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The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado

DECEMBER 2021

Adventures in BEST Vote for BEACON Best for a chance to win gift cards to your favorite places!

Spruce up your home with these winter decorating tips

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Six little-known stories about Pearl Harbor

SOCKS for SENIORS DRIVE

It’s not too late You have until December 7

Socks are an affordable and much needed gift for seniors. Please bring new socks to 970 Medicare and we’ll donate them to area seniors for the holidays.

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I N T HI S I S S U E

The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado December 2021 | Volume 34 | Issue 12

Publisher Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher Susan Capps Editor in Chief Cloie Sandlin Multimedia Editor Lauren Berg Graphic Designers B. Bigler Michael L. Madsen Customer Service Manager Stacey Splude Advertising Director Kevin K. VanGundy Advertising Executive Debra Romaniec Advertising Assistant Kayla Pool Proofreader Jan Weeks Delivery Lauren VanGundy Brittney Bade Deborah Williams

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

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Email:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com The BEACON brings hope and help to western Colorado seniors and those who serve them. The BEACON is published at the beginning of the month and is distributed at more than 300 locations throughout Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties. Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Columns are opinions of the writers, not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 15th of the month. Display advertising rates are available upon request. © Copyright 2021 • All Rights Reserved

8 COVER STORY

Adventures in gift wrapping

It’s the thought that counts, not the sub-par gift wrapping, right?

10 Mrs. Emory’s Christmas

This heartfelt Christmas tale may leave you tearing up

14 Cut down sodium in your diet

Most salt comes from processed foods

16 5-minute exercises to reduce stress Overwhelmed with gift buying or meal planning? Try these stressreducing exercises and enjoy the holidays again

20 Win concert tickets

Despite their name, Sons of Serendip’s musical talent is no coincidence!

22 Winter decorating tips

Spruce up your home with wreaths and winter flowers

24 Have a simple little Christmas

Simplify gift-giving, Christmas cards and more this season

Explore France’s fairy-tale village The quaint town of Riquewihr, France, offers medieval charm and delicious Alsatian food

32 BEACON wins BIG!

BEACON was named “Best of Show” at national journalism competition

35 How to save memories from 2021

No need to store photos in bulky photo albums with these technologies

36 Say scram to scammers

Know the do’s and don’ts of phone, email and internet scams

39 Southwest’s best in the west

Dos Hombres boasts decades of New Mexico flavors and great senior deals

42 Ghosts of Christmas past

For 20 years, Lionel Barrymore played Ebenezer Scrooge on the radio

44 MESA COUNTY 44 Calendar 46 Clubs 47 Question of the Month 50 Support Groups 52 MONTROSE & DELTA 52 Calendar 54 Clubs 57 Question of the Month

6 little-known stories about Pearl Harbor On the Cover

Kathy Crook wraps a Christmas gift at Dillard’s in Grand Junction. Photo by Cloie Sandlin

Did you know that Elvis Presley put on a benefit concert to raise funds for the USS Arizona Memorial?

58 Fun & Games 60 Classifieds 62 VA does offer survivor benefits Last month’s opinion piece was not accurate, according to Denver VA

BEACON Readers Know BEST! OFFICIAL 2022 BALLOT

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Best Place to Volunteer

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Best Place to Buy Gifts

Best Local Festival

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Best Tech Repair

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Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ City: __________________________________ State: _____________ Zip:_____________ Phone:_______________________ Email: _______________________________________ Would you like to receive email updates from the BEACON? Yes No CONTEST RULES Entries limited to one per person and one vote per category. Entries must be printed clearly and include the voter’s name, address and phone number. All entries become the property of the BEACON Senior News who reserves the right to publish all nominations in a future issue. Entries must be received by December 31, 2021. Winners will be announced in the February 2022 issue of the BEACON.

Tell us who stands above the rest in our

2022 BEACON Best Awards It’s time to cast your votes and spread the word about the businesses and organizations that have earned your trust and loyalty with our 2022 BEACON Best Awards! While good customer service can sometimes be hard to find, these coveted awards recognize that elite group of locales selected for their people, products and services that make your life easier. Nominate your favorite people or places in 20 categories. By casting your ballot, you are automatically entered into a drawing for a a gift card to one of your favorite local places. Make sure to let your favorite businesses know you’re rooting for them, then pick up the February BEACON to find out who readers voted as…

THE BEACON BEST! Vote online at:

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Or mail your completed ballot to:

BEACON Senior News

P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502

How much should I give? M

y husband could care less about most holidays along with any associated traditions. (Except for Thanksgiving because what man doesn’t like to eat?) But not me. I’m big on tradition and even bigger on Christmas traditions. Recently, a friend told me she likes taking her grandkids to the Parade of Lights but she probably won’t this year because they think it’s boring. I objected, “What?! I love the Parade of Lights!” But I get where her grandkids are coming from. While I might’ve enjoyed parades when I was their age, they don’t exactly appeal to me now. However, I do enjoy Christmas music and the lights, and sipping Enstrom hot chocolate makes the dropping temperature much more tolerable. Another time-honored Christmas tradition I stand by is giving. This one goes way back! For Christians, this ritual stems from the very first Christmas, when the Magi traveled to Bethlehem and bestowed upon Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But even before Christ, many ancient cultures held celebrations in December that embraced gift giving. Giving your time is just as valuable as any tangible or monetary gift. This year, whether you plan to volunteer at a local food bank, give money to local nonprofits on Colorado Gives Day (www.coloradogives.org), or buy socks, blankets and sheets to give to seniors in nursing homes, it’s important to ensure we don’t lose sight of what our gifts to one another really mean. Remember, the answer to “How much should I give?” is always, “More!”

VOTE FOR THE BEST AND WIN GIFT CARDS! BEACON readers know best, so tell us about the businesses with exceptional staff, products

and services by nominating them for the 2022 BEACON Best Awards. Sharing the love is a win-win! Nominators can win gift cards to some of their favorite organizations, while the most voted-on businesses will be featured in a special awards section in February’s BEACON. Mail in the completed ballot or vote online at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

BEACON WINS BIG Every year, the BEACON attends the North American Mature Publisher’s Association convention and enters in the awards competition. We set our sights high this year and brought home the top award in our division. Thank you to the BEACON staff, our writers, advertisers and faithful readers for a successful year! Read more about our award-winning publications on page 32.

BEACON GUIDE COMING SOON Next month, you’ll find a copy of the 2022 Mesa County BEACON Guide tucked inside our January issue. (Our Montrose-Delta BEACON Guide comes out in our February issue!) This annual publication is designed to help you age well with hundreds of hard-to-find phone numbers for local, state and national resources. It also features informative articles to help with the transitions you or a loved one may be going through. Call us to request your free copies: 970-243-8829.

From all of us at the BEACON: We wish you a safe and stressfree holiday season, a very joyous Christmas and a happy new year! ■

Cloie Sandlin, Editor in Chief Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com

EDITOR'S COLUMN

LETTERS

from our readers Thank you for allowing us to square dance again for your BeaconFest fans in Montrose. We enjoyed performing and were thrilled to get many great comments afterwards. We even got some names to contact for future square dancing classes. Best wishes to you and your readers in the coming year! -Paul Ash, Delta Hub-Wheelers RE: “Dress Boldly” (October) When I spotted the red hat and saw the “Dress Boldly” title, I just had to read it! We are so blessed with wonderful thrift stores here in Grand Junction. I have employed similar tricks and tips over the years. By basic layering and mixing styles, I have put together some really fun outfits. Sandra is correct—it’s better not to look for something specific. Just go in and see what falls into place! I was born in 1963 and enjoy wearing styles from all decades of my life! Thanks for the perfect article! - Page D., Grand Junction RE: Ask the Old Bag I hope now that Ms. Creswick is retiring, you will change the column’s title. “Ask the Old Bag” is a demeaning, outdated stereotypic slur for older women and should have no place in a magazine meant to uplift seniors. - Donna A. Cloie: I completely agree with you. The name of the column is not at all reflective of older adults today, nor has it ever been! Gayle never intended this to be demeaning— in fact, here’s the story behind the name of her column, which she shared with readers occasionally. “Years ago, I had an office in a retirement community. One day, while waiting for the elevator, I saw three women sitting on a bench visiting loud enough for me to hear. One woman asked, ‘Who is that woman?’ Another replied, ‘I don’t know, but she sure looks like an old bag!’ They had to be talking about me. When I exited the elevator, I proceeded to the restroom and looked in the mirror. ‘Egad!’ I exclaimed. ‘You do look like an old bag!’ Then I smiled—and I no longer looked like an old bag. From then on I tried to smile more. I told this story to my friend Peg, who laughed her head off. As I prepared to write the column I thought ‘Ask the Old Bag’ would get more attention.” WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Email: Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com Mail: P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

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

R VE C O ORY ST

It’s the thought that counts, right? By Sally Breslin

very Christmas season I receive a big box of Christmas gifts from a friend in New York—a friend whose gifts are always so beautifully wrapped, they could make even Martha Stewart’s gifts look as if the family dog had wrapped them. His gifts truly are works of art. Last year they were resplendent in flocked green paper with dainty red bells all over it, topped with red satin bows that each held a gold tinsel wreath and a blown-glass ornament. The gift tags were gold with mother-of-pearl glitter on them and were written in calligraphy. I honestly didn’t want to open any of the gifts because I felt as if I were destroying fine pieces of art, the equivalent of splattering black paint on an original Van Gogh. I hate to admit it, but my idea of wrapping Christmas gifts usually involves slapping some dollar-store paper and tags on them. And if I run

8 | DECEMBER 2021 |

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out of tags, I grab a permanent marker and write the person’s name across the paper. Sometimes, especially if I’m in a rush, I don’t even use scissors. I just tear the paper with my hands or rip off a chunk with my teeth. I figure no one really cares about the outside of the package anyway—it’s what’s inside that counts. And then there’s also the world’s greatest invention since sliced bread: gift bags. My friend in New York, however, is one of the few people who really does care about the exterior of gifts. This has elicited some not-sosubtle comments about my gifts to him, such as: “There must have been a power failure when you wrapped this,” or “Who would have guessed that such an unattractive package could contain such a lovely gift?” One time, he even asked me if my arm had been in a sling when I did my wrapping. But he’s not the only one who’s criticized my gift-wrapping techniques. They always were a source of embarrassment to my mother who once worked as, heaven forbid, a professional gift-wrapper in a big department store. She even held the nickname of “the woman who could wrap anything.” Back when my mother worked as a gift wrapper, the store offered free wrapping, no matter how small or large the purchase. Even 98-cent items qualified for free gift-wrapping. So people took advantage of it—big advantage. My mother end-

I hate to admit it, but my idea of wrapping Christmas gifts usually involves slapping some dollar-store paper and tags on them.

Judi Zuback, Erin Crooke and Kathy Crook dabble in gift wrapping at Dillard’s. ed up wrapping everything from a box of paper clips to a huge, round, tufted ottoman. One day, the gift-wrapping staff was short-handed, so my mother asked me if I could help out and fill in. “Me?” I asked in disbelief. “Are you seriously that desperate? You’ve seen what the stuff I wrap looks like!” “Don’t worry about it,” she said. “I can give you a crash course in wrapping. It’s really pretty simple.” Fool that I was, I actually believed her and went to work with her that day. My mother made wrapping gifts look effortless. With a mere glance at the item to be wrapped, she tore off exactly the right length of paper from a roll about the width of a redwood tree trunk and wrapped the gift in 20 seconds flat. When she was finished, the wrapping didn’t have a single wrinkle or crease anywhere, and the corners were so sharp and crisp, you could have speared olives with them. She also showed me how to pull just enough ribbon from the spool to go completely around each package. As a finishing touch, she spiral-curled the ends of the ribbon by pressing them with her thumb against an open edge of her scissors and swiftly sliding it against the grain. Well, I tried to do everything she taught me. I really did. But I seemed hopelessly incapable

of judging the length of paper correctly. Too often, what I tore off from the roll was too short, so I had to tear off another bigger sheet. My mother gave the evil eye to the growing pile of discarded paper in my corner and told me if I kept wasting it, they would run out. At that point, however, running out of paper sounded pretty good to me, especially if it meant I could go home. And forget about curling the ribbon. When I slid it against the edge of the scissors, I nearly dethumbed myself.

Judi Zuback and Erin Crooke present gifts beautifully wrapped by Genevra Shal. Photos by Cloie Sandlin Still, I didn’t give up, even though I felt myself growing increasingly Scrooge-like as the day progressed. After struggling for 15 minutes to wrap an octagonal-shaped jewelry box that had more corners than a New York City intersection, I handed my masterpiece to the customer. He looked at it and frowned. “That looks terrible!” “What do you want for free?” I snapped before I could stop myself. “A museum piece?” Needless to say, my wrapping career was extremely short-lived. So now, over 50 years later, I’ve become a big fan of gift bags. But I do want to use something more special for my artistic friend in New York, even though he’ll probably still reward my efforts by asking me if I wrapped his gift with my feet. I’m thinking I just might go all out this year and splurge on some of those dollar-store stick-on bows. ■

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 2021 |

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Mrs. Emory’s

Christmas

By Jan Weeks

rs. Emory’s Christmas lights drive me nuts. Ever since Tim and I moved next door to her three years ago, her twinkling red and green bulbs have blinked all night long. Who knew the little old lady next door would be, shall we say, eccentric? If I’d wanted to watch freakin’ lights flash, we could’ve stayed in the city. As the lights burst into life at dusk one hot July night, sending Christmas-colored sparkles into our living room, I slammed shut the book I was reading. “I’m going over and telling her to turn the damned things off.” Tim, my husband, looked at me over the top of his glasses. “She’s a little old lady. Let her enjoy the pleasures she has left.” I could see I’d get no help from him. Muttering, I closed the drapes and grumbled my way back to my book. Occasionally, when we have friends over for barbecue on the patio, her Christmas lights blend with our Japanese lanterns. Sometimes I see her curtains twitch, and I wonder if we should’ve invited her over, but I don’t think she’d fit in with soccer moms and stockbroker dads. Mrs. Emory is ancient. She tends her tiny garden, her wrinkled face hidden by an enormous straw hat. It takes her forever to get from the back porch to the tiny plot where she grows tomatoes, bell peppers, and pole beans,

10 | DECEMBER 2021 |

with some marigolds and cosmos thrown in. We nod and smile over the fence if I happen to be mowing the lawn or playing with the kids, but we’ve never really spoken. I’ve also never seen Mr. Emory. Emma and Sean, my little ones, like Mrs. Emory’s lights. “Look, Mom. It’s Christmas at her house all the time. How come it can’t be Christmas here?” At 4 and 7, their “presents” radar is fully developed. Another thing to thank Mrs. Emory for: a reminder of the eternal search for more stuff. On my more charitable days, I think she’s just trying to keep the Christmas spirit alive throughout the year, but those moments are few and far between. Call me Scrooge, but I believe “To everything there’s a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” And April and September aren’t the seasons for Christmas lights. Ours is a neighborhood of young people, wanting to raise their children in houses with siding, not stucco; full-grown shade trees, not saplings; front porches, not arched entryways. She’s the only retired person within eight blocks. Most of the older folks moved out when other transplants began to move in, but Mrs. Emory hung on to the family home. Suzanne Taylor’s been in the neighborhood longer than anyone except Mrs. Emory. Her passport’s filled with visa stamps from Europe, Asia, Canada and

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South America. Suzanne expands my horizons. But after a leisurely lunch, I usually go home depressed, wishing I’d been able to go, do and see the things she has. Really, though, I wouldn’t change a thing about my life. Except those Christmas lights! “I wish Tim and I’d known about Mrs. Emory’s holiday spirit before we bought our house,” I vented to Suzanne over tiramisu and cappuccino. “We would’ve looked for something a little farther away from Santa’s Workshop South.” She finished her dessert. “You don’t know, then.” I hate it when she pulls that native stuff on me. “No, we’ve only been here three years, not 40-some.” She put down her spoon and looked at me in a way that made me suddenly feel small and petty. “What’s to know?” I said, aiming for bravado but managing only to sound petulant. She gazed out the window. “My mom went to school with her son,” she said. “People had barely heard of Viet Nam when he enlisted. We certainly learned about it when the local paper printed stories of his bravery. He seemed to have a sixth sense about danger that kept his squad from being decimated. We all thought his life was charmed.” She looked at me, her eyes bright with emotion. “Then one day, his squad came back but he didn’t. No one knew what happened to him. Officially

he was listed as MIA. “That was two days before Christmas, 1966. Mr. and Mrs. Emory swore that Peter would have Christmas, no matter when he came.” “And?” I prodded. “The Christmas tree went out to the trash in May,” she said. “Mr. Emory passed away without ever knowing what happened to his only child.” The mist in her eyes trickled down one cheek. By this time, I was tearing up myself. “But that’s over 40 years ago.” Suzanne nodded. She didn’t need to tell me that some things are not measured by calendars, but by the heart. That night I told Tim what Suzanne said. “Aren’t you glad you didn’t go over and complain?” he said. I hate it when he’s right. In between wrapping presents and shoving them in the attic to keep them out of the reach of little hands, I baked double batches of everything. Mrs. Emory was flabbergasted when I showed up with the first plate of cookies. Twice a week I brought something to her, and she always thanked me so sweetly and offered to make some coffee to go with the pastries, if I’d only join her. But I always had an excuse: The kids were home alone; I had just run over for a minute; the next batch was in the oven and I had to get them out. Before I knew it, Christmas was only three days away. I’d just

BEACON SENIOR NEWS dropped off another plate of cookies to Mrs. Emory and run back home. As I opened our front door, I caught a glimpse of a dark blue car pulling into Mrs. Emory’s drive. Good, I thought. A little company for the old lady. That night, Tim and I lay in bed watching the local 10 o’clock news. The screen was filled with old file footage of jungles and helmeted soldiers with hard faces slogging through a river, rifles held high. “The remains of a U.S. soldier were unearthed 50 miles from Da Nang, Viet Nam, yesterday,” the anchor announced solemnly. “Identification has been withheld, pending the notification of next of kin.” I slammed out of bed and raced through the house. I threw open the doors to the patio and stared into the darkness. Mrs. Emory’s Christmas lights no longer twinkled. Running over flakes that covered the earth like a shroud, I rang Mrs. Emory’s doorbell, hopping from one foot to another from the cold. The plug for the Christmas lights tapped against the house, spinning in the bitter wind. The door opened. Mrs. Emory still wore the clothes she’d worn an eon ago when I’d last brought cookies. Her eyes stared blankly. Then she stepped aside. My wet feet tracked the carpet but we were beyond caring. In a corner of the living room, a table

I SLAMMED OUT OF BED AND RACED THROUGH THE HOUSE. I THREW OPEN THE DOORS TO THE PATIO AND STARED INTO THE DARKNESS. MRS. EMORY’S LIGHTS NO LONGER TWINKLED. lamp cast a dim light. An armchair covered in doilies and antimacassars sat next to the table. Next to it towered a huge stack of presents wrapped in holiday paper, some faded, some new. Mrs. Emory shuffled to the chair and dropped into it. Her lips trembled, and I crossed the room to kneel in front of her. “Was it—?” I struggled to remember her son’s name. “Peter will be coming home soon,” she whispered. “Just not the way I hoped.” Her tears fell like sleet, silver and cold, as I held her hand. I wanted to say something, anything, to help heal the hurt, but I felt like a child whose life experience ends at the back fence. Her empty world spread out before me, solemn and sacred, and the sight scared me. What if a half-grown Sean were called to a war half a world away? What if Emma didn’t come home from school one day? We wept without words, locked in sorrow. At last Mrs. Emory

fumbled a tissue from the box beside her chair and handed it to me, then took one for herself. Her voice rasped. “I’m sorry.” “I’m sorry, too,” I said. “I wish I could have known your son. I wish he could have had just one more Christmas at home.” “I, too—but there’s no use in wishing,” Mrs. Emory said. “Please let me fix you a cup of coffee.” “Don’t trouble—” The look in her eyes silenced me. I helped her to her feet, willing to stay all night if I had to, to help this frail lady survive the blow she’d been dealt. Suddenly a strange glow shone through the windows, soft red and green. I went to the window and looked out and up, and—I swear to God!—saw every light burning.

Mrs. Emory gasped. “I put the extension cord away this afternoon!” I yanked the door open and stared at the lights. The bulbs blinked once, twice, three times. Mrs. Emory’s eyes shone as she stared at the lights, her hands clasped over her heart. I closed the door, and we slipped back to the window. The lights blinked again, three times, then went out. Mrs. Emory moved into an assisted living home in April, and the lights came down. As friends helped her pack, I crossed the yard carrying a plate of brownies. “I have something for you,” she said, handing me a bag marked “Fragile.” I knew what was in it even before I heard the bulbs clinking. We hugged and I whisked a tear away. I always planned to visit her, but life got in the way. Then her obituary appeared in the paper, and I grieved for the time we didn’t have. I didn’t attend her memorial service, but her red and green lights hang on the side of our house facing her old place. Every Christmas season they burn without flickering, lighting the winter nights. ■ Excerpted from “A Christmas Tale and Other Stories” by Jan Weeks. Copyright © 2015 by Jan Weeks

is a time for miracles

and great gifts like… like…

If you love the holidays, you’ll enjoy Jan Week’s “A Christmas Tale and Other Stories.” When it’s dreary, cold, and snowy, these shining star stories warm your winter. - Cynthia Brian, New York Times best-selling author

For a limited time you can purchase your autographed copy of “A Christmas Tale and Other Stories” at the BEACON’s office for only $16.00. Call 970-243-8829 or email Stacey@BeaconSeniorNews.com to arrange a pickup time. Buy it on Amazon for $15.95 plus tax Kindle version $2.99 For more books by Jan Weeks, visit: www.weeksliterary.com/books-by-jan-weeks WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 2021 |

RECIPES

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Merry Christmas 970-242-7762

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Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Cauliflower and Spinach Salad Recipe courtesy of Culinary.net

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients

Artisan Bakery & Café 6th & Main 970-241-2740 Mon-Fri 6:30 am.-3:30 p.m. Sat 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

1 9 4 1 5 2 3 2 1

beef tenderloin (4 pounds), wrapped with butcher’s twine tablespoons olive oil, divided teaspoons pepper, divided head cauliflower shallots, quartered teaspoons salt, divided tablespoons lemon juice teaspoons Dijon mustard package (5 1/2 ounces) baby spinach dried cranberries, for garnish

Directions:

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where great food, great coffee & great people meet!

Heat oven to 475° F. Place beef on baking sheet. Rub 4 tablespoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons pepper into beef. Bake 12 minutes. In large bowl, toss cauliflower, shallots, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper to combine. Scatter vegetables around beef and bake 18-25 minutes, or until desired doneness is reached. Allow meat to rest 15 minutes covered in aluminum foil. In medium bowl, whisk 3 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, mustard and remaining salt and pepper until combined. Add spinach; stir until combined. Serve by layering spinach topped with cauliflower and shallots then sliced tenderloin. Garnish with dried cranberries. ■

See more recipes at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com 12 | RECIPES | DECEMBER 2021 |

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BEACON SENIOR NEWS

The gifts that mattered Have a Safe Holiday Season! W Is your vehicle By Amy Laundrie

hat gifts do you remember receiving as a child? I can recall only a few. Instead, I remember family gatherings, beginning with those at my grandmother’s house. Grandma served lutefisk (we kids got to have pigs-in-the-blanket instead of the pungent cod) and great desserts. My favorites were her famous pecan dreams and poppy seed cake. Afterward, the cousins hung out in the basement where we played the card game “Spoons,” which often resulted in scratched hands, squeals and laughter. I treasure the memories of those carefree fun times with family. I don’t remember what gifts we gave our children years ago, but I do have great memories of venturing out with our hound dog Ginger to cut the Christmas tree. Big brother carried the saw while his sisters, in snowsuits, either hiked or got a ride on the sled. My husband always looked for a tree with a straight trunk. I looked for one with a bird’s nest. Once the perfect tree was found, we cut it and placed it on the sled. One year we brought along a harness and hooked Ginger up to the sled. She gave each of the little ones a ride. Earlier gifts may be long forgotten, but not the magical Christmas morning we skied in Sylvania Wilderness. I remember skiing around a bend where a stand of white birches contrasted against the ice-blue sky. The sunlight caught my daughter’s eyelashes just right, which were frosted in silver. I can’t recall what gifts I gave my grandsons last year, but I do remember playing in the snow with them. We cross-country skied on a groomed trail and even the fouryear-old completed a two-hour loop. We tossed chunks of snow to Josie the dog and she leaped for them, enjoying being part of the fun. In the evening, we built a snow fort which we lit with LED candles

I TREASURE THE MEMORIES OF THOSE CAREFREE FUN TIMES WITH FAMILY.

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so it glowed an orangey-red. I don’t remember specific details of any Christmas Eve sermon, but I do remember the warm feeling I got walking down the church sidewalk lit by candles glowing under paper bags. I remember my eyes welling up as I listened to a mother and daughter sing “Mary, Did You Know?” and the feeling of community when, at the end, the lights dimmed and one lit candle touched another and another until the whole church was glowing. Then there was the Christmas Eve service when my family and I did all we could do not to burst out into inappropriate laughter. My son, son-in-law, and husband were asked at the last minute to be the three wise men in the nativity scene. While my son and son-in-law were handed appropriate costumes, my husband received a gaudy king’s robe and a moth-eaten furry hat. When he walked down the aisle, trying to appear kingly, we watched from the pew attempting not to burst out into giggles. He couldn’t look at us either. And my son and son-in-law didn’t dare make eye contact for fear they’d break out in laughter. It’s one of my favorite family Christmas stories to tell. I don’t remember many of the gifts I received from family and friends over the years, but I do remember cheerful greetings, kind words and laughter. ■

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HEALTHY GEEZER

How to cut down sodium in your diet F or those looking to cut down on their sodium intake, they may wonder if sea salt is preferable to table salt. Table salt comes from underground mines while sea salt is made by evaporating seawater. The latter sounds healthier, doesn’t it? However, it contains the same amount of sodium chloride as table salt. Switching won’t help with high blood pressure, but paying attention to what you eat will put you on the right track. High-sodium diets are linked to increased blood pressure and a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. Americans on average consume 3,436 mg sodium daily. About 9 out of 10 consume too much sodium. The USDA recommends healthy adults limit their sodium intake to less than 2,400 mg of sodium per

day. High-risk individuals, such as African Americans; those with high blood pressure, existing heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease; or those over the age of 51 should limit their sodium intake even further to 1,500 milligrams per day. The American Heart Association notes that if Americans cut their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams per day, cases of high blood pressure would decrease by 26 percent. Less sodium also makes blood-pressure medications more efficient. The main source of sodium in the average U.S. diet—77 percent, in fact—is from processed foods. Focusing on those prepared and packaged foods is the most effective way to cut down on sodium. When shopping, read the Nutritional Facts panel for the amount of sodium. Some products include vague sodium terms. “Sodium-free” means

less than 5 mg per serving; “very low-sodium” translates to 35 mg or less per serving; “low-sodium” indicates 140 mg or less per serving; “reduced sodium” means 25 percent less sodium than usual; and “light in sodium” contains 50 percent less sodium than the regular version. Finally, unsalted, no salt added or without added salt indicates foods containing only the sodium that’s a natural part of the food. Most of the body’s sodium is in blood and other fluids. Sodium helps keep fluids in a normal balance and maintain normal nerve and muscle function. The body gets

sodium through eating and drinking and loses it by sweating and urinating. Healthy kidneys maintain a consistent level of sodium in the body by adjusting the amount excreted in the urine. Seniors have to be especially careful about sodium consumption because their bodies can’t handle it as well as they did when they were younger. This could be due to diminished kidney function, the fact that seniors are more likely to be dehydrated, or because about 45 percent of body weight is fluid in healthy older people, compared with 60 percent in younger people. Even a slight loss of fluid and sodium in a senior can cause health problems. ■

HEALTHY GEEZER

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

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Get control of headaches once and for all

ecently, I was headed to meet a friend for lunch and she texted me last minute that she had a migraine. I called her with some tips and when I checked on her the next day, she was much better. She noticed improvement after trying a couple of the hacks I recommended. If you’re prone to migraines, you’ll want to learn what migrenades cause them! “Migrenade” is the term I made up for substances that go off like a grenade in your brain and trigger a migraine. All the pain-causing cytokines in your body should be considered migrenades, because they’re responsible for the pain and inflammation associated with headaches. First, I suggest you minimize or eliminate the following powerful migrenades if you want to get control of headaches once and for all: • Artificial sweeteners and dyes • Any clothing that requires dry cleaning • Monosodium glutamate (MSG) • Vegetable oil containing bromine • Fancy dryer sheets • Perfume that contains synthetic chemicals As for dryer sheets, you can make your own by taking some cotton, putting a few drops of your favorite essential oil on it and tossing it in the dryer with your clothes. The possibilities of using natural essential oils are limitless, and this trick won’t harm your endocrine glands. Low thyroid hormones are one cause of migraines. Iodine is one of the components that helps make thyroid hormones. Iodine or a good thyroid supplement could be help-

DEAR PHARMACIST

ful at reducing frequency. Ashwagandha is a herb that comes from a shrub native to India. It’s also called Indian ginseng. The extract helps make thyroid hormone and provides antioxidant protection. This “winter cherry” (withania somnifera) is one of my favorite supplements for thyroid and adrenal health. I often suggest it as an option for people who can’t sleep because it’s so sedating. It’s also a strong antioxidant. Earlier, I mentioned pain-causing cytokines, one of which is NF Kappa B. NF Kappa B is a natural compound in your body, but one that’s associated with migraines. Activation of this substance is also associated with facial pain, autoimmune diseases, depression, anxiety, attention deficit, diabetes, chronic infections, obesity and just the mere fact that you’re aging. Fortunately, there are natural compounds that can slow down this pathway, reducing pain. Among the best are probiotic supplements, a cup of green tea, lipoic acid, omega 3 fish oils, curcumin, resveratrol and others. The popular medication for diabetes, metformin, also happens to dampen down this pathway. ■

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

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Stress less with these 5-minute exercises

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arols on the radio, twinkling lights and bustling stores are all indicators that the holiday season is quickly approaching. While festive activities and visiting family can make this time of year exciting, shopping for gifts, coordinating schedules and mapping out travel plans can make it extremely stressful. Stress is a relatively normal response to change. It can benefit you by helping to increase motivation, adapt to new experiences and overcome challenges. Unfortunately, experiencing stress for long periods of time can result in headaches, agitation, sleeplessness and fatigue, tense muscles, or increased anxiousness, which can make the holidays much less enjoyable. So how can we navigate this holiday season with less stress and more joy? During the holidays, our thoughts and attention are usually projected toward future events, which may increase stress and worry. (Will I find everything on my shopping list? How will I accommodate family coming in from out of town?) Mindfulness represents the idea of focusing our attention on the present moment. Anyone can practice mindfulness. Here are three exercises that promote mindfulness, which can help you decrease stress and increase your ability to relax and be present. Just dedicating 5 minutes to these practices can do wonders for your mind and body!

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1. Breathe deeply. Deep breathing is a simple exercise that helps decrease stress and anxiety by encouraging intentional slow, deep breaths instead of short, shallow ones. • Sit back in a comfortable position and close your eyes, if you’d like. • Inhale. Breathe in slowly through your nose for 4 seconds. • Pause. Hold the air in your lungs for 4 seconds. • Exhale. Breathe out slowly through your mouth for 6 seconds. • Repeat. Practice for 5 minutes. 2. Visualize. Our minds can create beautiful, calming and detailed scenes, which foster relaxation. • Sit back in a comfortable position and close your eyes. • Think of a place that’s calming and relaxing. Perhaps a cozy cof-

HEALTH & WELLNESS

JUST DEDICATING 5 MINUTES TO THESE PRACTICES CAN DO WONDERS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY! fee shop, a gently flowing stream, a day at the beach or a winter wonderland. • Visualize what you are seeing, hearing, smelling or touching. • Do this for about 5 minutes, allowing yourself to appreciate the scene. 3. Body scanning tunes into the body’s physical sensations, such as muscle tightness or warmth. This exercise helps to focus your awareness on those sensations and be present in the moment. • Sit back in a comfortable position and close your eyes. • Take five deep breaths through your nose. • Start by bringing your awareness to your feet by wiggling or curling your toes. Focus on the sensations. • Continue to explore and bring awareness to sensations in other parts of the body, such as your

hands, arms and abdomen. • Do this for about five minutes and breathe with the sensations you experience. It’s completely normal for your mind to wander when practicing any of these exercises. When this happens, just acknowledge where your mind has gone and gently bring your awareness back. While these exercises can be useful for reducing stress, other activities may be just as helpful, such as listening to music or journaling about what you’re thankful for. Whatever you do, remember to give yourself acknowledgement and gratitude for all the wonderful things you have accomplished. Katie Oltz, BAS, is a clinical psychology master’s student and psychology trainee at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) Aging Center. Contact her at koltz@ uccs.edu or at 719-255-8002. ■

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

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LAUGHING MATTERS

LAUGHING MATTERS REDNECK HUMOR

Submitted by Bob Breazeale A redneck who’s had a few too many drinks leaves a bar. He comes back in a few minutes and asks the bartender, “How tall is a penguin?” The bartender says, “About three feet.” The redneck asks, “Are you sure it isn’t about twice that?” The bartender replies, “I’m pretty sure.” The redneck slaps his forehead and says, “You better give me a double, I think I just ran over a nun.” Two boys are talking about what they got for Christmas. One is a city kid who exaggerates. The other is a redneck’s kid. City Kid: I got a new mountain bike that costs $1,000. Redneck Kid: That’s fantastic. CK: And I got a new electric train set with everything that costs $500.

RK: That’s fantastic. CK: And I got a new video set up and 20 games that costs $600. RK: That’s fantastic. CK: So, what did you get? RK: Some clothes and a baseball glove. But my folks have been sending me to an etiquette school for two weeks. CK: That’s too bad. Have you learned anything? RK: Yep. I’ve learned to say “that’s fantastic” instead of “that’s bull $#%&!”

WATER CLOSET

Submitted by Helen Curtis An English school teacher was looking for rooms in Switzerland, and she called upon the local school master to help her find an apartment that would be suitable. Such rooms were found, and she returned to London for her belongings. She remembered that she had not no-

ticed a bathroom, or as she called it, “a water closet.” So she wrote to the school master and asked if there was a “w.c” in or near the apartment. The school master, not knowing what the “w.c.” stood for, was puzzled. Not knowing she was talking about a bathroom, he sought the advice from the parish priest. They concluded she must have meant a wayside chapel. A few days later she received this letter: “Dear Madam, The w.c. is located 9 miles from the house, in the heart of a beautiful grove of trees. It will seat 150 people at one time and is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Some people bring their lunch and make a day of it. On Thursdays, there is an organ accompaniment. The acoustics are very good. The slightest sound can be heard by everyone. It may interest you to know that my daughter met her husband there at the “w.c.” We are now in the process of taking donations to purchase plush seats. We feel that

Hear for the

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this is a long-felt need, as the present seats have holes in them. My wife, being rather delicate, hasn’t been able to attend regularly. It’s been 6 months since she last went. Naturally, it pains her to not be able to go more often. I will close now with the desire to accommodate you in every way possible and will be happy to save you a seat either down front or near the door as you prefer.”

THE TROPHY WIFE

Submitted by Luke Cranston Bill, a 70-year-old and extremely wealthy widower, attended a holiday dinner with a breathtakingly beautiful 25-year-old woman on his arm. She was hanging on his every word. His friends at the dinner were aghast. They finally cornered him and asked, “Bill, how did you get the trophy girlfriend?” Bill replied, “Girlfriend? She’s my wife!” They were stunned. “So how did you persuade her to marry you?”

LAUGHING MATTERS they asked. Bill said, “I lied about my age.” “What do you mean? Did you tell her you’re only 50?” Bill smiled and says, “No, I told her I’m 90.”

WHAT DO YOU CALL…

Submitted by Carolyn Hopping What do you call a pig who knows karate? A pork chop. What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator. Why do melons have weddings? Because they cantaloupe. Where does Santa Claus keep his money? In snow banks. What do you call a snowman in spring? A puddle.

BUY YOUR OWN GIFT

Submitted by Bobby Williams Last Christmas, Grandpa was feeling his age and found that shopping for Christmas gifts had become too difficult, so he decided to send checks to everyone instead. In each card he wrote, “Buy your own present!” and mailed them early. He enjoyed the usual flurry of family festivities, and it was only after the holiday that he noticed that he had received very few cards in return. Puzzled over this, he went

into his study, intending to write a couple of his relatives and ask what had happened. Then he cleared his desk and under a stack of papers he was horrified to find the gift checks, which he’d forgotten to enclose with the cards.

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ANYTHING FOR A CAT

Submitted by Carolyn Hopping A cat died and went to heaven. God met her at the pearly gates and said, “You have been a good cat all these years. Anything you ask for is yours.” The cat thought for a minute and said, “All my life I’ve lived on a farm and slept on hard, wooden floors. I would like a really fluffy pillow to sit on.” And it was done. A few days later six mice were killed in an accident, and they all went to heaven together. God made them the same offer he made the cat. The mice said, “Well, we had to run all our lives from cats, dogs and even people with brooms. If we had some little roller skates, we would not have to run again.” And it was done. About a week later, God decided to check on the cat. He found her sound asleep on her fluffy pillow. God gently woke the cat and asked, “How have you been doing? Are you happy?” The cat said, “Oh, it’s wonderful! I’ve never been so happy in my life. This pillow is so fluffy, and those little meals on wheels you’ve been sending are soooo delicious!” ■

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Community Concerts of the Grand Valley Concer t Series

Sons of Serendip: Their music is no coincidence! By Jan Weeks

o you believe in coincidence? The Sons of Serendip definitely do. These four men found each other through a series of serendipitous decisions that ultimately created one of the hottest pop music groups around. The four-man band blends classical instruments with pop songs to create memorable performances. The group was a finalist on America’s Got Talent’s ninth season. Though they were sent home from the TV show, Sons of Serendip went on to become one of the most popular groups in music today. According to lead singer, Micah Christian, the show was their big break. All of the men were attending Boston University (BU) when Christian decided that auditioning might be fun. “The audition was our first performance together,” he said. “I called the guys and asked if they’d be interested.” They went into the audition just to see what happened. By the time the competition’s finals rolled around they wanted to win,

Sons of Serendip January 13 • 7:30 p.m. • Avalon Theatre so going home stung a little. But Christian credits the show for the band’s start. “America’s Got Talent was the perfect platform for building our careers,” Christian said. All four performers grew up in musical households. Christian studied classical vocal music. Cordaro Rodriguez taught himself to play the piano at age 10 and now plays several other instruments. Kendall Ramseur picked up the cello also at age 10 when the orchestra director laid all the instruments out on the floor and told them to pick the one that spoke to them. Mason Morton didn’t know what a harp was until

someone offered to teach him how to play it. Since then, the four men have created a musical livelihood they love. The group’s name reflects the serendipitous choices that brought them all to BU. Christian had to choose between accepting an offer to work with Teach for America (TFA) or study theology at BU. On the day his decision was due, the TFA recruiter told him that something within her said he should go to the university. Ramseur spent an evening in prayer to decide which graduate school offer to accept, and the next morning a voice whispered, “Boston University.” Morton’s harp

Get 4 concerts for $80! (limited time only!) You can’t beat $20 for a fantastic evening of entertainment! Plus, you won’t have to worry about supplier issues not getting your gift in time! Visit the Avalon Box Office to purchase tickets and see what seats are available. Prices are per person.

teacher at Rice University sent him to study under her former mentor, a graduate instructor at BU. Finally, Rodriguez’s pre-law instructor suggested he study at Boston College, but Rodriguez mistakenly applied to Boston University. The band members’ faith drives their lives, and they rely on it to take them where they need to be. They’re also big on volunteerism and service. Christian spent time teaching English and physical education in Honduras to some of the poorest of the poor. He and his wife, Jocelyn, did similar volunteer work in Peru. Rodriguez spent a year as a volunteer teaching English in Ecuador. Currently, the group hosts virtual Master Classes for interested students, offering advice and feedback to budding musicians. The group believes their success is due to creating music differently, thanks to Rodriguez’s unique arrangements for their traditionally classical instruments. “We try to create an experience in concerts so the audience feels like we’re sharing a moment together,” said Christian. ■

WIN TICKETS FROM THE BEACON!

Answer these questions correctly in order to be entered into a drawing for two tickets to see Sons of Serendip on January 13 at the Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction. 1. Which of the four band members plays the harp? 2. How far did Sons of Serendip get on America’s Got Talent? 3. Where did the band members meet? Send in your answers, along with your name and phone number, by Friday, December 10, 2021 to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com or PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 For the rest of this season’s lineup, visit www.communityconcertsgrandvalley.org.

20 | DECEMBER 2021 |

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KEVIN’S STORY With Christmas just around the corner, we wanted to share with you a story that we feel illustrates the spirit of the season. We hope this touches your heart like it did ours. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! Surrounded by friends at our weekly Bible study, Old Man Coach Dan Stavely asked me the question, “Are you a Christian?” I pondered it for a moment. I felt like I was searching and seeking, but I said, “I think I am becoming one.” He followed with, “Do you believe in Jesus?” I said, “Yes.” And coach in his deep, gruff voice said, “Then it’s settled.” It was February 29, 1996, Leap Day. As I headed back to the dorms with my best buddy, Riley, I was literally leaping for joy, my arms raised to the heavens! Although, you may disagree with the term “leaping” when you hear the rest of my story. I am a C5-6 quadriplegic. It was a crazy accident. Messing around with my teammates and sliding headfirst into a mud puddle, I broke my neck and my life changed instantly. I was at the University of Northern Colorado on a baseball scholarship. I was Athlete of the Year at Smoky Hill High School just the year before. My life was moving along as I hoped it would. But God had a different plan. One day I was a strong, confident athlete and the next day, October 8, 1990, I was paralyzed. And for the last 30 years, I’ve been doing life from a wheelchair instead of on my feet. Now before you start feeling sorry for me, stop. I still did crazy things like any other college kid. I went snow skiing, fishing, camping and created great memories with my friends. In May of 1996, I graduated from UNC with a major in physics and minors in mathematics and environmental studies. I am working on year 25 as a systems engineer with the defense contractor company, Raytheon, a job I still enjoy today. In 1999 I met the love of my life, Leda. We married in 2001 and we’ve been blessed with three amazing daughters; Ella, 18; Mira, 15; and Kyla, 13. I know it can be hard to find the silver linings. It’s in our human nature to sometimes have self-pity. That’s okay for a certain amount of time, but then I remember the love of Christ and find joy in my Red-Letter Days. I was in the hospital for months after my accident, celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas and the new year from my hospital bed. That Christmas my cousin sent me a simple calendar which became a significant part of my journey. When I hit milestones, like feeding myself by lifting a fork to my mouth for the first time, I took a red pen and wrote it on the calendar. I called it a Red-Letter Day.

Since then, I’ve had many Red-Letter Days and the big ones may not be any different than yours: a beautiful marriage, healthy children, a good job. I am grateful for all of these dreams coming true. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have my share of challenges. In October of last year, I was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know it is all in God’s timing. What I do know is that I’ve been blessed with 50 Christmas mornings. I am surrounded by people in my life who encourage me and push me. And I have a Savior who loves me, forgives me and has prepared a place for me regardless of how much time I have here on earth. My hope changed when I became a Christian and it has kept me strong all these years. Because it was at that moment that my hope in my own abilities changed to my hope in His abilities. And I still say I was leaping that night when I found Jesus Christ at the college Bible study. If I could give you any words of hope this Christmas season, I would tell you to persevere. Don’t quit. You will have challenges, but I guarantee there will be better days ahead. Enjoy the moments when you are filled with joy and laughing with loved ones. Don’t let the 10% of negative cloud the 90% of positive that happens in your life every day. My wish for you as you head into 2022 is simple. Grab a calendar and a red pen and start celebrating your Red-Letter Days. Co-written by: Jana Thomas

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ecorating the house with fresh greenery is one of winter’s oldest traditions. Evergreens have been a part of winter festivals since ancient times. They were used to represent everlasting life and hope for the return of spring. There’s a great feeling of satisfaction in collecting and arranging your own winter decorations. There are no rules—let the assortment you collect guide you.

TIPS FOR ARRANGING Ivy, pine and holly will add a fresh, natural scent to your home and give your arrangements a unique look. Experiment with garlands, swags and centerpieces for indoors, and door toppers of greens and fruits, or containers of greenery, twigs and cones for outdoors. Place a beautiful wreath on your front door. When gathering live greenery from shrubs and trees, remember you’re actually pruning the plants. Consider carefully which branches to cut and which ones to leave. Distribute the cuts evenly around the plant to preserve its natural form, and be sure to use a sharp, clean pruner. While you’re outside, also look for acorns, pine cones, dried hydrangea blossoms, rose hips and bright orange pyracantha berries (but watch out for the thorns).

22 | HOME & GARDEN | DECEMBER 2021 |

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When you get your treasures home, smash the ends of woody stems with a hammer and soak them in water overnight before arranging. Tie florist’s wires to sprigs of berries, rose hips, pine cones or acorns to make them easy to attach to your arrangements. Enjoy the fresh scent while you’re working with evergreens, but know it’s fleeting. To keep your home smelling like fresh-cut pine boughs, pick up a scented spray at a gift shop. Don’t

think of it as cheating; think of it as enhancing nature’s bounty. English ivy, Boston ivy and Virginia creeper are common ground covers, and can also be found growing up trees and telephone poles. They make a lovely addition to any arrangement but must be kept in water or they will dry out quickly. Use florist’s water vials to keep them fresh in wreaths, swags or garlands, and check the water frequently.

INCORPORATING FLOWERS

flowers in a florist’s water vial and check the water daily. Add the finishing touch to winter decorations with groups of three bright red flowers tied together with holiday ribbon. Space them evenly around a wreath, or place them at intervals along an evergreen swag or garland. Add them to vases or pots of evergreens, twigs and cones. Carry the look throughout the house by laying flowers on a holiday tree, along a bookcase, or tucked into the china cabinet. Place individual flowers in beau-

Just because it’s winter, don’t forget flowers when coming up with unique ways to decorate. Flowers lift our spirits throughout the year and are especially welcome during the hectic holiday season. No matter what colors you choose, adding flowers to your home will make you smile even on the dreariest winter day. Gardens Make a jar of water enhanced with floral preservatives to use for the flowers in your decorations. Place individual or small groups of

tiful glass ornaments filled with water and hang them from the tree, the chandelier or a holiday swag. Fill a crystal bowl with golden glass ornaments and tuck red flowers around the ornaments. Or, fill the bowl with white flowers and accent it with deep green ornaments. For a festive centerpiece, fill a silver bowl with blue glass ornaments studded with white roses. Nothing goes together quite as well as candles and winter. But please, do not use candles around fresh greens. Instead, try vases of

fresh flowers and candles of different heights together on a sideboard, hutch or entry table. Then, take the mood from festive to magical by standing a mirror behind the arrangement to enhance the glow. Turn down the lights, stand back and enjoy. Winter doesn’t have to be dull. Step outside on a sunny winter day and gather some fun and interesting branches, twigs, berries and cones. Then come inside and play with them over a mug of something warm and sweet. ■

“IN ALL THINGS OF NATURE THERE IS SOMETHING OF THE MARVELOUS.” Aristotle

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BEACON SENIOR NEWS

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ave you ever tried to create an unforgettable Christmas for your family? Perhaps all you got was a huge headache and an even bigger credit card balance. The national delay in our supply chain this year is the perfect excuse to simplify Christmas by giving and receiving gifts that don’t come with a price tag. What do you remember about your childhood Christmases? Maybe it was the fresh scent of pine as you decorated your tree, the sweet and snappy taste of freshly baked gingerbread or the family togetherness before church services. What do you dislike about Christmas now? Perhaps it’s the stressful family gatherings, the constant repetition of Christmas music everywhere you go or the endless stream of holiday catalogs clogging your mailbox. Many don’t find Christmas merry, and depression often worsens during the holidays. Marie Kondo, the guru of organization, says, “If it does not give you pleasure, eliminate.” Likewise, if we focus on a few things that are meaningful and eliminate the rest, we will enjoy a more peaceful season. This might include gathering with those we love, admiring the Christmas lights or attending special services.

PRACTICAL TIPS TO SIMPLIFY As far as gifts are concerned, young children who believe in Santa love to

open a brightly wrapped package. Their joy is infectious! For everyone else, how about writing a loving letter on beautiful paper that will always be treasured? Coupons for a massage, tickets to the museum or zoo, or a gift card for gas are a sure-fire hit. Coupons for babysitting mean the gift of time to harried younger couples. A single nice gift for the entire family, such as a puzzle or board game, is a thoughtful gesture. One teenager makes origami birds and boxes for presents. Consumable items such as wine, honey, chocolate, cheese, nuts and soaps are always welcomed. Some grandparents love giving lots of gifts to their grandchildren (hello, grandmothers!), often against the parents’ wishes. Parents might choose to cut back on their own gift-giving to balance the extreme generosity of grandparents. While Facebook might mean fewer Christmas cards, many still enjoy receiving them. Cull your list and mail only to those near and dear. Place cards you receive in one basket and stock another with new cards, stamps and pens. If you receive an unexpected card, you’ll be prepared! Since we live in a texting culture, how about a creative greeting limited to 5-8 short lines? COVID Christmas 2021 Finally retired! First grandbaby arrived in May. Took two road trips to Oregon and Montana. Started volunteering at local

BEACON SENIOR NEWS soup kitchen. Best wishes for 2022! Decorations are lovely but labor-intensive. Deck the halls in a simple way, with one main focal point per area—a crèche, a brilliant red poinsettia or an evergreen wreath for the front door. Arrange all your sparkly ornaments in a glass bowl as a centerpiece for the dining room. Decorate a tree outside with seeds, berries and nuts for the birds. Keep your artificial Christmas tree up year-round and decorate with seasonal ornaments to celebrate other holidays. With food, loosen your grip on traditions like baking Grandma’s pecan pie. The younger generation may introduce new recipes. If no one has the energy or time for homemade fare, just buy baked goods and “present” on your own china! Talk to your loved ones about differing holiday expectations. Do you feel stressed by family members staying in your home? Maybe it’s time they check out an Airbnb. You could seek respite at a cabin in the mountains, a monastery, a resort or a farm to gain peace and spiritual renewal. Entertainment needn’t be costly. White elephant gift exchanges are always fun. Read classic Christmas

stories aloud, such as “The Little Match Girl” by Hans Christian Anderson, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, “The Elves and the Shoemaker” by the Brothers Grimm or “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. Perennial TV favorites include “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and “Miracle on 34th Street.”

LESS STRESS IS POSSIBLE Restore meaning to the season by studying other cultures that focus on religious themes and simple decorations. No other culture in the world starts the Christmas season in September, as we do here! It’s an irony that we celebrate with overconsumption when the first Christmas took place in a humble stable. How about following your own star this season like the wise men did and stepping out of your comfort zone to find someone to help? Serve at a soup kitchen, carol at a nursing home, support an immigrant family or visit shut-ins or prisoners. Following even some of these suggestions will slow down the pace of your preparations and alleviate that post-Christmas hollow feeling. May serenity and joy be yours this year as you experience a simply beautiful Christmas. ■

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

6 little-known stories about Pearl Harbor

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ighty years later, the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor remains significant as one of only a few times the United States has been attacked by a foreign adversary on its own soil. The tragedy of the attack came not only in the loss of over 2,400 lives, but also in how unprepared the U.S. was for it. Not that they can be much blamed; a surprise attack from a nation over 4,000 miles away was previously unthought of. While much has been said about the attack itself, here are some lesser-known facts and stories surrounding Pearl Harbor:

1 JAPAN’S SURPRISE ATTACK CAME IN THE WAKE OF A DEVASTATING AMERICAN OIL EMBARGO

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In July 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order announcing a freeze on assets with Japan. Now, any business would need to seek the U.S. government’s permission to trade with the country. However, confusion about the order resulted in cutting off all trade with Japan—including the export of U.S. oil, which Japanese naval forces were dependent upon. This led the island country to set its sights toward an invasion of Southeast Asia and its oil re-

sources, though it knew such an act would lead to war against America. As a result, Japan decided to attack America’s Pacific Fleet based out of Pearl Harbor to prevent American interference in its plan for accessing the resources of these other countries.

2 AMONG THE FALLEN WERE THE REMAINS OF A BABY GIRL In 1937, Chief Yeoman Albert Wagner’s wife gave birth to premature twins, one of whom died two days later. Wagner planned to scatter his daughter’s ashes at sea, storing the urn in his locker on the USS Utah. But he never got the chance.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS While he survived Pearl Harbor, the daughter’s remains were lost with the sunken ship, along with the lives of 58 sailors. A funeral was never held for baby Nancy until 2003, when her twin sister, Mary, gathered friends and family to the site of the memorial to say an official goodbye. “I feel nothing but pride and pleasure that she’s in such magnificent company,” Mary said. “I could not ask for anything better than for her to be tenderly, carefully looked after by America’s finest.”

3 A CONSPIRACY THEORY DEVELOPED ABOUT NEWSPAPER ADS WARNING OF THE ATTACK Two weeks before the December 7 attack, the New Yorker published an ad promoting a mysterious board game called “The Deadly Double,” which featured people in an air raid shelter playing dice—two of which were numbered 12 and 7—and included words like “alert” and “warning.” After Pearl Harbor, people saw the ad in a different light, convinced it was a coded message to Japanese spies warning them of the impending assault. However, the conspiracy theory was quickly debunked when it was discovered that Roger Paul Craig had indeed invented such a game and created the ads, with the numbers on the dice amounting to coincidence. Despite its notoriety, the game never sold well, and Craig ironically ended up working for the Office of Strategic Services—the U.S.’s intelligence agency during World War II.

4 MONTHS LATER, JAPAN ATTEMPTED TO BOMB PEARL HARBOR AGAIN After the success of its initial attack, Japan began plans for bigger targets like mainland America. But first, the U.S. military decided to do a reconnaissance flight over Pearl Harbor to see how repair opera-

tions were going and to drop some bombs while there. Less than 90 days after the first attack, Japanese bombs once again fell on Oahu. Fortunately, bad weather stymied the pilots’ efforts and the bombs missed their targets, hurting no one. Though less damaging than “the date which will live in infamy,” the second attack was kept secret from the public for decades.

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5 ELVIS PRESLEY HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR THE USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL FUND A few years after President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized the building of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, the project struggled to raise enough funds. Elvis Presley decided to help by putting on a benefit concert, performing classics like “Hound Dog” for thousands of fans at Pearl Harbor’s Bloch Arena. The event brought in more than $54,000 and helped raise public interest in the memorial, which was dedicated a year later in 1962.

6 A JAPANESE AND AMERICAN SOLDIER, BOTH PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS, LATER BECAME FRIENDS Zenji Abe, a Japanese pilot who dropped bombs on Pearl Harbor, didn’t learn until decades later that the attack had come before Japan’s declaration of war. Viewing Japan’s wartime leaders’ actions as immoral, he worked to engage in reconciliation efforts between Japanese and American veterans. In 1991, at the 50th anniversary of the attack, Abe visited the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, where he came to apologize to his former foes. He found reconciliation, forgiveness and friendship from American Pearl Harbor survivors like Richard Fiske. Fiske and Abe became close friends and agreed to honor the memorial each month with roses until Fiske’s death in 2004. ■

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Story and photos by Wynne Crombie

n a cool November day, our feet touched down upon the old mosaic cobblestones of the Rue Général de Gaulle in Riquewihr, France (population 1,308). Centuries ago these stones had been meticulously laid out in circular patterns. Fall is a good time to visit Riquewihr as it can get crowded during peak times. Parking is outside the town walls, so visitors enter the village through a series of old gates in the large clock and watchtowers. Even though the calendar said late fall, geraniums and other blooms spilled over flower box rims. Hollywood used this fairy-tale town in the Alsace wine-growing region as an inspiration for “Beauty and the Beast.” Hanging wrought iron signs artfully spelled out commercial establishments. The more you looked around, the more details you saw, including building dates and inscriptions going back centuries.

MEDIEVAL CHARM Designs painted on shutters and

balconies utilized bright teals, pinks and yellows. Flower-decked balconies, sculpted windows and old paved courtyards were everywhere. Many of Riquewihr’s shops and restaurants catered to tourism with plenty of outdoor seating. My husband, Kent, and I stepped aside as a sightseeing train rounded the corner in front of us. A few cars and delivery trucks rumbled past. Postal delivery was achieved with a bright yellow motorcycle with attached bags. We watched as a driver unloaded ingredients for Fortwenger Gingerbread and Confectionery, which has been in business since 1786. Ramparts enclose the walkable center, part of Riquewihr’s original medieval charm. Famous for its Riesling and other great Alsace wines, the town looks today exactly as it did in the 16th century. That’s because Riquewihr was not greatly damaged by World War II, with houses dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries still viable. The main street, Rue du Général de Gaulle, is lined with brightly colored half-timbered houses in bright blues, yellows and reds

TRAVEL from the Renaissance period. Back alleys branch out from both sides of the street. Follow Rue Général de Gaulle and you’ll end up at the Dolder—a pink sandstone and timber tower that was built as a part of the 1292 fortified wall. The four stories of the tower housed the caretaker and his family, who were in charge of closing the entry gate to the village every night. Beautiful window displays featured the unusual. One showcased a life-size wooden doll set amidst hanging geraniums. There was even a bright red scooter carefully balanced on a balcony. Water spigots jutted out from buildings with the signs reading “non-portabo” (not for drinking). When visiting Riquewihr, don’t hesitate to wander. A stroll down the cobbled streets will take you to colorful and flowery half-timbered houses. The more we looked around the more details we spotted, including twisting lanes and hidden courtyards. Surrounded by

building that sells souvenirs. Nearby, the proprietor of Les Macarons de Riquewihr was handing out macaroon samples, and we even found a Foie Gras Shop (so French!). After speaking to a few of the locals, the following were named as top winners of Alsace cuisine:

vineyards, you can taste the wine at some 20 Winstubs—an Alsace cafe, restaurant or bar that specializes in wine. Or you may enjoy “Feerie de Noel,” a Christmas shop extraordinaire selling original, handmade Christmas decorations. It’s more like a Christmas wonderland.

ALSATIAN DELICACIES Louis XIV’s army took possession of the village in 1680 and it joined the French Republic by the Treaty of Paris in 1796. However, the fairytale setting that is Riquewihr is a

blend of both French and German influences. Many residents speak German over French, or a mix called Alsatian. The Alsace region has been controlled by both France and Germany. Eating in Alsace, you get a taste of both French and German foods, as well as a blend of the two cuisines. We discovered La Grappe d’Or where we stopped for lunch. The inside décor was worth a look in itself. Our meandering next took us to Au Four Banal, a pink half-timbered

1. Choucroûte Garnie Alsace is a version of German sauerkraut, seasoned with juniper berries and black peppercorns served with potatoes and a variety of meats, including ham and sausages. 2. Tarte Flambée is the Alsatian equivalent of pizza, though extremely different. It’s made of a thin layer of dough, covered with crème fraiche (rich sour cream), cheese, onions and bacon. 3. Kugelhopf is similar to the Tarte Flambée but is shaped like the American bundt cake. It’s baked with almonds and raisins and topped with powdered sugar. ■

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BEACON SENIOR NEWS

My dad’s final days By Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D

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grew up in in the 1950s and ’60s in a mostly blue-collar community in Newark, New Jersey. My father, Seymour, was a fiercely hardworking guy who wanted to be successful. For him, work wasn’t about “finding his bliss,” it was about being a responsible husband and father. His dad had skipped out on him, his siblings and mother for almost 10 years during the Depression. In contrast, my dad was a reliable family man and wanted our family to live the American dream. Ultimately, Dad rose from selling clothing and home furnishings out of the back of his truck to owning and operating a successful chain of women’s clothing stores. In their mid 60s, my folks retired and relocated to Florida. Throughout my life, Dad and I had a loving but feisty relationship. He was very opinionated (I guess I am, too) and was skeptical of many of my lifestyle and career moves— from moving to California, from studying physics to the field of psychology and then to gerontology. But he had great love for my family and he eventually developed a deep respect for what I made of myself. In the 1990s, my father started to lose his vision and with it, control over much of his life. Sadly, Alzheimer’s was also chiseling away at my mother’s mind. Dad loved Mom so much that he railed against the dissolution of her memory and her mind. He got depressed and angry. “If I die before Mom, she’ll struggle terribly, and if she dies before me, I’ll go crazy. Just as we’ve lived together, we want to die together,” he said. That was quite a lot for me to digest. One night, he asked me, “If I take my own life and Mom’s, would that be brave or cowardly?” I said, “I don’t know, Dad. If I was in your situation, I can’t imagine what I’d think or do.”

So, for almost a year, every night I’d go to sleep not knowing if my parents would be alive in the morning. In 2013, my brother Alan called me in a state of distress to report that our dad’s blood sugar was going haywire. And to make things worse, he’d lost his balance and fallen on his face, giving himself a big gash on his forehead. Alan was already on his way to Florida. I packed my bags and headed east. Dad’s doctor admitted him to intensive care. He had internal bleeding and had suffered a heart attack. When he realized that his boys were there for him, he called out to us: “What’s going on? Get me out of here!” Dad settled down a bit, and Alan and I went to see our mom. Later that night, the phone rang. It was Dad pleading with us to rescue him. We shot back to the hospital and went into our anguished father’s room. His arms, chest, face and hair were covered with blood because he kept pulling out his IV lines. In the morning, after a torturous night for both my dad and brother, and a sad night for me and for my confused mother, I returned to the hospital. Alan and I asked: “Dad, what do you want?” “I’m scared,” he said, “but I know this: I’ve lived my whole life on my own two feet, and I’m not going out on my hands and knees. Please help me bring this to an end.” Shortly after, Alan and I met with Dad’s physician. He was a kind and decent man who asked us if we wanted our dad to remain in intensive care or if we preferred to shift him to hospice care. Were we going to battle to keep Dad alive for a few more days, albeit in a ghastly, ghoulish fashion? Or were we prepared to make him comfortable and allow him to die a good death? What would he want us to do?

BEACON SENIOR NEWS We had Dad transferred to the hospice floor, where the nurses and aides removed all the wires and tubes, lovingly sponged all of the blood off him and even gave him a shave and combed his hair. They asked him what his favorite music was and then put on Frank Sinatra. Next, they began a low dose of morphine to ease his anxiety. My wife and kids all dropped what they were doing to fly to Florida and be with him. As I contemplated the end of my father’s life, I reflected that even though we had often butted heads, there was not one instance in my entire life when he wasn’t there for me when I truly needed him. I wanted to show Dad proper respect and kindness, but not knowing how I should handle the situation with my dad nearing his death, I called one of my closest friends, Stuart Pellman, who had already dealt with the death of both of his parents. He wisely told me, “Get one-on-

one time with your dad. Even if he’s unconscious, tell him you love him, ask him to forgive you for anything you may have ever done to trouble him. Tell him you forgive him for anything he might have ever done to upset you, and then tell him you’ll always remember him.” And that’s what I did. Dad and I held each other for a long while, and then I left the room and allowed my brother some privacy to do the same. Later that night, after the other members of my family had gone home, I joined my dad for a very intense and private conversation. I said, “Dad, you’ve never asked me what I think happens when a person dies.” “I’d like to know what you think about that, Kenny,” he responded. “Because I’ve begun to see my brothers and sister and they’re reaching out to me.” My dad had no religious beliefs, but I had some. So I said, “Dad, I don’t know this for sure, but I be-

lieve when a person passes, there is another plane that presents itself. In that place are all the people you have known and loved.” As I began to describe this, he started to cry. Then he turned toward me and told me he was ready. I asked him if I could record the rest of our exchange on my phone so I could always have it to watch when I missed him. He said okay, and this is what transpired: Ken: “Dad, you know that what’s going to be next is going to be beautiful and your vision’s going to be back and you’re going to be a young man again.” Dad: “I’m ready for that, Kenny.” Ken: “And you know we all love you, and you’ve always loved us.” Dad: “I know it, Kenny.” Ken: “So, what you’ll need to do is let go and not worry about anything because everything is going to be looked after. All we need is for you to be relaxed and calm and just drift off into the white light. Can you do that, Dad?”

Dad: “Absolutely.” Ken: “I love you, Pops.” Dad: “I love you, Kenny.” My father died peacefully that night. With help from all of us, he went out on his own two feet. Ultimately, even with all his frustration and anger, my dad died a good death. At the end, his pain was minimal. His mind was calm. He found a way to think about leaving his body as not being frightening. And although he had been blind for years, at the very end, he began to describe beautiful waterfalls, flowers, birds and castles. When my time comes, I hope that my wife Maddy will kiss me goodbye and at least one of my kids—maybe even both—will be there to lovingly guide me out of my body. ■ Excerpted from “Radical Curiosity: One Man’s Search for Cosmic Magic and a Purposeful Life” by Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D. Copyright © 2021 by Ken Dychtwald.

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BEACON SENIOR NEWS

BEACON awarded “Best of Show” at national journalism competition COVID-related • “The cruelty of quarantine: A daughter’s search for compassion in a pandemic” by Melanie Wiseman (September 2020)

By Cloie Sandlin

hristmas came early this year for all of us when the BEACON received the Best of Show award at the recent North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) convention in San Diego, California. Every year, senior publications from across the country are independently judged on the quality of their written content, editing, design, photography, advertising and more by the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism. The best are then commended for their efforts with awards. Best of Show recognizes the publication that placed the highest in its division. This year, the BEACON and its staff were nominated in the following categories:

Editorial Column Review • Talking Digital by Adam Cochran Personal Essay • “Radical downsizing: How living with less can free up your life” by Sally Henry (October 2020)

Annual Senior Resource Guide • The BEACON Guide, 2021

Photography & Design Front Cover Photo • “Embrace the empty nest” by B. Bigler (January 2021) • “Dive into your passion” - Photo courtesy of Patty Deters (August 2020) Feature Layout • “The art of cooking small” by B. Bigler (January 2021) Feature Writing • “The benefits of bats” by Jan Weeks (June 2021)

Annual Senior Resource Guide • The BEACON Guide, 2021 Best Banner • BEACON Senior News, Colorado • “Grand Junction forgives but never forgets: Dalton Trumbo’s controversial book rattled the community” by Diana Barnett (June 2021) • “Turning up gold: Retirement is panning out well for these seniors” by Melanie Wiseman (June 2021)

• “Take pride in your heritage: Ginger DeCavitch engages kids on Ute Heritage Day” by Jan Weeks (April 2021) • “Diving in: Reclaim your life and love yourself again” by Melanie Wiseman (August 2020)

32 | DECEMBER 2021 |

Table of Contents - Design • BEACON Senior News, Colorado Briefs & Shorts - Design • Calendar & Beacon Bits

• “The cruelty of quarantine: A daughter’s search for compassion in a pandemic” by Melanie Wiseman (September 2020)

Profile • “Turning and burning: Bert Poling transforms wood into art” by Jan Weeks (May 2021)

• “Philanthropic travel in Tanzania” by B. Bigler (November 2020)

• “Writing in isolation: Three local authors wrote and published books in 2020” by Terri Benson (May 2021) • “The amazing resilience of the Handy Chapel” by M. J. Melneck (February 2021) How-To Feature • “The art of cooking small: Tips, tricks and recipes for empty nesters” by Corey Colombin Topical Issue • “It’s time to take control of your health” by Melanie Wiseman (April 2021)

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Best Overall Use of Photography • BEACON Senior News, Colorado Best Use of Color • BEACON Senior News, Colorado Overall Design • BEACON Senior News, Colorado

Advertising Best Single Ad (Color) • AAA Hearing “I mustache you a question” (June 2021) • AAA Hearing “My butt hurts” (April 2021) Self-Promotion (in house) • “50,000 BEACON Fans can’t be wrong”

Online

Website Self-Promotion • BEACON Senior News, Colorado Website General Excellence • www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

And the winners are… Best of Show

BEACON Senior News, Colorado

Editorial

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• Column Review: 1st Place Talking Digital by Adam Cochran

• Personal Essay: 2nd Place “The cruelty of quarantine: A daughter’s search for compassion in a pandemic” by Melanie Wiseman (September 2020) • Profile: 1st Place “Diving in: Reclaim your life and love yourself again” by Melanie Wiseman • Feature Writing: 2nd Place “The benefits of bats” by Jan Weeks • Topical Issue: 1st Place “It’s time to take control of your health” by Melanie Wiseman (April 2021) • COVID-related: 1st Place “The cruelty of quarantine” by Melanie Wiseman (September 2020) • Annual Senior Resource Guide: 2nd Place The BEACON Guide, 2021

Photography & Design

• Front Cover Photo: 2nd Place “Dive into your passion” August 2020 • Table of Contents: 2nd Place • Briefs/Shorts: 3rd Place • Annual Senior Resource Guide: 1st Place The BEACON Guide, 2021

• Best Banner: 2nd Place • Best Overall Use of Photography: 1st Place • Best Use of Color: 2nd Place • Overall Design: 2nd Place

Advertising

• Best Single Ad (Color): 1st Place AAA Hearing: “My butt hurts” • Self-Promotion (in house): 1st Place “50,000 BEACON Fans can’t be wrong”

Online

• Website Self-Promotion: 3rd Place • Website General Excellence: 3rd Place www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

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FAITH

What will you give Him?

Did you know?

The Bible tells us what’s on Jesus’ wish list

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hristmas will be here before you know it. Everywhere you go, gorgeous displays of holiday lights and festive decor remind us that Christmas is near. You may have started your Christmas gift shopping by now. Did you put Christ on your gift list? You’re probably thinking, “How can I ever repay such a gift to Jesus?” After all, he came to earth and gave us the greatest gift of all—his birth, life, death and ultimately his resurrection. He gave us the pathway to forgiveness of sin and a way to be closer to God. However, the Bible contains a “wish list” of gifts that Jesus wants from you. Once someone came to Jesus and asked him, “What is the greatest commandment?” In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus answered him by saying, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” First found in Deuteronomy 6:5, this is at the top of Jesus’ wish list. It’s what God wants most from his followers. In verse 39, Jesus continued:

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HE CAME TO EARTH AND GAVE US THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL—THE PATHWAY TO FORGIVENESS AND A WAY TO BE CLOSER TO GOD. “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Another item at the top of Jesus’ wish list is the Golden Rule, which is found in Matthew 7:12. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Additionally, we are asked to love our neighbors (Romans 13:9-10) and to put our trust in God (Proverbs 3:5). In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, give thanks for the birth and life of Jesus Christ. And as you enjoy celebrations with family, friends and neighbors, make sure to take time to give Jesus what he wants the most. As the new year approaches, make sure to give the gifts of loving God and others—gifts that will last the whole year through. ■

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TALKING DIGITAL

How to save digital memories from 2021

ne of my first experiences as a professional computer guy was helping a family set up a video conference with their son who was serving overseas shortly after September 11. That short 5-minute video call changed how I saw both technology and the internet. My experiences with helping people connect during COVID have been equally eye-opening. In a few short months, even the most averse to technology learned to use video conference software and share their lives via social media. Using technology as a primary means of communication can be a two-edged sword, however. Unlike written letters and video recordings, what’s shared in phone conversations, emails and social media can be very temporary. But, it doesn’t have to be. As 2021 winds to a close, this is a prime opportunity to review your communications with friends, loved ones and cohorts and archive important notes, videos or photos for posterity. Here are a few suggestions to get started. Use cloud storage. You probably have some sort of cloud storage system setup, but you may not be using it intentionally. Anyone with a Gmail or Android account has access to Google Drive. Anyone with an iPhone has an iCloud account.

Anyone who uses Office 365 has a OneDrive account. Dropbox and Box.net are also popular options. These cloud storage options allow you to upload photos, videos and other files to organized folders in the cloud where they can be protected from a computer crash and, best of all, shared with whomever you choose. Your photos and videos will likely fill up your free account quickly, but it’s worth the $1-10/month fee for additional storage. Copy and paste emails into Word documents. Email communication can be tricky to backup. Most of the time, emails are only readable using your given email interface. But, you can highlight the text in any email and copy and paste it into a blank word document. This will allow you to save entire conversations in a single word document that can be read on any computer. Send links, not attachments. In the process of archiving your files, you’ll likely run across items you want to share with others, like an entire folder of 300 pictures from your family reunion. There’s no practical way to attach 300 pictures to an email. But, you can upload the folder of 300 photos to your cloud storage account and then share the folder as a link in an email. This allows anyone who receives the email to view

all of the pictures and save the ones they want. Request your Facebook archive. Facebook allows users to download all of their activity on the platform in a single file. Here’s how: In a web browser, select the triangle in the top right corner. Next, click Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information. Select View across from Download Your Information. Enter a date range, media quality and format, and then click Create File. The process will take a while to compile, but you’ll be notified via email and Facebook when the file is ready for download. Once the file is saved, create your own journal by saving the files or copy and paste the important stuff from the database to a Word document. Backup your computer. Even if everything you need is backed up to cloud storage, you should also make sure you have all your really important files stored on a

EVEN IF YOU BACK UP TO A CLOUD STORAGE ACCOUNT, ALSO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL YOUR REALLY IMPORTANT FILES STORED ON A FLASH DRIVE OR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE. flash drive or external hard drive. I recommend a 500GB or larger solid-state hard drive. These drives have no moving parts, they aren’t magnetic and they’re far more durable than traditional hard drives. It might cost you $50-100, but it’ll likely hold all of your important files for years to come. Store your backup drive in a fireproof safe. Or give it to a family member to keep at their house. I’ve seen a number of people’s homes burglarized or burned down, and both the computer and backup were gone for good. Hopefully, these tips give you peace of mind and allow you to share your memories with others who will appreciate them. That’s a perfect way to end 2021. ■

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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MONEY & SCAMS

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Say “scram” to scammers How to be a confident consumer without getting scammed By Karen Telleen-Lawton

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y most worn keyboard key is “delete.” On my phone, the hang-up button gets more than its fair share of use. It costs me a lot of energy to reduce my inbox to a manageable level and avoid clicking on misleading ads. How can we all be savvy decision-makers without devolving into suspicious old geezers? How can we be open, confident consumers without getting scammed? Scams are crimes whose perpetrators prey upon our misplaced trust and sometimes our naiveté. Granted, we must maintain some level of trust to operate in the world. We are social creatures who want and need to trust our fellow human beings. When that trust involves sharing our information or money, three good habits can discourage scammers from making moves on us. And a fourth will discourage them from preying on the next guy.

VERIFY SOURCES As we approach our Medicare years, scammers begin targeting us because that’s where the money is.

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36 | MONEY & SCAMS | DECEMBER 2021 |

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They also hope we’re not evaluating decisions as clearly as in our younger years. The best way to fight back is to verify the source of any demand for payment, prize offer or information request. Never offer or provide your money or information until you’re certain it’s justified. Be gracious but firm. If your polite, reasonable requests for clarification are unsuccessful, then be impolite and firm.

USE CREDIT CARDS For purchases you do make, consider the advantages of credit card transactions. We remember the days when cash was the safest, and it’s still a good idea when your main concern is keeping a strict budget. However, credit cards have several advantages and no extra costs if you pay them off each month. For one, cardholders receive a monthly credit card statement that shows where you’re spending your money. Always review your credit card statement and call when there are charges you don’t understand. Yes, the abbreviations can be cryptic. Parenthetically, if enough of us call to inquire about enough

THE CLEAREST WAY TO FIGHT BACK IS TO VERIFY THE SOURCE OF ANY DEMAND FOR PAYMENT, PRIZE OFFER OR INFORMATION REQUEST.

MONEY & SCAMS transactions, credit card companies likely would demand clearer labels from merchants. Besides the accounting advantage, credit cards usually have consumer protections against fraud. You can contest a charged payment and get your money back more easily than if you had paid cash. My husband says the best advantage of using credit cards for large purchases is the flight mile rewards. These do seem to get harder to use over time, though. As a financial advisor, I was occasionally asked how to discern a legitimate investment from a scam. Some people enjoy—and can afford—risky investments that might pay off big or come up short. The first step would be to determine a single sum or monthly amount that you can afford to lose and stick to your limits. Seek information from trusted friends and advisors, not unsolicited proposals or emails. Then research the investment vehicle, such

as gold, cyber coin, REITs, options, etc. Allow yourself the thrill of the game. After all, it’s only money.

THE TRICK WITH LINKS The trickiest scams to protect against are the computer links that thrust us head-first into cyberspace. Internet links are useful for business, shopping and amusement, but are also a common way for scammers to burrow into our

computers. Can you trust a link sent by a favorite retailer, friend or company like Amazon or FedEx? Your first line of defense is to hover over the link without clicking it. This will give you the underlying website URL. A short, straightforward link to the correctly spelled location you’re familiar with is a good sign. Government websites should have a suffix of .gov, companies .com, and other organizations use .org. If there’s anything suspicious looking about the link, call, email or Google the company that sent it using an address you find independently. You also might want to copy and enter (without clicking on it) the suspicious link into a link checker. Norton, Google and URLVoid all provide these services. Shippers send links when your package is on the way. It would be simple to click the link, but safer to return to the original email confirming your original purchase. Use the link provided there, or call or

chat using the information provided with your purchase.

REPORT SCAMS Finally, if you’re subject to a scam or an attempted scam, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission. This may get you some resolution, but even if you’re still out some cash, it may prevent others from falling prey to future crimes. Let’s make sure these guys get what they deserve: a criminal record, not our hard-earned money! ■

4 WAYS

to say “scram” to scammers 1. Trust but verify. 2. Know your credit card. 3. Be wary of links. 4. If you’re scammed, report it.

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BEACON SENIOR NEWS

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Bring in them (w blank holiday c to their e’ll help!) Then ards and let th e friends and otheyou can send thm sign r family e member m out Bring in s. p time rem ictures of pas t in h o is li day the holid cing about their favs. Spend some ays. orite asp ects of Bring in cookies that you baked a t home. Look thr help the ough holiday s their gr m pick out wh hopping maga tell themandchildren. Yo at they want to zines and u g that the them. ir grand can order the it et for parent b e ought thms and em for If you ar loved on e wondering a v book w e, consider it bout gift ide word se ith family pictu ems such as aas for your convers arches, and ite res, adult colo small photo ation pie r m ces for y s that will serving books, our love d one. e as

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BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT

Serving up Southwest’s best at Dos Hombres By Melinda Mawdsley

sk a local if he or she wants to dine at Dos, and they’ll know exactly what to expect: a great Southwestern meal at a long-time Grand Valley favorite. Located at 3245 I-70 Business Loop in Clifton, Dos Hombres (commonly referred to as “Dos”) has served a variety of Southwestern food and drink since the 1970s. It’s established itself as one of the oldest restaurants in the area—a reputation that owner Spike Howard is certainly proud to have. Today, Dos Hombres features four dining rooms and an outdoor patio. But there was a time when the Clifton location was just one plate at the Dos Hombres table.

DOS HOMBRES’ AFFINITY FOR STRAIGHTFORWARD INGREDIENTS AND THE FLAVOR PROFILE OF THE SOUTHWEST REGION HAS REMAINED ON HOWARD’S PALATE ALL THESE YEARS.

A FIESTA OF FLAVOR According to Howard, the concept for the family restaurant started in 1974 with a walk-up deli on Grand Junction’s First Street. The deli had a few tables and served a menu of Italian and Mexican food items. “The Mexican food was far and away our most popular,” Howard said. The first dine-in restaurant opened in 1977 in the Redlands. It has since closed with the retirement of Howard’s brother a few years back. But the concept of what the family wanted the restaurant to be has endured through Howard and his Clifton location, which orig-

inally opened in 1981 and moved into its current building in 2002. “Over the years, we expanded the menu based on customer demands,” Howard said. “I’m a fan of New Mexico food. It has the flavors of the Southwest: Hatch chile...I think they grow the best chiles in the country.” Despite starting with no culinary background, (although he has since spent 40-plus years in the restaurant business, including many years in the kitchen), Howard’s affinity for straightforward ingredients and the flavor profile of the Southwest region has remained on his palate all these years. “If we have something we want to add, I pretty much know what I want the flavors to be,” said Howard. “We will begin to build it that way.”

A senior himself, Howard offers a 10 percent discount to BEACON readers and a 15 percent discount for military members, available any time or day. The restaurant also offers a number of menu items in smaller portions. Additionally, entrees are “buy one at full price and get a second of equal or lesser value for half price”

on Mondays by using the coupon found in the BEACON. “Seniors love our Mondays,” Howard said. Dos Hombres boasts $5 or $8 appetizers on Tuesdays and Happy Hour from 3-9 p.m. as well halfprice margaritas on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to close. ■

DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS

Dos Hombres owner Spike Howard

That commitment to specific flavor profiles and a love for the Grand Valley has sustained Dos Hombres for more than 40 years, particularly among seniors.

12/1/2021 to 12/31/2021

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 2021 | BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT |

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

The games of By Sam Beeson

veryone has opinions on what made them the way they are. Family and friends are some of the main reasons, of course, as well as community, religious beliefs, location and so on. But for me, there’s another important thing that turned me into who I am (I believe, for the better): board games. Christmas or birthday shopping for me was always easy. Just find him a board game, I imagine my folks would say. The problem was, no one else in my family played them. So every time I received a game as a gift, I was stuck waiting for a friend to come over so we could play it. Sometimes, that wasn’t so easy. Not all of my friends were “gamers” (to borrow a term the young folk say today). Unless my shiny new game was going to sit on a shelf collecting dust, I had to come up with another plan. So, I played the game against myself. I chose one token to be “me” and dubbed the other token “the other guy.” Virtually no game was impossible to play that way. And in playing those games, I learned valuable life lessons.

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life Monopoly taught me the value of money. It taught me to save some of it in order to make it around the board to payday. It taught me about using money to make more money. It even taught me about property taxes (note: when you land on the INCOME TAX square, always choose the 10 percent, instead of the $200. Unless you have hotels around the board, it’ll be cheaper that way). Likewise, in Monopoly jail was no fun and mainly consisted of sitting around being bored, which I understand is a significant problem in the prison system today. Monopoly also taught me the art of negotiation and bartering. Making another player go bankrupt, though the ultimate purpose of the game, was not necessarily the fun part. Being on the losing end my fair share of times taught me the “big guy” is not necessarily looking out for you. Frequently, you have to look out for yourself.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS Though I was never more than a casual player, chess taught me that sometimes there’s no clear winner. As you can guess, playing chess by yourself leads to a fair number of stalemates. After a while, I learned to play FOR the stalemate. Outsmarting myself was a hollow victory. But using my best strategy to play for a draw against “the other guy” using “his” best strategy, I considered a win. I don’t play chess much anymore these days. Instead, the chessboard today is often work or family relations. Chess taught me how to deal with difficulties and survive “no-win” scenarios, and that often a stalemate is a win. Finally, The Game of Life was another favorite. Out of all the games I played, this one seemed to offer the most learning. A player drove a little car around the board that represented one’s life passing by and significant moments in it. For example, going to college usually meant better pay though, it slowed

your start to the game and put you in debt. Getting married and having children was another major point. Buying insurance, which you may or may not need during the rest of the game, taught me the importance of planning for “what if.” Ultimately, you either won by retiring at the “Millionaire Estates,” or lost and went to “The Poor Farm”—significantly contrasting

outcomes, especially as a child. I remember wondering many times if my parents were headed to “The Poor Farm” because it sure didn’t look like we were anything close to “Tycoons.” (I understand that in modern versions of the game, such stark contrasting outcomes are no longer used, with the loser settling for retirement at the better-sounding “Country Acres.”)

I credit these games—and so many more—with significantly helping to shape me into the person I’ve become. But the most valuable lesson, by far, was learning to play both sides fairly. “Me” and “The Other Guy” had equal chances of winning. This gave me a gift for looking at both sides of an issue. To many, I’m “the negotiator,” the level-headed one who rarely makes rash or impulsive decisions. I’m slow to anger and quick to forgive. When confronted by a problem, I try to fairly see and represent both sides. I’ve made a career in customer service, frequently dealing with upset or disgruntled people. More often than not, I believe I’ve represented the interests of the customer and company fairly and treated both with the respect they deserved. In the end, my friends and family have shaped me through life, but I must also thank the Parker Brothers, the long-forgotten inventors of chess, and Milton Bradley. ■

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 2021 |

BEACON SENIOR NEWS INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

Barrymore’s ghosts of Christmas past and present By Jacqueline T. Lynch

or a generation, Lionel Barrymore played the part of the unlikable but redeemable Ebenezer Scrooge. But after his death, his Christmas legacy became that of the deeper, more disturbed and more modern Christmas villain: Mr. Potter.

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RADIO’S SCROOGE Barrymore began the role of Mr. Scrooge in 1933 for a live annual radio event. He admitted in his crusty fashion that he took the job because radio work paid well. However, according to biographer Hollis Alpert, “it was customary for Lionel to mask the sentimental side of his nature. Not only did he like Dickens as a writer, but he harbored hopes that Scrooge’s transformation might spark a few good or noble impulses among his hearers.” For 20 years, Barrymore played the “Christmas Carol” curmudgeon on the radio every Christmas Day except twice; once because of tragedy and once because of his great generosity. In 1936, Barrymore’s fortitude and his sentimental side were sorely tested when his beloved wife, Irene, died on Christmas Eve. His brother,

John, stayed up with him that night to comfort him and then took his place the next day at the microphone to play Scrooge. Barrymore attended Christmas Mass, then collapsed from grief and spent several weeks at a sanitarium. It was a horrible end to a bad year, the year that Barrymore broke his hip at home. His recovery period was long and painful, and though he managed to walk again with a limp and a cane, his handicap would eventually put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Barrymore worried most about his career, expecting this injury would end it. Fortunately, MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer, who had a reputation for ruthlessness, was uncharacteristically kind to Lionel Barrymore. Mayer kept him on the payroll, even when the accounting department questioned it, and found Barrymore work in movies as a wheelchair-bound character— first in the Dr. Kildare series, and then in a number of major films. Barrymore’s career actually thrived after his injury. He arguably became the most famous and successful wheelchair-bound person in the U.S., considering most

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

TODAY CLASSIC FILM FANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO IDENTIFY BARRYMORE IN A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS ROLE: THE EVIL MR. POTTER IN “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”. Americans in the 1930s were not aware of how dependent President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was on his wheelchair.

AN ACT OF GENEROSITY In 1938, Barrymore had a second accident that would put him in a wheelchair for good. Once again, Mayer came to his rescue and promised that his screen version of “A Christmas Carol” would star Barrymore as Scrooge as soon as he was able to do the picture. But Barrymore knew there would be no recovery this time.

Despite his famously crusty exterior, he generously suggested MGM go ahead and make the movie on schedule but with Reginald Owen in the role. Furthermore, Barrymore made himself available on set to coach Owen. To help promote both the film and Owen in the role, Barrymore insisted Owen do the Christmas radio broadcast as Scrooge that year. The following year, in 1939, Barrymore was back at the mic for “A Christmas Carol” and would continue this annual role for the remainder of his life. He died in November 1954. However, today classic film fans are more likely to identify Barrymore in a different Christmas role: the evil Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). Interestingly, the annual Christmastime television broadcasts of “It’s a Wonderful Life” occurred long after his death, so Barrymore was ignorant of his future importance to classic film fans as Mr. Potter. But it was Mr.

Potter, not Mr. Scrooge, that became Barrymore’s lasting Christmas legacy. Scrooge embodied a Victorian Christmas, and Charles Dickens is often said to be the creator of the modern Christmas. But Mr. Potter is arguably a figure much more symbolic of the 21st-century era—cynical, greedy, unrepentant and unpunished. He revels in his meanness and believes that his very

self-interestedness gives him actual omnipotence. Unlike Scrooge, Mr. Potter never has a change of heart. In this Christmas film, George Bailey is the one with the epiphany in the movie. Though he does not vanquish Mr. Potter by destroying the villain, he does something through his epiphany which is perhaps more realistic—he cheerfully renders Mr. Potter totally irrelevant. ■

True story! After Careful Consideration… Shelly Smith

Owner & Loan Originator NMLS # 273372 shelly@tcfinance.net

“Bob Schmidt” first stopped into my office unannounced about 5 years ago. Approaching his 80’s he just wanted to talk about the potential of a reverse mortgage. He made sure I understood he was a long way from actually doing one. He explained his home was free and clear and he was very proud of that accomplishment – as well he should be. Bob was a meticulous man who had a comfortable retirement income and a good nest egg. We talked for 45 minutes that day about his life, his career before retirement, his wife, his kids, and his plans for the future. The biggest part of those plans was to make sure his wife who was 15 years his junior was well taken care of after he passed away. He reasoned that typically the man seems to pass away first and given he was older than her and had already survived a bout of

cancer, he naturally assumed that would more than likely be the case. We went over the ins and outs of the program that day, talked about approximately the amount of money he could get from the reverse, and he thanked me and left. Over the course of the next year, Mr. Schmidt would call from time to time with questions. I would answer them, he would thank me, and then say goodbye. One day, he stopped in again. On this day, he said, “Shelly, my wife and I would like to buy a vacation home in Arizona! But we don’t want a payment on it! I think maybe the reverse could make that happen! We talked about the properties he had been looking at in Arizona, their cost, and how all that would work. He thanked me and said goodbye ????. I would say another 6 months went by when Mr. Schmidt stopped in again. “Well, hello Bob”, I said, how have you been?” “Well, Shelly…….after careful consideration we have decided to go ahead with the reverse.” Sometimes, getting a reverse is an easy decision, but sometimes it isn’t! It can be a process and often, timing is everything. Some people need a reverse……. situations where just getting by every

month is financially difficult, but some people, like Bob, want a reverse. Both are good reasons! If you or a loved one needs to sit down and talk about what the future looks like for them, give me a call, I’m happy to do just that.

as Merry Christm a u o y g in h is W ew Year! N y p p a H a d n a

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WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 2021 |

MeSa County December 2

CALENDAR

December 4

Honky Tonk Christmas

Jam out with Curtis Grimes, William Michael Morgan and David Adam Byrnes at their Honky Tonk Christmas Tour held at Warehouse25sixty-five. 7-10 p.m. | 2565 American Way, Grand Junction | $10-$20 | 970-6284321

Parade of Lights

Get in the holiday spirit by cheering on the Candyland themed floats in Grand Junction’s downtown Christmas Parade of Lights. 5 p.m. | Main St., Grand Junction | Free |

December 3

Potluck & Gift Exchange

Enjoy beer, potluck dinner and good cheer at Copper Club Brewing Company! Bring a wrapped gift and a holiday dish to share. 6 p.m. | 153 N. Mulberry St., Fruita | 970-858-8318 | www.copperclub brew.com

and baked goods at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 2785 Hwy 50, Grand Junction | www.coloradolavender. org

December 3-4

December 4

It’s time to celebrate Christmas in Palisade with a tree lighting, carols, parade, food and market place! Plus, vote for the best gingerbread house. 5-8 p.m. Friday/10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday | Third and Main St., Palisade | Free | www.palisadecoc.com | 970-464-7458

Craft a Christmas wreath of your choice at Raspberry Hill. All tools and supplies provided. Register in advance. 4-6 p.m. | 1224 O ½ Road, Loma | $40 | 970-901-1363 | www.raspberry hillboutique.com

Lavender & Artisan Fair

Shop lavender, quality artisan gifts

December 7

December 5

Enjoy winter and holiday classics from the Colorado Mesa University’s talented musicians and choirs at Moss Performing Arts Center. 7:30 p.m. | 1100 North Ave., Grand Junction | $10-$12 | www.colorado mesa.edu/tickets | 970-248-1822

Shop jewelry, baked goods, handcrafted items and more at Calvary Chapel Grand Junction’s bazaar. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | 492 Morning Glory Ave., Grand Junction | Free | 970-243-2579

December 5

Black Poppy Gallery celebrates its opening with snacks, refreshments and a round-up of local art talent. 5-10 p.m. | 530 Main St., Grand Junction | Free | www.facebook. com/blackpoppy530

Christmas Wreath Workshop

December 4

Christmas Market

Bella Bolettino Farms features a carefully curated market featuring

44 | CALENDAR | DECEMBER 2021 |

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ers at Western Colorado Writers’ Forum. 6-7:30 p.m. | 443 N. 6th St., Grand Junction | Free | www.westerncolor adowriters.org

Christmas Bazaar

Get your pet micro-chipped at Roice-Hurst Humane Society. Call to make an appointment. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | 362 28 Road, Grand Junction | $15 | 970-434-7337 |

Gallery Grand Opening

December 4

Roice-Hurst Microchip Clinic

December 3

Olde Fashioned Christmas

local artists, handmade gifts, food and more. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | 3857 N. River Road, Palisade | Free | 970-261-7620

Christmas Wreath Run

Mesa Monument Striders invites runners to take the 7-mile D3 trail loop up to Devil’s Cabin and decorate it for the holidays. 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Devils Canyon Trailhead, Fruita | www.mesamon umentstriders.com

December 7

Colorado Gives Day

Celebrate and support local nonprofits in your community for a statewide day of local giving. www.coloradogives.org/COGIVES DAY

December 7

Writer’s Open Mic

Take the mic with your short works and poetry, or listen to fellow writ-

Holiday Choral Concert

December 8 Medicare 101

Register to learn if, when and how to enroll in Medicare from a trained and unbiased SHIP counselor. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 422 White Ave., Grand Junction | Free | 970-2439839 ext. 1

December 8 50+ Light Tour

Adults 50 and older are invited to hop on a bus at Lincoln Park Barn and enjoy the city’s best holiday light displays, plus hot chocolate, goodies and entertainment. Register in advance. 5:15 p.m. | 910 N. 12th St., Grand Junction | $7 | www. gjpr.org/holidaylighttour | 970-254-3876

CALENDAR

December 9

December 22-24

December 11-12, 18-19, 24 & 26

Local Flora & Fauna

Molly Murphy gives a presentation on “Flora and Fauna of the Colorado National Monument.” 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 536 Ouray Ave., Grand Junction | Free | www.chinle cactusclub.org

The Nutcracker

Absolute Dance performs this holiday ballet classic at Robinson Theatre on Colorado Mesa University’s campus. 1-2:30 p.m./7-8:30 p.m. | 1100 North Ave., Grand Junction | $12-$25 | https://27124.danceticketing.com | 970-255-8322

Christmas Train Show

Don’t miss the Grand Valley Model Railroad Club’s Christmas train show at Cross Orchards Museum, complete with miniature towns decked up in Christmas décor. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 3073 F Road, Grand Junction | $2-$10 | www. grandvalleymodelrailroadclub. com

December 9

Handcrafted Stationery Class

Learn how to create your own handcrafted stationery using a variety of supplies and techniques. 6:30-7:30 p.m. | 443 N. 6th St., Grand Junction | Free | 970-243-4442

9 a.m.-4 p.m. | 3063 F ½ Road, Grand Junction | Free | 970-254-5870

December 10-11, 17-18

December 11

Elf, the Musical

Fruita Winter Wonderland

Grand Junction High School presents the hilarious tale of Buddy—a man who believes he’s a Christmas elf. Matinee showings on Saturdays. 1-3:30 p.m./7-9:15 p.m. | 1400 N. Fifth St., Grand Junction | $10-$13 | https://gjhsdrama.square.site/s/ shop

Downtown Fruita invites you to celebrate the holidays with a Winter Wonderland-themed Parade of Lights and tree lighting. 5:30 p.m. | Downtown Fruita | Free | www.fruitachamber.org | 970-8583894

December 11

December 12

Run or walk a 5k to fund inclusive playground equipment. First 300 entrants receive Santa suit or shirt. 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | 925 Struthers Ave., Grand Junction | $30-$40 | www.gjpr.org | 970-254-3876

Join Monumental Beer Works for ornament decorating! All materials and first beer included. Must register for time slot. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | 2575 Hwy 6 & 50, Grand Junction | $15 | 970-462-7411

Ornament Decorating

Santa Cause Run

December 13

December 11

Renters’ Rights Workshop

Winter craft show

Thunder Mountain Elementary’s craft show features vendor giveaways, bake sale, gift raffle, food truck and fun activities for kids.

u o y k n Tha

Learn about eviction laws and tenant rights in Colorado. Register online. 5-6:30 p.m. | 443 N. 6th St., Grand Junction | Free | www.mesacounty libraries.org

December 31 Mamma Mia!

December 14

Christmas Concert

Enjoy a Christmas concert featuring Bookcliff Barbershop Harmony Chorus and Grand Mesa A Capella. 7-9 p.m. | 720 Grand Ave., Grand Junction | 970-257-7664

Sing along to your favorite ABBA tunes with High Desert Opera’s reprise of Mamma Mia at Colorado Mesa University’s Robinson Theatre. 7-10 p.m. | 1100 North Ave., Grand Junction | $15-$40 | www.high desertopera.org/tickets.html | 970523-9605

December 16

December 15

Wine & Cheese

Holiday in Vienna

Carlson Vineyards hosts a holiday-themed charcuterie class, wine tasting and-shopping experience. 5:30-8:30 p.m. | 545 Main St., Grand Junction | $85 | 970-464-5554

This enchanted holiday concert features works by Strauss, performed by the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra at the Avalon Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. | 645 Main St., Grand Junction | $15-$45 | 970-263-5757 | www.avalontheatregj.com n

December 21

National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation”

Don a festive sweater and watch this modern classic along with hors d’oeuvre, popcorn and a drink. 7:30 p.m. | 645 Main St., Grand Junction | $25 | 970-263-5757 | www.avalontheatregj.com

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MeSa County

CLUBS

American Association of University Women meets monthly. Call for location. 2nd Saturday | 11:30 a.m. | 970-261-2112

Cups Club meets at The Artful Cup, Grand Junction. Make friends through cards, games, talk and tea. Wednesdays | 2 p.m. | 970-2572390

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

970-261-1952

Bookcliff Barbershop Chorus welcomes men of all ages to First Baptist Church, Grand Junction. Tuesdays | 7-9 p.m. | 970-257-7664

Daughters of the American Revolution, Mount Garfield Chapter, meets monthly. Call for location. 719-580-0948

Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at The Commons of Hilltop Garden Room in Grand Junction. Tuesdays | 6:45 a.m. | 970-361-1806

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

Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Grand Junction. Wednesdays & Fridays | 12:45 p.m. | 970-244-9989

Explorer’s Bible Study, open to all women, studies the book of Genesis at Redlands Community Church. Wednesdays | 9:30-11:15 a.m. | 970-260-0880

Grand Valley Pets Alive meets at Church of the Nativity in Grand Junction. 3rd Wednesday | 2-3:30 p.m. | 970462-7554

Citizens’ Climate Lobby meets monthly online via Zoom. Check Facebook page for details. 970-250-4832 | grandjunction@ citizensclimatelobby.org | facebook. com/ CCLGJ

Fleet Reserve Association meets at VFW #3981 in Grand Junction. Former, retired and active sea service, U.S. Navy, Marines or Coast Guard welcome. 2nd Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 970-434-0868

Grand Valley Woodcarvers meets at Redlands Methodist Church. 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 6 p.m. | 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 1 p.m. | 970-245-8817 or 970-257-1549

Clifton Book Club meets virtually or in person to discuss “Jeeves and the King of Clubs” by Ben Schott. Register online. 2nd Tuesday | 10-11 a.m. | www. mesacountylibraries.org

Friendship Force meets at New Covenant Baptist Church in Grand Junction on odd-numbered months. 3rd Thursday | 6 p.m. | 214-536-2250 | www.ffwcolo.com

Colorado Archaeological Society Grand Junction meets monthly. Call for location. 2nd Monday | 6:30-9 p.m. | 970-433-4312 | www.meetup.com/ CAS-GJ/ events Crafting Club meets at Clifton Library. 3rd Tuesday | 2-3 p.m. | 970-434-6936 Cribbage Lite meets at IHOP. Tuesdays | 5:30 p.m. | 970-201-7823

Grand Valley Woodturners meets at Redlands Methodist Church. 2nd Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 970-2458817 Great Old Broads for Wilderness meets monthly. Call for details. 970-596-8510

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

Guys’ Giving Club meets quarterly at Springhill Suites, Grand Junction. 1st Tuesday in February, May, August, November | 5:15 p.m. | 970-243-8829 or 970-270-6184

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

Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction meets at Warehouse 25sixty-five in Grand Junction Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 970-260-8664

Grand Junction Brush & Palette Club meets at The Art Center. 3rd Thursday | 1 p.m. | www.gjbrushandpalette.org

Knights of Columbus #1062 meets at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Hall in Grand Junction. 2nd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. |

There’s no place like home for the holidays

y Season a id ol H l fu er d on W a ou We wish y New Year! s ou er sp o r P d n a y p p a and a H Your friends at Stellar Realty

Angela Ingle

970-640-4882

Mark Shaw

970-261-6099

Lori Dearth

970-250-2961

StellarRealtyGJ.com 46 | CLUBS | DECEMBER 2021 |

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Knitting Club meets at Community of Christ Church in Grand Junction. 4th Tuesday | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-623-1455

Newcomers Club meets at Grand Valley Event Center, 2400 Consistory Court, Grand Junction 2nd Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. | 970549-0440 | www.gjnewcomers.org Not Going Quietly, a space of empowerment, community and grace for adults 60+, meets at Koinonia, 730 25 Road, Grand Junction. 2nd & 4th Tuesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-433-7799 | www.cslgj.org Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets at the Eagles Lodge in Grand Junction. 1st & 3rd Monday | 7 p.m. | 970-208-9228 Questers, Grand Mesa Peaches, hosts speakers on collecting and restoring antiques. Call for details. 970-256-9580 River City Singles meet weekly at the Moose Lodge in Grand Junction. Fridays | 4:30 p.m. | 970-210-2390 Rotary Club of Grand Junction meets weekly at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction. Wednesdays | 12-1:15 p.m. | 970-234-5030 SOS: Singles over 65 is an active, hip social club for single seniors! www.meetup.com/singles-over-65

Sweet Adelines, Grand Mesa A Capella Chorus, sings four-part barbershop harmony and rehearses at Redlands United Methodist Church. Mondays | 6:30-9 p.m. | 970-2451837 | www.grandmesaacappella. com

Western Colorado Decorative Artists meets at First Congregational Church in Grand Junction. 2nd Saturday | 9 a.m. | 970-6402751

Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets weekly. Call for location. Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 970-361-1806

Western Slope Coin Club meets at VFW #1247 in Grand Junction. 4th Tuesday | Free currency evaluation at 5:30 p.m. | Meeting at 6:30 p.m. | 970-250-7036

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

Western Slope Liberty Toastmasters meets at Chronos Builders in Grand Junction. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-361-1806

Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets at Grand Junction Masonic Center. Thursdays | 970-261-1670

Western Slope Model Yacht Club meets at Canyon View Park’s north pond. Saturdays | 10 a.m. | 970-2432957

Veterans Coffee Club meets weekly at Western Region One Source in Grand Junction. Tuesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 970-257-3760 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) #3981 meets at the Post Hall, 503 Florence Road, in Grand Junction. 1st Wednesday | 5:30 p.m. | 970-778-8242 Western Colorado Amateur Radio Club meets at First Christian Church in Grand Junction. 2nd Saturday | 9:30 a.m. | www.w0rrz.org Western Colorado Astronomy Club meets at Mesa County Libraries’ Central Branch. 1st Tuesday | 6 p.m. | 970-201-2865 | www.wcacastronomy.org

Western Slope Pickleball Club meets regularly. Visit website for details. 970-241-8561 | www.western slopepickleballclub.com Wheels West Car Club meets at the Grand Junction Moose Lodge. 1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | www.wheelswestcarclub.org Yoga for Military Members, at Western Region One Source, offers a free yoga class for military members and their families. Wednesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 970-257-3760 ■

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

Pets deserve a spa day too!

Month

Compiled by Jan Weeks

What toy did you love growing up? Toni Ray – Palisade “My favorite ‘toy’ was a small Crosley, a real car. We lived in the country and I learned to drive when I was six. My sister, cousin and I used to drive it all over. We wore that one out, the second Crosley caught fire and we outgrew the third one!”

Eileen Lepisto – Grand Junction “I was never a doll person. My brothers’ toys like cars and trucks were my favorites, and I always got in trouble for it. My own favorite toy was my bike because I could keep up with my brothers.”

Michael Wallace – Grand Junction “My favorite toys were Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys because I like to work with my hands. I went into construction as an adult after teaching high school math and science for a while. I was much better at construction!”

Gloria Cox – Grand Junction

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MeSa County The Lodge names Scott Saunders new Executive Director

The Lodge at Grand Junction announced Scott Saunders as the senior living community’s new Executive Director, who will oversee operations for the community’s assisted living and memory care residences. A Grand Valley native, Saunders has worked in senior health care on the Western Slope for more than 17 years. To learn more about the Lodge, visit www. thelodgeatgrandjunction.com or call 970-716-6092.

AARP’s free tax assistance starts in February

Thinking about doing taxes for next year? AARP/TaxAide certified volunteers will be available to do free tax preparation beginning February 1, 2022. All tax returns will be done at Wells Fargo, 359 Main St. in Grand Junction Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Parking will be available on the west side of the parking lot. An appointment system will be introduced for in-person returns.

BEACON BITS

No income limits; AARP membership is not required. For details, call 970-216-0861.

Colorado Gives Day is December 7

ColoradoGives.org is a year-round giving tool that strengthens almost 3,000 Colorado nonprofits. Every nonprofit receiving a donation on Colorado Gives Day receives a portion of the $1.6 million incentive fund, increasing the impact of every donation. Colorado Gives Day has raised more than $419 million for Colorado nonprofits since 2010. Visit www.coloradogives.org/ cogivesday to support local nonprofits on December 7.

Western Healthcare Alliance names new CIO

Western Healthcare Alliance (WHA) announced Tom Northey as the new Chief Innovation Officer. Northey is responsible for transformation initiatives, including the development and support of information strategies, data analytics and value-based care solutions. With over 25 years’ experience in health care, Northey brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. To learn more, visit www.wha1.org.

Groundbreaking started on new hydro plant

The 88-year-old Grand Valley Power Plant was shut down and groundbreaking was held on October 29 for a new hydro power plant which

A Little Help’s Service Saturday aids local seniors On November 13, A Little Help held Service Saturday in Grand Junction, where volunteers assisted older neighbors with seasonal yard work needs. If you’re interested in volunteering to help older neighbors thrive, call A Little Help’s office at 970-404-1923. will be in operation in late 2022. The new hydro plant, the Vinelands Power Plant, will be another clean energy generator providing even more power to the grid than its predecessor. The new facility, which will be built in front of the historic plant, was approved by voters earlier this year for $8.3 million. Learn more at www.historicpalisade .org.

Deb Bailey with VA named CMU Distinguished Alumni

Once a year, two alumni are chosen for Colorado Mesa University’s Distinguished Alumni Award for their community involvement, professional accomplishments and their continued association with CMU. Deb Bailey was one of two Mavericks honored with this award. Bailey has been the Director of Women Veterans Primary Care at the VA since January 2018. She graduated from Mesa State in 1980 with her Associate of Science in Nursing, again in 1987 with a Bachelor of

Science degree in Nursing and came back to lead the Health Science Department as the Director from 2012- 2017. For more information, call 970-244-1324.

Housing Resources selects new Executive Director Housing Resources of Western Colorado (HRWC) announced the selection of Emilee Powell as its new Executive Director. Powell has worked in the affordable housing and community development field for more than 20 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge not only to HRWC but to Western Colorado. Learn more about Housing Resources at www.hrwco.org

Spread Holiday Cheer, not Viruses.

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48 | BEACON BITS | DECEMBER 2021 |

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BEACON BITS

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Help plan the future of Horizon Park

Grand Junction Parks and Recreation is currently developing a Master Plan for Horizon Park located at 731 27 Road and needs your input! Join for phase 3 of the planning process, where a final plan and design will be shared with the public. If you aren’t able to attend an in-person meeting, check www.gjpr. org/horizonpark after each meeting to see the draft concepts and leave your feedback. The next Phase 3 public meeting is December 14, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. at Fire Station #6, 729 27 Road, Grand Junction. Call 970-254-3866 with questions.

New little library installed at Las Colonias

A Little Free Library was installed at Las Colonias near the Confluence Shelter by the botanical gardens. This little library replaces an old kiosk where books have been shared by community members for many years. The new kiosk is in honor of Jeanne Marie Finch, a Grand Junction resident who died September 16, 2020. She worked for the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel from 1971 to 1998 and had a passion for reading and teaching. For details, call Grand Junction Parks and Recreation at 970-254-3866.

FEMA provides for COVID-19 related funeral expenses

FEMA continues to provide financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020 for deaths related to COVID-19. Assistance includes reimbursement for cremation, burial expenses, transfer of remains, markers or headstones and other costs. Up to $9,000 per funeral is available for eligible expenses, with a maximum of $35,500 per application. To apply, call FEMA at 844-684-6333, TTY: 800-4627585 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. For details, visit www. fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/ economic/funeral-assistance. ■

A Little Help volunteers help older adults with errands, home services and more. 970-404-1923 | tanya@alittle help.org Colorado Master Gardeners teach landscape and gardening at CSU Extension. 970-244-1834 | https://tra. extension.colostate.edu Food Bank of the Rockies volunteers serve in various positions. www.foodbankrockies.org/west ern-slope-volunteer | 970-464-1138 Foster Grandparents 55+ help in school classrooms and may be eligible for a tax-free stipend. Call 970-298-9092 Grand Junction Visitor Center tourism ambassadors welcome visitors to the Grand Valley. www.visitgrandjunction.com | 970-256-4054 Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of its member agencies. www.rsvpgrandjunction.com | 970-243-9839, ext. 5 Mesa County Spellbinders tell stories to kids in kindergarten through fifth grade once a month during the school year. www.spellbinders.org | 970-243-7303

Going home for the holidays? Help your loved ones age in place.

We specialize in home modifications to make any space safer and more accessible ❆ Ramps ❆ Indoor / Outdoor Lifts ❆ Bathroom Safety ❆ Barrier-Free Showers ❆ Easy-Access Kitchen Design ❆ Full Home Remodels to Single Area Renovations

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MOPS Kids volunteers watch children during MOPS meetings at Canyon View Vineyard Church. Call 970-549-6637 Museum of Western Colorado has a variety of hands-on and behind the scenes opportunities. www.museumofwesternco.com | info@westcomuseum.org Operation Interdependence volunteers hand-write notes sent to U.S. military men and women. carley@oidelivers.org | 970-523-4217 Senior Companions 55+ provide friendship and drive homebound seniors to errands/appointments. Call 970-298-9092

970-462-9472

FREE home assessment during December! WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 2021 | BEACON BITS |

SUPPORT GROUPS

MeSa Montrose County & Delta Caregiver Connections meets on Zoom. Tuesdays | 10-11:30 a.m. | 970-257-2390 Caregiver Support Group meets at Cappella Grand Junction. Call to RSVP. 1st Thursday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-822-7070 Caregiver Support Group meets at Aspen Ridge Care Center. 2nd Tuesday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-640-7416 Come Back Yoga is open to veterans and their caregivers at Western Region One Source. Wednesdays | 2:15-3:15 p.m. | 970-257-3764 Compassionate Friends offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents at Unity Church. 1st Tuesday | 7-8:30 p.m. | 970-434-3822 Gamblers Anonymous’ 12-step meeting is held at The Meeting Hall, 1938 N. First St. in Grand Junction. Tuesdays | 7-8 p.m. | 917-363-3719 GriefShare, a nondenominational Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one, meets at Clifton Christian Church, 3241 F 1⁄4 Road. Mondays | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 970-628-1453

Grief Group for Pets meets at Roice-Hurst Humane Society, 362 28 Road. 2nd Wednesday, bi-monthly | 6-7 p.m. | 970-434-7337, ext. 103

970-298-2351

Head & Neck Cancer Support Group meets at Colorado West Otolaryngologists (St. Mary’s Hospital). 1st Tuesday | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-245-2400

Mending Hearts is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Call for location. Thursdays | 2-3:30 p.m. | 970-257-2390

Healing Hands Hour meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room. Thursdays | 12-1 p.m. | 970-2982351 Hearing Loss of America, Western Colorado Chapter, meets at the Center for Independence, 740 Gunnison Ave. 2nd Saturday | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 970-241-0315 ext. 29 HEARTBEAT/Survivors After Suicide meets at First Congregational Church, 1425 N. Fifth St. 3rd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | 970-778-9274 Job Searching After 50 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. | 970-248-7560 Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma Support Group meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room. 3rd Monday | 4-5 p.m. |

50 | SUPPORT GROUPS | DECEMBER 2021 |

MACHO Men cancer support group meets at the VA Medical Center In-Patient Dining, 2121 North Ave. 1st Thursday | 2 p.m. | 970-298-2351

Mindful Pain Management meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road. Fridays | 1 p.m. | 970-257-3764 MS Breakfast Group meets at Village Inn, 757 Horizon Drive. 1st Tuesday | 9 a.m. | 970-985-4935 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) meets at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fruita. 4th Tuesday | 6-7:30 p.m. | www.NAMIWS.org | 970-462-3989 Parents (Family) of Addicted Loved Ones meets at Four Winds, 1235 Bookcliff Ave. Thursdays | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-216-2232 PTSD Support Group meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road. Tuesdays | 10:30 a.m. | 970-257-3764 TOPS Club weight-loss support group meets at Grace Point Church, 606 28 3⁄4 Road.

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Wednesdays | 9 a.m. | 970-5230241 TOPS Colorado 458 weight-loss support group meets at Community of Christ Church, 2880 B 1/2 Road. Tuesdays | 5 p.m. | 970-628-4981 Veteran Coffee Club meets at Western Region One Source. Wednesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 970-257-3764 Veteran Peer Support meets weekly at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road. Wednesdays | 2-3 p.m. | 970-257-3764 Veteran Spouses Grief and Loss ladies-only support group meets at the Grand Junction Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Wednesdays | 9-10:30 a.m. | 970-263-8986 Woman to Woman cancer support group meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room. 3rd Thursday | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | 970-298-2351 Yoga For Life meets at the St. Mary’s Life Center Aerobics Room. Tuesdays | 5:30-6:45 p.m. | 970-298-2351 Yoga for Military Members, hosted at Western Region One Source, offers a free beginner yoga class for military members and their family Wednesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 970-257-3760 ■

FUN AFTER 50

Senior Center Activities Senior Recreation Center activities

To register for programs, call the Fruita Community Center at 970-858-0360 or visit www.fruita.org/parksrec/page/seniors

SPECIAL EVENTS All activities require pre-registration. Senior Potluck

Bring a dish to share with friends or contribute $3. Pre-registration required. 12 p.m. | December 2, 9 & 16 | $3

Christmas Light Tours

Enjoy Fruita’s Christmas lights, cocoa and cookies and vote for the best decorated house. Bus transportation provided; gratuity for bus driver encouraged. Register in advance as space is limited. 5:15 p.m. | December 7-9 | Meet at Senior Center | Free

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Bring 3 dozen holiday treats to share and exchange, going home with new yummy goodies! Must register in advance. 2 p.m. | December 17 |Free

Bingo

Come enjoy an afternoon of games and friends at the Senior Center. Must register in advance. 1 p.m. | December 20 | Free

Christmas-themed potluck

Enjoy a Christmas-themed potluck and bring a gift for the white elephant gift

exchange. Pre-registration required. 2 p.m. | December 23 | Free

Trail Tuesday

Meet at the Senior Center then head out to hike the easy 1.8-mile trail to Skinner Cabin. 1 p.m. | December 28 | $5

GAMES

To register for programs and for COVID-19 updates, call Grand Junction Parks and Recreation at 970-254-3866 or visit www.gjparksandrec.org.

SPECIAL EVENTS Holiday Light Tour

Enjoy hot chocolate, goodies, and festive entertainment by Lana Leigh and Co. before heading out to view the lights. Tour uses a regular school bus with three steps to enter. Must register in advance! 5:15-8 p.m. | December 8 | Meet at Lincoln Park Barn | $7

Chocolate Walk

Come play dominoes, puzzles and games of all kinds. 5 p.m. | 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | Free

Experience downtown Grand Junction’s holiday charm with a walking tour of Main Street, featuring your choice of either Art on the Corner Tour or History Tour. 5:30 p.m. | December 10 | Meet at Enstroms | $12

Pinochle

Santa Cause Run

Game Night

Join others for a game and afternoon with friends. 10 a.m. | Tuesdays & Fridays | Free

FITNESS Drop-ins welcome. Call for dates and times. Yoga Stretch

Increase your flexibility with a gentle yoga program using a chair.

Cardio Circuit

Get your heart pumping in this fun, high energy class.

Silver Sneakers Classic Have fun and move to the music through a variety of exercises.

Platinum Splashers

Slow the effects of aging with a unique water exercise class.

Run or walk a 5k to help fund inclusive playground equipment. First 300 people get a Santa suit or race shirt. Deadline is December 9. 10 a.m. | December 11 | Los Colonias Amphitheater | $30

Candy Cane Hunt

Come early for crafts, cookies and hot cocoa, then start hunting at 11 a.m. 10 a.m. | December 11 | Lincoln Park Barn | Free

FITNESS Gentle Active Yoga

This class is designed for active beginners and above. Variations, props and more challenging options are offered. Bring your own mat. 8-9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Fridays | Lincoln Park Barn | $50 for 10-punch pass, $7 drop-in

Indoor Drop-in Pickleball

Keep playing on these four indoor courts, also open 5:30-9:30 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays, and Saturdays from 4-7 p.m. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays | Bookcliff Activity Center | $50 for 10-punch pass, $7 drop-in n

550 Ouray Ave., Grand Junction 970-243-7408 Open to adults 50 and older 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Membership is $20 per year.

MONDAY 9:00 am Cribbage & Games 1:00 pm Card Bingo & Dominoes

TUESDAY 9:00 am Pool Tour & Games 1:30 pm Bingo

WEDNESDAY 9:00 am 9:30 am 1:00 pm

Games Pool Pinochle & Canasta (Register for Pinochle by calling 8-11 am)

THURSDAY 12:00 pm Pokeno 1:00 pm Poker

FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. Pool Tour and Games 12:45 p.m. Bridge 1:00 p.m. Canasta

SATURDAY 8:00 am Bridge 9:00 am Games 1:00 pm Bingo

Games cost 50 cents to play. We are trying to extend games we play, so bring your favorites. Please wear a mask if you aren’t vaccinated.

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

Montrose & Delta

CALENDAR

December 2

December 3

Bring the grandkids to the Montrose Regional Library for a talk about sled dog racing and what it was like during the time period of “The Call of the Wild.” Plus, take a picture with a sled dog. 6-7:30 p.m. | 320 S. 2nd St., Montrose | Free | 970-249-9656

Christmas at the Historic Fort Uncompahgre portrays Christmas as it was celebrated in the 1830’s, complete with entertainment, carols and hot cocoa. 7-9 p.m. | 440 N. Palmer St., Delta | Free | 970-874-8349

NEA Big Read: Mush!

December 2-5

Christmas at the Fort

December 3

Art Gallery Opening Reception Head over to Montrose Center for the Arts to view ceramic, watercolor and more with original art available for purchase. 5-7 p.m. | 11 S. Park Ave., Montrose | Free | www.mc4arts.com | 970-787-9428

December 3

Virtual Jingle & Mingle “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Magic Circle Players brings this beloved holiday classic to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, recounting the tale of George Bailey’s fateful Christmas Eve. 2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday/7:30 p.m. | 420 S. 12th St., Montrose | $5-$10 | www.magiccircleplayers. com | 970-249-7838

December 3

Delta Parade of Lights

Enjoy the holiday lights and decorations with downtown Delta’s Parade of Lights and watch the tree lighting ceremony. 6-7 p.m. | Main St., Delta | Free | 970-874-8616

Enjoy a take-n-bake Italian dinner from Daveto’s, pop the cork of your complimentary bottle of wine, and tune into Jingle Mingle’s online entertainment or bid on its auction. 4:30-5:30 p.m. | 195 W. Main St., Cedaredge | $50 | www.grandmesa artscenter.com | 970-856-9195

December 3-4

Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival

Ute Indian Museum hosts its annual arts festival showcasing native American and area artists, silent auction, fry bread and all the holiday trimmings! 4 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | Free | 970-249-3098

Expect over-the-top fiery art shooting flames high into the night sky at the historic Pandora Mill and an array of performances held at The Palm Theater. See website for event schedule. www.telluridefirefestival.org

December 4

Montrose Parade of Lights

The Parade of Lights returns to Montrose’ Main Street with the festive theme “Home for the Holidays.” 5:30 p.m. | E. Main St., Montrose | Free | 970-240-1400

December 5, 11-12, 18-19, 26 “Christmas in the Clouds”

Watch this Christmas rom-com about a ski resort in Utah run by Native Americans featuring mistaken identities and intrusive guests. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | Free | 970-249-3098

Dec. 7, 12 & 22

December 4

Paonia Holiday Art Fair

Explore locally-made hand-crafted items, as well as food and family-friendly activities. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Grand Ave., Paonia | Free | www.northforkcreative.org/ holiday-art-fair

December 4-5 Christmas by Candlelight

The Valley Symphony Association orchestra and chorus present their annual Christmas Candlelight concert, featuring Christmas on Broadway and Film! 7:30 p.m. Saturday/3 p.m. Sunday | 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose | $20-$25 | www.valleysymphony. org | 970-275-8676

December 3-5

Telluride Fire Festival

Christmas Around the World with Harps

Montrose’s Harps in Motion Ensemble (which played at Montrose BeaconFest) performs their holiday concert on December 7 at St. Luke’s Church in Delta, December 12 at Pioneer Village in Cedaredge, and December 22 at Abundant Life Church in Montrose. All three concerts are free. Call or text for details. 12 p.m. December 7 (Delta) | 4 p.m. December 12 (Cedaredge) | 3 p.m. December 22 (Montrose) | 970-275-8996

Need a ride? All Points Transit can help! Now Providing Medicaid Rides! Local & Regional Service to Montrose & Grand Junction

Serving communities throughout Montrose, Delta, San Miguel & Ouray Counties Montrose, San Miguel, & Ouray Counties

Delta County

DAV Scheduling

970-249-0128 970-874-7334 970-240-4698 52 | CALENDAR | DECEMBER 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

www.AllPointsTransit.org

CALENDAR

December 7

December 11

Did you know oral health is closely related to overall health? Dr. Sophia Khan, DDS, shares ways to snack and sip your way to avoid tooth decay in this online seminar. 12-1 p.m. | Free | https://dental. cuanschutz.edu/seniororalhealth

Learn to create and take home a 108-bead mala necklace, perfect for an intentional holiday gift. 1-5 p.m. | 207 E. Main St., Montrose | $70 | 970-462-9977

Oral Health Seminar

December 7

Colorado Gives Day

Celebrate and support nonprofits in your community for a statewide day of local giving. www.coloradogives.org/cogivesday

December 9

Mala Making

December 11

The Messiah: A Christmas Oratorio

Enjoy classical Christmas music performed by North Fork Community Chorus at West Elk Family Church. 7 p.m. | 639 Samuel Wade Road, Paonia |$10 | www.bluesage.org | 970-527-7243

DIY Scribble Art

December 18

December 10-12

Usher in the holidays at Storm King Distilling Co. with a Christmas party featuring musical talent Cousin Curtiss. 7-10 p.m. | 41 W. Main St., Montrose | 970-765-5606

Enjoy art making perfect for the non-artist and artist alike at Seven Trees, supplies included. 5-7 p.m. | 217 Grand Ave., Paonia | $40 | 970-683-1609

The Polar Express

Weehawken Dance transports you along the legendary Christmas Eve train, bringing the story to the stage. 1 p.m. Saturday & Sunday /6 p.m. Friday & Saturday | 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose | $8 | www.wee hawkenarts.org

December 11

Winter Sky Painting Class

Bring a friend to enjoy a drink and paint a winter sky scene on canvas with expert guidance and step-bystep instructions. Pre-registration required. 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 209 E. Main St., Montrose | $38 | www.amazing glazeart.com | 970-252-7225

Schedule Your Screening (970) 252-2893

 

Christmas with Cousin Curtiss

December 19

Porcupine Quill Earrings Class

Make your very own porcupine quill earrings, taught by Amerson Woodie (Oglala Lakota/Navajo). Registration required. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | Free | 970-249-3098

December 31

New Year’s Eve Party

Join Upstairs at Precedence for a Roaring ’20s themed evening of live music by Swing City Express, dancing and ringing in the new year. 8-10:30 p.m. | 511 E. Main St., Montrose | $20-$30 | www.precedenceproductions.com | 970-209-0298

December 11 Holiday Craft Fair

Shop Christmas gifts and more at Partners Mentoring Youth’s craft fair in Delta. 1-4 p.m. | 511 E. 10th St., Delta | Free | www.partners-west.org n

SEE MORE EVENTS AT: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 2021 | CALENDAR |

Montrose & Delta Alpine Photography Club meets at Colorado Mesa University’s Montrose Campus, classroom 100. 2nd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | apcmontroseco@gmail.com Black Canyon Barbershop Chorus sings four-part a cappella at Olathe United Methodist Church. Thursdays | 7-8:30 p.m. Black Canyon Woodcarvers meets weekly at Montrose Senior Center. Thursdays | 1-3 p.m. | 970-323-5860 Book Club meets virtually through Montrose Regional Library. 1st Saturday | 9-10 a.m. | lmclean@montroselibrary.org Citizen’s Climate Lobby meets December 13 at Montrose Library’s meeting room. 5:30 p.m. | 970-765-9095 | montrose@citizensclimatelobby.org Crafternoon meets in Montrose Library’s meeting room. Members knit and crochet projects to donate to charities. Supplies provided. 1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays | 2:304:30 p.m. | 970-249-9656 Crafty Chatty members socialize and work on craft projects. Bring your own materials. Call for details. 970-249-7198 Columbine Quilters gather monthly for fellowship, show-and-tell and refreshments at 4 Hilcrest Plaza Way, Montrose.

CLUBS

1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | 970-4623849 | paulalakecity@gmail.com Delta Hub-Wheelers Square Dance Club seeks new dancers! Call to learn more. 970-773-4495 | deltawriter47@ gmail.com Friendship Quilters meet at Montrose County Fairgrounds’ Friendship Hall 4th Thursday | 9 a.m. | 970-4174842 Fore-Kin Trails Genealogical Society offers free help and resources with family history research at the Montrose Genealogy Center. Wednesdays & Thursdays | 1-4 p.m. | 970-240-1755 Kiwanis Club of Delta meets at Daveto’s for lunch. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays | 12 p.m. | 970-985-8413 Montrose Area Woodturners meets at 520 Collins Way, Montrose. 2nd Saturday | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970986-2550 | lvcribbs@charter.net Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets at Olathe Community Center. 3rd Friday | 7 p.m. | 970-417-6142 Montrose County Historical Society meets monthly in the Pioneer Room at Friendship Hall, 1001 N. Second St. 1st Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 970-2492085 | www.montrosehistory.org

Montrose Elks hosts Bingo at the Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Drive. Tuesdays | 6:30 p.m. | 970-249-4852 Montrose Model Aircraft Association fly remote-control planes every weekend. Beginners welcome. www.mmaa-modelairplanes.org | 970-765-0599 | mmaaflyer@gmail. com

San Juan Dance Club offers eight styles of dance lessons at Precedence Dance Academy in Montrose. Singles welcome. Thursdays | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | 970-252-9600 | patdouglas213@ yahoo.com

Delta Diabetes Support Group’s next meeting is January 11 at Grand Mesa Oncology’s Crag Crest room. 2nd Tuesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 970-874-6410

Veterans Coffee Cedaredge meets at The Pondy, 220 W. Main St. 3rd Tuesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-756-2210 | www.whafv.org Veterans Coffee Montrose meets at the Warrior Resource Center. Thursdays | 8-10 a.m. | 970-756-2210 | www.whafv.org Veterans Coffee Westend meets at the Nucla Airport.

970-874-9988

105 S.E. Frontier, Ste. F

HOTCHKISS 209 Bridge Street

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

TOPS Montrose weight-loss support group meets weekly at Hillcrest Congregational Church, 611 S. Hillcrest Drive. Mondays | 5 p.m. | 970-901-8697

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

PAONIA

311 Grand Avenue

970-856-3232 970-872-3151 970-527-3836 View our online obituaries at: www.TaylorFuneralService.com

54 | CLUBS | DECEMBER 2021 |

NAMI Family Support Group meets at the PIC Place, 87 Merchant Drive, Montrose. 3rd Wednesday | 5:30-7 p.m. | 970-520-282-9060

Email your Club and Support Group meeting information to

May the quiet peace of Christmas fill your heart and home. CEDAREDGE

SUPPORT GROUPS

COVID-19 Grief Group meets monthly in the Touch of Care Conference Room at 1100 E. Main St., Montrose. 1st Tuesday | 12 or 5:30 p.m. | 970-787-9988

Christmas is a time for remembering, and we will soon be lighting a candle in our funeral home for all the families we have served this past year. As you enjoy this Christmas season, we hope this gesture will serve to remind you of holidays past and the importance of family.

DELTA

Western Slope 4 Wheelers meets at Montrose Rod & Gun Club’s indoor range, 1211 6450 Road. 1st Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 970-209-5326 ■

Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances at Montrose Pavilion. Dancers of all ages are welcome. 2nd & 4th Saturdays | 7:30-11 p.m. | $5 | 970-252-7172

LIGHT A CANDLE OF

682 1725 Road

2nd Wednesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-756-2210 | www.whafv.org

L VE

FUN AFTER 50

Senior Center Activities

Ceramics and Crafters Day

To register for programs, call 970-252-4884 or visit www.montroserec.com

LECTURES Legend of Neosho Mine

Hear the intriguing story of this first mining claim that began in 1895 and became a Ouray legend by 1925. 1 p.m. | December 7 | Senior Center

TRIPS & TOURS Barrel Tasting

Every year Alfred Eames Cellars partners with Pam’s Jammin’ for their annual Barrel Tasting. Enjoy appetizers, live music, and wine tastings with gift baskets available for purchase. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | December 4 | $21 | Meet at Field House

Hike Riversage Scenic Loop

Explore a number of trails, such as Stage Coach Trail, in Dennis Weaver Memorial Park followed by lunch in Ridgway. Expect scenic views and 2.5 miles of moderate hiking. Bring sack lunch or lunch money. 9:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | December 9 | $17 | Meet at Senior Center

Holiday Lights and Dinner

Enjoy a great display of holiday lights put on by Montrose community members and dinner at Rib City. If unable to drive, pick-up is available. 4:45-8 p.m. | December 19 | $27 | Meet at Senior Center

ACTIVITIES Golden Circle Friends

Bring your lunch and make new friends. Call for more info. 12 p.m. | 970-901-9914

Bring your own craft project and supplies. For ceramics, bring your own piece or purchase from us. We provide acrylic paints, finishing sprays, glazes, and will fire your pieces. 12-3 p.m. | Wednesdays | Senior Center Craft Room

Jam Session / Sing Along

Do you play an instrument and/or sing? This casual group takes turns picking and leading a song. Spectators welcome. 4-6 p.m. | Mondays | Senior Center

Garment Sewing Group

Refresh your skills, exchange ideas and connect with others who love to sew. 9:45 a.m.-12 p.m. | December 16 | Senior Center

FITNESS Line Dancing

Learn line dancing steps with formal instruction. 4-6 p.m. | Mondays | $2 | Senior Center

Stretch Exercise

Increase flexibility and energy in this taped program. 9-9:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays | Free | Senior Center

Moving with Mike

This DVD-led workout includes a warmup, 20-minute workout, and a 5-minute stretch/cool down. 9-9:30 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays | Free | Senior Center n

Silver Sneakers Classic

Strengthen muscles and increase range of movement. 10 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Body Blitz

To register for programs, call 970-874-0923 or visit www.cityofdelta.net/parksrecgolf

CLASSES Tuesday Needlers

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

Pinochle

1-4 p.m. | Tuesdays | $15

Dominoes

1-3 p.m. | Wednesdays | $15

Party Bridge Club

1-4 p.m. | Thursdays | $15

Chess Club

5:30-8 p.m. | Tuesdays | Free

FITNESS Indoor Pickleball

Play this fun sport with an even funnier name. 7:30-11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays | 12:30-3 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Pilates

Low-impact movements that improve flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. 12 p.m. Mondays | 9 a.m. Fridays

Senior Circuit

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

Body Bar

Cross-train with this quick-paced muscle conditioning class. 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays | 9 a.m. Thursdays

Yoga Fusion

This vinyasa flow style class blends yoga, Pilates and barre elements. 12 p.m. | Tuesdays

POOL FITNESS Monday Movers

Jumpstart your week with a mid to high-intensity cardio and strength training water class. 5:30 p.m. | Mondays

Pool Power

Workout in shallow water to focus and tone problem areas. 9:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Body & Health

Enjoy a combination of aerobic and full-body workout in the pool. 10:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Light-n-Lively

Build endurance and strength, designed for beginners. 10 a.m. | Tuesdays and Thursdays

Full Body Cardio

Tone those muscles, pump up that heart, and get an overall good workout with water jogging, river running, jumping jacks and lunges. 5:30 p.m. | Tuesdays and Thursdays

Silver Sneakers Splash

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

A fun shallow-water exercise class that uses a signature splash-board to increase movement. Suitable for non-swimmers. 8:30 a.m. | Mondays & Wednesdays

Healthy Body Strong Bones

Water Zumba

Use simple hand weights to help increase flexibility, balance and bone strength. 9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Enjoy a dance party in the pool, fun for all fitness levels. 5:30 p.m. | Wednesdays n

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

Montrose & Delta Montrose Memorial Hospital changes name to Montrose Regional Health

Montrose Memorial Hospital rebranded this fall, changing its name to Montrose Regional Health (MRH) in an effort to better reflect its scope of services on the western slope. The hospital rebrand also brings a new website, www. montrosehealth.com. Along with physicians, MRH provides services in 23 specialties and sub-specialties, including joint replacement, complete cancer care, cardiology, rehabilitation and others. For questions, call 970-249-2211.

FEMA provides for COVID-19 related funeral expenses

BEACON BITS Delta humane society seeks foster homes

Extraordinary nurses recognized at Delta Health Four nurses at Delta Health were honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every single day. This quarter’s DAISY nominees were: Rebekah Wilson, Mindy Smith and Lisa Garcia (Abila). The overall DAISY Award winner for the fourth quarter was Theresa Wrich, RN from Delta Health Oncology and Infusion. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize nurses who go above and beyond in the care for their patients. To nominate a nurse of remains, markers or headstones and other costs. Up to $9,000 per funeral is available for eligible expenses, with a maximum of $35,500 per application. To apply, call FEMA

for a DAISY Award, go online to www.deltahealthco.org/beedaisy-awards and submit a digital nomination form. Nomination forms can also be found throughout the hospital. Delta Health will honor their next quarter nominees for October, November and December in January 2022. at 844-684-6333, TTY: 800-4627585 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. For details, visit www. fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/ economic/funeral-assistance.

Roice-Hurst Humane Society is looking for foster homes in the Delta area. Foster homes house pets that are not reclaimed and ultimately enter Roice-Hursts’ adoption program. The organization provides the supplies and health care. For more information, please visit www.delta.RHhumanesociety. org or call 970-874-1078.

Museum of the Mountain West receives $18,000 grant Museum of the Mountain West in Montrose recently received a $18,000 grant from Colorado Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The museum was one of 79 recipients in Colorado, and plans to use the funds to search for and hire a deputy executive director in 2022. The deputy executive director would oversee the day-to-day operations

MONTHLY SPECIALS! Merry Christmas from

Colorow Care Center

Colorow is a skilled nursing facility that believes in healthy living, person-centered care and nontraditional approaches for therapy and long term care in meeting everyday needs. PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, SPEECH THERAPY 855 S. Hwy 50 Business Loop Olathe, CO 81425

Small Chicken Fried Steak

w/Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and Vegetables

Pufferbelly Station 970-242-1600 337 S. 1st Street

DELTA

970-249-7787 1320 S. Townsend Avenue

56 | BEACON BITS | DECEMBER 2021 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

w/French Fries and a Soda

Offers good thru 12/31/2021

GRAND JUNCTION

MONTROSE

We Accept: • Medicare • Medicaid • RMHMO • Private Pay • PACE • And More

Cheeseburger

$ 25 each!

970-434-0777 3247 F Road

www.vivage.com/Colorow

w/Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and Vegetables

Your Choice

CLIFTON

970-323-5504

Hot Roast Beef Sandwich

www.Starvin-Arvins.com

970-858-8444 555 Raptor Road

970-874-7288 204 Ute Street

FRUITA

of the museum as well provide long-term development plans, seek funding opportunities and aid in adding volunteers. To learn how

to volunteer with Museum of the Mountain West, visit www.museum ofthemountainwest.org or call 970240-3400. n

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Friends of Montrose Library volunteers to sort donated books, run book sales and serve on its board of directors. www.montroselibrary.org | 970-249-9656

Senior CommUnity Meals volunteer delivery drivers to help seniors in Delta and Montrose counties. www.seniorcommunitymeals.org | 970-874-7661

Golden Circle Seniors volunteers needed to greet and serve lunch Monday through Friday for 2-4 hours. 970-252-4888

Sharing Ministries Food Bank in Montrose seeks volunteers for three hours, one day a week. www.sharingministries.com | 970-240-8385

Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans volunteers to help at its ReStore or construction sites. www.buildinglives.org | 970-252-9303

Time Bank of the Rockies helps people through a system of exchanged services. www.timebankoftherockies.com | 970-209-6886

Museum of the Mountain West volunteer tour guides to bring the past to life for visitors. www.museumofthemountain west.org | 970-240-3400

VOLUNTEER TODAY!

Thank you,

Montrose and Delta volunteers!

Question

OF THE

Month

Compiled by Siggie Carpenter

What toy did you love growing up? Shawnee Embrey - Montrose “Growing up, I loved dolls and stuffed animals; my favorite was a Bye-Lo baby doll. In order to get her accessories, I had to earn the money. Soon riding horses and chores took up most of my time which prepared me for the busy life I have today.”

Don Carey - Cedaredge “My favorite toys growing up were a BB gun and a guitar. I now have a big boys gun, but that guitar took me into a profession I still love today—I’m a musician and the leader of the band ‘New Vision.’”

Kim Zahniser - Montrose “One of my favorite toys was Zippy the Monkey. He was a stuffed, rubberfaced chimpanzee doll and was first introduced to the world on the Howdy Doody Show in the ’50s. He was so cute and lovable. As an animal lover, he was the perfect toy for me.”

Sheila Calkins - Montrose

Montrose and Delta 2021 Volunteers of the Year nominees were honored at Montrose BeaconFest on October 14. Pictured from left: Jim Wendt, Liane Muller, 2022 Volunteer of the Year Dawn Ullrey, Mary Jo St. Jean, Pat & Bob Brown

“As a child, I spent a lot of time making ‘something out of nothing,’ using whatever I could find...rope, rubber bands, tin cans and cardboard boxes. We made things to play with like walkie talkies, jewelry and lots of forts. I still get a loving feeling when I think about those times.”

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FUN & GAMES

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POST-COVID RECOVERY TEAM Looking at recovery from every perspective Not feeling like yourself following a COVID-19 diagnosis? Subtle changes could point to something more serious. We’ll assess both your cognitive and physical changes to better ensure your full recovery.

INNOVATIVE TEAM APPROACH

ACROSS 1. Ewer 8. Made irate 15. Dig up 16. Where the head of Humanities lives, e.g. 17. Give off 18. Lord’s estate 19. Paris possessive 20. Diving birds 22. Cultivate 23. “Who’s there?” reply 25. High time 26. Mell Lazarus comic strip 29. Alpine song 31. Sung syllable 34. Construction pieces 36. Work with needle and thread 37. Revenuers, for short 38. Exit a railroad conveyance 40. Most strange 42. ___ spumante 43. Hold up 45. Skate blade 46. Poivre’s partner 47. Office notes 49. Davis or Midler 50. Old-fashioned

exclamation of suprise 52. Brainy org. 54. Blue book filler 56. Up to it 57. Health resort 60. Drunk 62. Unrealistic person 65. Kettledrums 66. Stuff oneself 67. Raise a grade? 68. Puzzle

DOWN 1. Cat 2. Arrow poison 3. Gumshoes 4. Elevator unit 5. Charlemagne’s realm: Abbr. 6. Kett and James 7. Having a runny nose and eyes 8. Totals up 9. Formerly known as 10. Frolic 11. Diciembre follower 12. Pique 13. Fish-eating eagle 14. Like Easter eggs 21. Greek island in the Aegean

23. Japanese porcelain 24. Writer Janowitz 25. More recent 26. King with a golden

touch 27. Like Santa 28. Courageous 30. Gidget portrayer Sandra 32. Bowler’s button 33. Cave 35. Begat 37. Fungal infection 39. ___ de plume 41. Massages 44. Explosive weapon 47. Perhaps 48. Rarely 51. Quebec’s ___ Peninsula 53. Hardly shy 54. Ballpark figs. 55. Narrow cut 56. Score after deuce 57. Hook’s mate 58. Fleshy fruit 59. Pretentious 61. U-turn from WSW 63. Some M.I.T. grads 64. Skill

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Private Party $29 | Commercial $49 | CLASSES Porcelain Doll Making Classes, supplies & sales. Make a doll from start to finish! Fun Hobby * Christmas Gifts * Bring a Friend * Ceramic Classes also. Call for class times 970-778-8075.

Always Free Women’s Self Defense classes for Ladies 18 and older for groups of 2 to 24. No athleticism required with safety for all. Simple yet effective methods to escape assault. Offered by nationally certified Black Belt with over 35 years of experience. Please call (not text) Bob at 970261-2445 and leave your name and number.

HELP WANTED FREELANCE WRITERS WANTED! Please send your letter and resume to: Cloie@ BeaconSeniorNews.com No phone calls please. Sales Associate stock merchandise, customer service, cashier. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. Must be able to sit, bend, stand and move around the store. Pay depends on experience. Full or part time. Apply in person Peachtree True Value 2963 North Avenue.

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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. 970-216-0048.

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60 | CLASSIFIEDS | DECEMBER 2021 |

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Puzzle Answers

Nine years without a cold?

Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast. Now thousands of people are using it against viruses and bacteria. Colds start when cold viruses get in your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you don’t stop them early, they Copper can stop germs before they spread. “What a wonderful thing!” spread and cause misery. In hundreds of studies, EPA exclaimed Physician’s Assistant and university researchers have Julie. Another customer asked, “Is confirmed that viruses and it supposed to work that fast?” Pat McAllister, 70, received bacteria die almost instantly when one for Christmas and called it touched by copper. That’s why ancient Greeks and “one of the best presents ever. Egyptians used copper to purify This little jewel really works.” Frequent flier Karen Gauci water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about microbes, but used to suffer after crowded flights. Though skeptical, she now we do. Scientists say the high tried copper on travel days for 2 conductance of copper disrupts months. “Sixteen flights and not a the electrical balance in a microbe sniffle!” she exclaimed. Businesswoman Rosaleen says cell by touch and destroys it in when people around her show seconds. Some hospitals tried copper signs of unwanted germs, she uses for touch surfaces like faucets and copper morning and night. “It doorknobs. This cut the spread of saved me last holidays,” she said. MRSA, and other illnesses, by “The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.” over half and saved lives. Attorney Donna Blight tried The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an copper for her sinus. “I am idea. He made a smooth copper shocked!” she said. “My head probe with a tip to fit in the bottom cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” of his nose. A man with trouble breathing The next time he felt a tickle in his nose that felt like a cold about through his nose at night tried to start, he rubbed the copper copper just before bed. “Best gently in his nose for 60 seconds. sleep I’ve had in years!” he said. In a lab test, technicians placed “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold never got going. That 25 million live flu viruses on was September 2012. I use copper a CopperZap. No viruses were in the nose every time and I have found alive soon after. The handle is curved and not had a single cold since then.” “We don’t make product health textured to increase contact. claims,” he said, “so I can’t say Copper can kill germs picked up cause and effect. But we know on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have copper is antimicrobial.” He asked relatives and friends touched. Made in America of pure to try it. They reported the same thing, so he patented CopperZap® copper. 90-day full money back guarantee. Price $79.95. Get $10 and put it on the market. Soon hundreds of people had off each CopperZap with code tried it. The feedback was 99% COBS8. See www.CopperZap.com or positive if they used the copper within 3 hours after the first sign call toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. of unwanted germs, like a tickle in Statements not intended as the nose or a scratchy throat. Early user Mary Pickrell said, product health claims. Not evaluated “I can’t believe how good my by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. nose feels.” (paid advertisement)

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OPINION

Response: VA does offer survivor benefits By Teddi Kulkoski, Denver VBA Regional Office

’m writing in response to the oped published on October 25th, titled, “Opinion: Suicide should not affect VA survivor benefits.” In it, Mr. Jarnig writes, “…if an active-duty military person or a veteran dies from suicide, by rule their spouse and minor children lose all benefits. No survivor benefits, period—even if the soldier was being treated for PTSD”. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) very mission is to “Care for him who shall have borne the battle, and his widow, and his orphan.” Congress has mandated VA to compassionately consider each claim for benefits. As a categorical statement, Mr. Jarnig’s statement is not accurate. Suicide as the cause of death does not automatically exclude survivors from entitlement to benefits.

VA provides benefits to survivors and dependents of veterans who have passed, even in tragic cases of suicide. According to VA regulations, the surviving spouse may be eligible for benefits if VA can connect the suicide to a service-connected illness or injury—the very same consideration afforded to any survivor applying for VA benefits. When the death is determined to be service connected, the surviving spouse and dependent children are eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Education Benefits, Loan Guaranty and other survivor benefits (38 CFR 3.302). If a death is not ruled to be service connected, some survivor benefits are denied. However, basic burial and insurance benefits, such as Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI), are still payable.

VA Burial Allowances are flat-rate monetary benefits to help cover eligible veterans’ burial and funeral costs. Generally, they are paid at the maximum amount allowed by law. Claimants may seek reconsideration of any adverse VA decision using the administrative process managed by the Veterans Benefits Administration and may also file a formal appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals. Even though the rate of suicide among veterans decreased from 2018 to 2019, veteran suicide is a national tragedy. VA Secretary Denis McDonough is a forceful advocate for victims of suicide and its causes: “Suicide prevention remains a top priority for VA, with the most significant amount of resources ever appropriated and apportioned to VA suicide prevention. Suicide is preventable, and everyone has a

role to play in saving lives.” To learn more about VA regulations that govern these benefits, resources are available at www. va.gov/opa/persona/dependent_ survivor.asp. In addition, veterans can speak individually with a VA benefits counselor over the phone by scheduling an appointment with a local counselor. The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans and servicemembers in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential 24/7 toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. ■ Teddi Kulkoski is the Director’s Office CMA and Public Affairs Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration Denver Regional Office located in Lakewood, CO.

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