’ll know the person you vote for is “the one” by trusting your heart, your passion and your feelings. ■

Lilli-ann Buffin explores the wonder and beauty of growing older at every age. Learn more about her at www.alltheselves.com.

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