BEACON - March 2014

March 2014 2014

Vol. 28

Create a Legacy local guide to giving

Vote for this year’s Volunteer of the Year

page 5

Making a difference on the Western Slope page 11

Produced by the BeacoN’s advertising Team

Your Guide to Giving your Time and Money

Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

No. 3

Western Colorado’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 33,810 Readers.

We all want to leave a lasting legacy. How will you leave yours? Read more in this month's insert.

Garden Smarts Our garden expert Kathy Kimbrough is back! Send her your garden questions for next month! Page 6.

Explore Arizona Get a taste of what it's like being a snowbird without heading south for an entire season.

Page 20.

10 Ways to get your home and garden ready for spring Page 4

Cattle vs. Sheep Read more about the battle against cattlemen and sheepmen over grazing land in the 1800s. Page 24.

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P R E M I E R

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March 2014

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March 2014

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Editorial 3

The dance that couldn’t be done

By Kevin K. VanGundy

S

was and will likely be done again next year.

everal years ago I heard from a Vote early! Vote often! friend of mine, who publishes a No, there isn’t a City Council elecsenior paper in Phoenix, about their tion this year, but we would like you annual Seniors’ Ball—a fancy affair to help us choose this year’s Volunfor those who had aged out of the teer of the Year. The winner will be nightclubs but still wanted to get announced at April’s BeaconFest and their groove on. While I thought will grace the cover of the May issue that it would be fun to hold a senior of the BEACON. We have 15 wordance here in town, I was disheartthy candidates vying for this year’s ened to see other local people try trophy and their nominations appear and fail. So I forgot in this month’s about it.

Create A Legacy Then this last insert. Please read fall, I was having about them and lunch with Mike vote.

Green, the inhouse marketing BeaconFest is genius at Hilltop April 17 Senior Living ComMake plans to munities. Mike attend the largest asked if I had any senior fair in the ideas for an event. state of Colorado.

I said, “Just one, Our Grand Juncand I think it’s a tion BeaconFest long shot.” That will be from long shot became 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the recent, surprisThursday, April 17 ingly successful, at the Two Rivers kick-in-the-pants Convention best-ever ValenCenter, 159 Main tine’s Dance at St. Don’t miss it.

Hilltop’s Garden Admission is free!

Room.

Summer travel I want to thank Tanya and Bruce Marvin gettin' jiggy with it at plans? everyone who atthe Valentine's Dance.

Where will tended. The place you visit this summer?

Somewhere was packed. Joan Stewart and her close like the Grand Mesa?

Perhaps team provided a real dance floor, a road trip to Southern California? subdued lighting and art deco décor.

Or maybe an exotic trip to Thailand?

The band, Clark Gault’s Swing City Whatever your flavor of travel, we’ll Express, was awesome. Steve and have you covered in June’s Summer Naomi with Grande River Vineyards Traveler. We’d like to include some of helped break down social barriyour photos. Please include, if possiers one delicious glass of wine at a time. Meghan Nedvecki and her staff ble, the names of those in the photo, cooked up a variety of tasty high-end when it was taken, and a little about where you were going. Email your treats. Members of the Palisade High School National Honors Society chap- photos to Beacon@PendantPublish eroned the event and directed traffic. ing.com or mail them to: And who can forget Julie Mendelson in her 20s-style flapper dress?

So the dance that couldn’t be done

BEACON Senior Newspaper P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502 ■

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4 Cover Story

Clean up your garden.

Prepare your soil.

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

March 2014

10 Ways to get your home and garden ready for spring 10

8 7

Ease into watering

6 Prevent and fight off weeds.

Perform the finishing touches on your yard and garden.

Cool down the house.

Inspect the outside of your home for wear and tear.

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2

By Melanie Wiseman

S

pring officially starts at 12:57 p.m. on Thursday, March 20. In our hearts and minds, however, spring fever is already here. We are anxious to get dirt under our fingernails, put a fresh coat of paint on the house, and plant a new rose bush.

Doing home and yard maintenance in the spring will give you the opportunity to focus more on enjoying outdoor activities, longer days and warmer weather, and will ensure your home and yard are in good shape throughout the summer.

Yard and garden maintenance Spring cleaning and more

Test your emergency systems.

Trim surrounding trees. Perform the finishing touches.

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1. Clean up your garden.

The first and possibly most important spring garden task is cleanup.

How well you clean the garden now can determine how it will look throughout the growing season. Remove leaves and dead annual plants that remained over the winter. If you cut back your perennials in the fall, once you start to see new growth at the base of the plants, it’s safe to remove winter mulch and prune them down to ground level.

to obtain the consistency of a damp sponge. Do not add new material to the old compost pile. Use new materials to build a new pile.”

2. Prepare your soil.

Lori Guillory from Mt. Garfield Greenhouse and Nursery reminds gardeners that maintenance is weather-based.

“The old stuff is helping protect what is still in the ground, so you don’t want to cut them back too soon,” Guillory said. “They’re perennials for a reason.”

Colorado State University Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator Susan Carter had the following composting advice.

“Add the dead stems and leaves to the compost pile to help kill diseasecausing pathogens,” Carter said. “It’s best to use a leaf shredder or lawn mower to chop up the debris prior to adding it to the compost pile. Turn the old compost pile to help items that didn’t finish composting over the winter. Add nitrogen and water

After you clean up and before you plant, it’s time to amend the soil.

Healthy soil makes healthy plants.

Tilling the soil to loosen it up will make soil amendment easier. Tilling also helps the soil dry out and warm up quicker in the spring, allowing you to take advantage of planting cool-season crops. Daytime temperatures need to be consistently 40 degrees or more for desirable germination.

“Mesa Magic from the Mesa County Landfill is very popular because it’s local,” Guillory said. “Bulk is the best buy, but it is also sold bagged. Mesa Magic is made of tree trimmings, grass clippings and manure, which are all well composted. Both Mesa Magic and Soil Pep are excellent for breaking up the clay soil in our area.”

Carter also recommended aerating your yard in the spring. Aerating allows oxygen, fertilizer and water to get deep to the roots.

March 2014

Cover Story 5

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National & Regional Award-Winning Publication

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Publisher ........................ Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher................... Susan Capps Editor........................................ Cloie Sandlin Office Manager ..........................Lisa Moeller Graphic Design.............................. Heidi Graf Production................................ Karen Jones Account Representative...............Sue Bowen Account Representative......... Marsha Kearns Proofreader................................. Jan Weeks Delivery............................. Lauren VanGundy Cheerleader..............................Genevra Shal Delta-Montrose Bureau Assistant Editor...................Liesl Greathouse Account Representative.......... Virginia Carlile Delivery..........................................JR Milner Beacon Mascot Bogart..........................................................

“It can be helpful to have the soil tested for salt content,” Carter said.

The CSU Extension Office can do basic testing or send out samples for more complete soil analysis.

“This time of year is when you should trim your ornamental grasses before they start growing,” she said.

“It’s also time to prune fruit trees to remove dead, dying and insect- and disease-injured branches. Remove crossing or rubbing branches.”

3. Ease into watering.

Don’t water the same in the spring as you would in the summer. Garden Coach and Garden Scentsations Owner Kathy Kimbrough said spring water is too cold to saturate at first.

Flower Power Wedding season is here—for people of all ages. Many senior weddings are about grace and culture. When ordering flowers for your wedding, bring in lots of pictures that show the designer not only the flowers you like, but also your sense of style. There may be loved ones who cannot attend but whom you want to include in a meaningful way. You might want to have the designer create a special attachment to your bridal bouquet, such as incorporating a locket your mother gave you or a memento from a friend.

- The Flower Shop, 241-3500

4. Prevent and fight off weeds.

Clean up your gardening tools and have your shears, pruners and mowers sharpened so your tools will be ready. Wash any winter salt off the sidewalks. Salt will burn any new growth.

Spring is the time to do proactive weeding against weeds. Damp, tilled spring soil makes it much easier to pull young weed seedlings. Don’t compost weeds. They will come back to haunt you.

5. Perform the finishing touches.

Spring is the ideal time for divid-

ing or transplanting. Do this as soon as possible after the plant emerges.

You’ll be amazed at how quickly plants recover from this trauma if you catch them early when the weather is still mild and they are raring to grow.

Prune roses just as the leaf buds begin to plump up.

It’s tempting to procrastinate staking your gardens, but you’ll avoid headaches by letting your plants grow into the stakes rather than trying to squeeze the plants into them later.

Mulching and edging are the final finishing touches. Mulch conserves water, cools plant roots, feeds the soil and smothers weeds. Replenish mulch after the soil warms up and dries out a bit. Finally, adding crisp edging gives your garden beds and yard that polished look.

Don’t forget, just as your garden and yards have been dormant over the winter, your yard work muscles may have been, too. Do a little each day and your body will thank you.

P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 970.24 3.8 829  800.536.7516 fax Website: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com E-mail: Beacon@ PendantPublishing.com The Beacon is published at the beginning of the month. Our goal is to inform and inspire the 50+ community in Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Garfield counties.

Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Columns are opinions of the writers, not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Display advertising rates are available upon request. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 20th of the month preceding publication. © Copyright 2014 • All Rights Reserved

Home maintenance 6. Cool down the house.

During the spring, one of the most important things you can do is to prepare your cooling system, whether you do it yourself or call a professional.

Avalanche Heating, Cooling and Plumbing Owner Matt Peisser said 80 percent of their spring business is cooling system start-ups.

“Professionals verify that waterlines do not have any cracks in them,” Peisser said. “We pressurize them and inspect for any leaks. Ask any insurance company and they will tell you literally that a 1/8-inch crack can run into the tens of thousands for repairs. When you turn on your water, you may not see water damage

Cover Photo This month's issue contains mounds of helpful advice from our area's home and garden experts on topics ranging from spring cleaning to keeping your garden green and healthy.

6 Cover Story

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We do two or three conversions a for days.” month.”

To keep your cooling system runScheduling a spring cooling system ning efficiently, fresh cooling pads service saves you are typically from a possible installed, belts and waiting period if Reclining Comfort Eases floats adjusted, you don’t call until Declining Energy and the motor the first day you and bearings are There’s nothing much need to use it. oiled. Peisser better than finding the perfect chair, recommends 7. Inspect the outparticularly when you want maximum always using aspen comfort but need more. UltraComfort side of your home pads and to stay brand lift chairs and power chairs for wear and tear. clear of synthetic have many different preprogrammed The outside of pads. Avalanche positions to give you a customized reyour home has also checks your clining experience that includes total taken a lot of wear outside spigots for comfort for sitting, napping or watchand tear from ing TV. The chair back can move leaks. the harsh winindependently from the legs, which “Some doctors ter. Walk around offers flexibility for finding your best are recommendyour home and position. These chairs even rememing that people examine caulking ber your personal favorite reclining, with asthma or around windows sitting and lift positions. other respiratory and doors. Replace problems switch worn weather - Black Carriage Furniture, 263-4433 from swamp coolstripping and you’ll ers to refrigerated keep the cool air in and warm air air conditioners, out. Check your roof for cracked, also known as central air,” Peisser said. “Central air keeps out allergens. broken or missing shingles. Clean out

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gutters and downspouts at the same time. If your house could use a fresh coat of paint, consider planning for that before it gets too hot outside.

“The best time to paint is when the temperatures are between 50 and 90 degrees,” Sunshine Painting Owner Mike Day said. “Winter is too cold, and the summer can be too hot.”

8. Spring cleaning and more Here are some things you should inspect and clean while you’re at it.

• Pressure wash concrete and paved areas that have become dirty.

Power wash the vertical surfaces on your home if need be. Check for cracks in the driveway and sidewalks. Spring temperatures make it the best time to do repairs.

• Check garden hoses for rot, splits and leaks. Inspect hose faucets for possible freeze damage.

• Clean windows inside and out and let the sun shine in. Check for any cracks in the windows.

• Turn on fans to make sure they work before the hot weather hits and give them a cleaning while you’re at it.

• Install your window and door screens. This is the perfect time to wash them with a little soap and water first.

• Bring outdoor furniture out of storage and clean it off before putting it on your freshly powerwashed deck or patio.

• Clean your outdoor grill inside and out.

• Freshen up your home by deep cleaning carpeted areas.

• Clean out your refrigerator and freezer. If you have a coil-back refrigerator, vacuum the coils in spring and fall for maximum efficiency.

9. Test your emergency systems.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers need to be working properly.

10. Trim surrounding trees.

CO LICENSE NUMBER #EC-7664

Cut back tree limbs and shrubs growing within five feet of the house or roof. ■

March 2014 Old Yard Waste Benefits New Plants March is a great time to prepare flowerbeds and gardens for spring planting. To give your plants a boost, try incorporating locally created compost into your soil to help retain moisture retention and loosen clay soils. Adding organic materials to the soil means less time watering and weeding and more time enjoying your yard and garden.

- Mesa County Solid Waste Management, 263-9319

Let the Sun Shine In Going solar makes more sense every day. It’s economically viable for almost all homeowners—and especially for seniors on a fixed income. With utility companies raising their rates an average of 6 percent per year, locking in what you will be paying monthly for your electricity is a very sensible way to hedge against these future increases. That way, you will have peace of mind and will consistently know what your electricity bill will be in the future.

- RGS Energy, 424-5254 (formerly Syndicated Solar)

Frame It Now to Last Forever When framing artwork that you want to preserve for future generations, make sure you use conservation quality materials. In our sunny climate, it’s important to use conservation glass, which has become very affordable and blocks 98 percent of UV rays, keeping colors true. Talk to professional framers about the best materials to use to extend the life of your art, such as mat boards and backings as well as glass, and to preserve your investment and enjoyment of your art.

- Frame Depot, 245-6999

March 2014

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Garden Smarts Q. I have hundreds of springblooming bulbs planted throughQ. I have had problems with out my flowerbeds.

When they aphids on my fruit trees and lilac are done blooming and the bushes. The leaves curl up tight foliage has died, I always forget in early spring. I can’t seem to where I planted them and end up kill them with traditional pestiplanting other cides because plants on top of they are hiding Plant of the Month them. Is there deep inside the a foolproof leaves. What method to mark else can I do to the location of get rid of them? these bulbs? I One thing you don’t want to might try is an obscure them application of with shrubs or horticultural oil Kale (Brassica oleracea) is in the cabperennials. before the leaves bage family and is grown as a coolThis is a probemerge. Horticulseason annual. This super food is easy lem many of us tural oils are an to grow from seed in the early spring— face with our important tool to like right now. Start seeds inside one to mixed flowermanage certain two weeks before the average last frost beds. I can’t tell pest problems and when soil temperatures are at least you how many like scale, aphids 60 degrees. They will germinate in 10bulbs I have and mites on fruit 12 days. That means, in our area, seedinadvertently dug trees, shade trees lings can be placed outside as early as up while placing and ornamental late March through the end of April. a new shrub or plants. Oils can perennial in the There are several varieties of kale you also control some same location. can grow from seed, the most common plant diseases, Now I use metal being curly leaf kale and Tuscan (dinosuch as powdery plant tags to saur kale).

This attractive plant can be mildew. There mark where the grown in part shade to full sun, in your are many newer bulbs are. They vegetable or herb garden, or mixed horticultural are almost invisin with your perennials and shrubs. oils available on ible in the mulch (I always like to mix my edibles with the market that but very durable my ornamentals.

It keeps the bugs are much more in the elements. guessing what they came for.) refined and Anyone else have lightweight than a clever way to mark bulbs in the the old dormant oils. Dormant oil garden? now refers to the time of application rather than a characteristic.

Q. How can I get control of the weeds in my yard this year? I’ve Rules to remember when applying seen pre-emergent weed killers horticultural oils in the early spring at the garden centers but I’m not • Do not apply during freezing sure when to apply them. weather. This can cause the

By Kathy Kimbrough

emulsion to break down and produce uneven coverage.

• Do not apply if leaves are wet or rain is likely. These conditions inhibit oil evaporation.

• Do not spray when shoots are growing. The foliage could be burned when direct sunlight hits the tender shoots.

Pre-emergent herbicides or “weed preventers” are often used to control annual lawn weeds such as crabgrass, foxtails, barnyard grass, spurge, knotweed, purslane and others. They are effective against germination of annual and perennial weed seedlings but will not control existing weeds.

As the name implies, a pre-emergent

must be used prior to germination of the weed seeds. In the Grand Valley, this translates to a March application.

Higher elevations should wait until mid to late April. Apply these herbicides when the forsythia is blooming.

After application, pre-emergents must be watered or rained on in order to be activated. There are many types of pre-emergents on the market. Some are more effective on grassy weeds, others on broadleaf (non-grass) weeds, and others are equally effective on both. Refer to the label for specific instructions on when to re-seed or re-sod your lawn.

Conventional core cultivation (aeration—which should be done in the spring), does not reduce the effectiveness of pre-emergent herbicides that have already been applied.

Q. I am thinking of replac-

ing some of my lawn with less thirsty, low-maintenance plants in my side yard. Suggestions?

Reducing your lawn is one of the best ways to save time, money and water. Will this area have foot traffic?

If yes, consider low-growing thyme amongst flagstones. Shady spot or under trees? Ajuga or hardy plumbago love a bit of shade in the afternoon.

Ajuga blooms in the spring with bright blue flowers and plumbago puts on a show in the autumn with bright red leaves and dark blue flowers. If your area is in full sun with no foot traffic, ice plant or other suc-

Garden smarts

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culents would thrive with little to no maintenance. I would highly suggest buying the book “Lawn Gone! Lowmaintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard” by Pam Pennick. It's has some good tips on how to reduce or replace your lawn.

Garden Checklist  Cut back ornamental grasses before new growth appears. Tie it up with duct tape, sturdy bungee cords or rope. Cut the grass down to approximately 6 inches.

 Prune summer-blooming shrubs like butterfly bush, blue mist spirea and Russian sage in late March or early April. Wait to prune spring-blooming shrubs like lilacs until after they bloom.  Clean up around your landscape. Rake leaves and debris from under shrubs and trees. Overwintering bugs can hide here.  Remove protective wrap from trees. Remove any tape that was securing the wrap to the trees to avoid damaging the trunk as the trees grow.

 Get your garden tools ready for spring.

Sharpen them and remove rust with steel wool and mineral spirits. Check your gloves for holes and tears. I find the gloves dipped in neoprene last the longest. ■ Send your questions to Kathy at Beacon@PendantPublishing.com or mail them to P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502. Please leave a phone number or return address so Kathy can respond to you as soon as possible!

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M o n day - T h u r s day u n T i l 6 p M

Early DinE

Already thinking spring? Here are more home and garden tips

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rom properly calculating energyefficient lighting to planting an edible garden, here are more home and garden tips from area experts with BEACON readers in mind.

Watts Up With New Lighting?

Lighting has changed! Wattage is no longer our calculator for light output. Lumens = light produced by a light source; lumens per watt = efficiency. A typical incandescent light bulb is about 16 lumens per watt compared to the new LED sources that are 60 to 110 lumens per watt. All LED is not created equal. If you’re confused about the changes, talk to the experts.

- One Source Lighting, 243-2400

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Many customers find that starting their spring cleaning and remodeling project by enhancing their garage and turning it into usable space makes the rest of their projects that much easier. An inexpensive roll-out garage floor combined with a functional overhead or wall storage system can substantially increase the functionality of even the most well organized garage.

- Garage Flooring, 800-956-4301

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March 2014

An edible garden can be beautiful and useful at the same time. It can be healthful if you grow organic herbs and vegetables.

Consider mixing annual herbs, vegetables and perennial herbs throughout your landscape. Add splashes of colors and textures by using different-colored basils, lavender and sages. Low-profile hot and sweet peppers and heirloom eggplants can add points of interest in any garden. Border your beds with edible flowers, lettuce and chives.

- Sage Creations Organic Farm, 623-9556

Cleaning Windows Easily and Inexpensively Did you know that coffee filters are great for washing windows? You’ll use a lot of them, but they do a better job than newspapers (which leave ink on your hands) or paper towels (which leave lint on windows).

For an inexpensive, homemade window cleaner, mix a cup of alcohol, a cup of water, and a tablespoon of white wine vinegar.

- Merry Maids, 244-8597

Stay Safe in Your Home Most of us want to remain living in our own homes as we get older. Two barriers to making that wish come true are personal safety and accessibility. An easy and inexpensive start is to install grab bars in the bathroom. A barrier-free shower or walkin tub can also make your life easier and better. Be sure to consult and use expert installers from a Certified Aging in Place Specialist.

- Tile Meister, 244-8453

Your Dream Home—Now! Thinking about a new home? Current low construction costs, reasonable land prices, and historic low interest rates are the keys to getting started. Whether you are looking to build your first house or your forever home, to downsize or upgrade, now is a great time to build. As the economy continues to improve, prices, costs and rates will all rise, making NOW the best time in recent history, or the foreseeable future, to start construction on your next home.

- Conquest Construction, LLC, 243-1242

It’s Spring! Time to Get Your House Ready for Next Winter When the weather turns warmer, it’s time for an after-winter inspection. Did your roof suffer ice damage that could lead to ongoing water damage? Will your heating system last another year? Did you experience plumbing problems because of the cold weather? If you own your own home and your income qualifies, you might be able to get a low-interest loan that can help you with necessary roofing, plumbing, electrical and system repairs or upgrades or to make adaptability modifications to your home.

- Housing Resources, 773-9739 ■

March 2014

Ask the Old Bag

Advice Column for the Over 50 Crowd

By Gayle LagmanCreswick Dear Old Bag: Yesterday, I told my neighbor that my dear husband, who passed away recently, was still with me. I told her that I talk to him and I feel him comforting me. She said she thinks this is unhealthy and that I need counseling. I would like to know what you think. It seems normal to me. Signed, Not Psycho Dear Not Psycho: It seems like there is always someone to tell us what we should or should not feel, doesn’t it? There is so much we do not know about death and the hereafter. I don’t know if your neighbor has lost a close loved one or not, but over the years I have heard from many people who feel that their loved one lingered behind to help them through the tough time. My sisterin-law was almost in a car accident, and she swore that my deceased brother took the steering wheel and made her safe. I have felt the presence of my deceased husband who passed away last May. At first it was pretty constant and now it is only occasional. I don’t believe I am crazy. I am open to let those feelings come in. Some people are not. I say cherish those feelings and consider them a bonus. Like most things, if it becomes excessive or lasts for years, you might consider speaking to someone about it. O.B. Dear Old Bag: My neighbor is giving seniors a bad name. I live in an over-50 community in a very nice area. This woman entertains men late at night...sometimes all night. Everyone is talking about it, but they do not do anything about it. It is not always the same man. I feel like it is my duty to tell her that everyone is talking about her. I will go by what you say. Thank you.

Signed, Concerned Dear Concerned: I do not think you will like what I am going to say.

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I must say, “Mind your own business.” I do not believe that it is your duty or obligation to speak to her about this. That is her home and she can entertain at any time. You don’t know what is going on over there. They could be playing chess for all you know. Even if they are making whoopee, it is not your business.

Please do not cast the first stone. O.B.

Beat

Dear Readers: We seniors are on a mission to teach the juniors the value of human kindness. Last month, I took a homeless woman to lunch. It was so interesting to hear her story. My granddaughter was amazed and said she always wanted to do that. What did you do this month to further our cause? ■

Send your questions to the Old Bag in care of the BEACON, or email lagmancreswick@cox.net.

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Dear Old Bag: Not so recently, you published the “Old Bag Rules for Senior Dating.” You have spoiled my budget. I used to get taken out by men who paid for my expenses.

Now they follow the Old Bag Rules.

I wish you had kept your mouth shut. Aren’t there any men out there who feel that the man should pay?

I am of the old school, and there are plenty of women, I’m sure, who agree with me. Signed, Spoiled Dear Spoiled: Yes, you are spoiled. Women have wanted equal pay, equal rights, but sometimes they do not want them? We asked for it.

The big reason for the Old Bag Rules was that when we are retired, we are all on a fixed income, and it helps us all if we share the expenses of dating. It also takes care of that problem, which has been written to me many times, that women say men feel they should have “extra privileges” if they pay the bill. Sorry, Spoiled, you get no sympathy from the Old Bag. Ante up! O.B.

t he

Ask the old bag 9

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10 The healthy geezer

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March 2014

Heart racing? Too much wine could be the cause, but so might AF

By Fred Cicetti

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trial fibrillation (also called AF or AFib) is the most common form of irregular heartbeat. It is an abnormal heart rhythm originating in the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. The rate of impulses through the atria can range from 300 to 600 beats per minute. The risk of atrial fibrillation increases with age, particularly after age 60.

Because the atria are beating rapidly and irregularly, blood does not flow through them as quickly, which makes the blood more likely to clot.

If a clot is pumped out of the heart, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. People with atrial fibrillation are five to seven times more likely to have a stroke than the general population.

Infrequent and brief episodes of atrial fibrillation can be triggered by overindulgence in alcohol, caffeine and food. For this reason, doctors sometimes call AF “holiday heart.”

Some of the most common causes of AF are high blood pressure, a variety of heart problems such as coronary artery disease, chronic lung disease and pulmonary embolism, which is a condition that occurs when an artery in your lung becomes blocked.

In at least 10 percent of AF cases, no underlying heart disease is found.

In these cases, AF may be related to

alcohol or excessive caffeine use, stress, certain drugs, electrolyte or metabolic imbalances, or severe infections. In some cases, no cause can be found.

Many people with AF live years without problems. However, chronic AF can cause problems. Besides stroke, there is the danger that clots can travel and cause damage to other parts of the body. AF can decrease the heart’s pumping ability by as much as 25 percent. In combination with a fast heart rate over a long period of time, AF can cause heart failure.

There are medications to treat AF, but it’s also best to quit smoking, limit your alcohol and caffeine, and avoid activities that seem related to your irregular heart rhythm.

When initial remedies don’t correct or control AF, an electrical cardioversion (where an electrical shock is delivered to your chest wall to restore a normal rhythm) may be necessary.

There are also implantable atrial defibrillators that deliver low-dose therapy to convert AF to a normal heart rhythm. Those with chronic AF may be candidates for surgical treatment, many which can be minimally invasive. ■

Send your questions to the Healthy Geezer in care of the BEACON, or email fred@healthygeezer.com.

How might you know if you have AF? Keep in mind that you can still have AF without witnessing symptoms, but here are some possible signs of AF.

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March 2014

Busting the cholesterol myth

By Tait Trussell

“T

Health & wellness 11

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he Great Cholesterol Myth,” a book written by board-certified nutritionist Dr. Jonny Bowden and board-certified cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, knocks statins for a loop.

“The relationship between blood cholesterol levels and heart disease is, at best, weak” and more complex than usually pictured, they stated.

“Half of patients with heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels and half of those with high cholesterol have heart disease.”

The definitions of “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol” are much more complicated than usually portrayed, the doctors stated. There are good types of “bad cholesterol” and vice versa.

Like practically everything produced in the body, cholesterol is regulated by a relatively stable mechanism.

Most importantly, regardless of the complicated correlation between levels of cholesterol and cardiac risk, the doctors stated that there is no correlation between dietary intake of cholesterol and blood levels. In spite of this, government agencies still encourage restricting dietary cholesterol. This assumed correlation is oversimplified.

Bowden and Sinatra stated that cholesterol is “vital for many bodily functions and forms the walls of our cells as well as many of our hormones.

Cholesterol is produced mainly in the liver. If we eat less, the body produces more.”

The authors stated specifically that dietary saturated fats are not harmful, and the alternatives (such as hy-

drogenated vegetable fats and sugar) are worse for you.

“Unintended consequences” come from the use of statins. Some $37 billion a year is spent on statins, such as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor.

Bowden and Sinatra’s book states, “Statin drugs block cholesterol production. For such an important substance, how could we think that blocking production of something that does not directly cause heart disease, and something that is so important for the function of our body, would not have unintended consequences? The side effects are not uncommon and are important, including sexual dysfunction, memory loss, muscle dysfunction and diabetes.”

The two authors are not alone in their opinion that cholesterol is not a direct culprit in heart disease, that dietary cholesterol does not influence heart disease or longevity, and that statins are over-prescribed and their side effects are under-reported.

“In my practice over the past decade, I have limited my prescriptions for cholesterol-lowering medications to people who are at high risk for future troubles,” said Dr. John McDougall, who runs a health center in Santa Rosa, California. “Unless there is a contraindication, I have recommended statins to patients with a history of heart surgery, heart disease, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or strokes, with a goal to take a dosage sufficient to lower their blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, I have advised that otherwise healthy people, even those with high cholesterol, not take cholesterol-lowering statins.” ■

“Statin drugs block cholesterol production. How could we think that blocking production of something that does not directly cause heart disease, and something that is so important for the function of our body, would not have unintended consequences?

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12 Health & wellness

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March 2014

From stem cells to new teeth Brain Injury Facts:

Brain injury impacts all members of a family.

Studies show that caregivers of people who have suffered a brain injury may experience feelings of burden, distress, anxiety, anger and depression. If you are caring for a partner, spouse, child, relative or close friend with TBI it is important to recognize how stressful this situation can be.

Information about brain injury and support can make a great difference.

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By Tait Trussell

A

stonishingly, a fourth of all Americans over age 65 have lost all of their original teeth.

A promising discovery, however, may make you smile: Researchers from the College of Dental Medicine at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Florida have developed methods to enable stem cell growth to generate real replacement teeth.

The NSU researchers’ approach is to extract stem cells from oral tissue, such as inside a tooth itself, or from bone marrow. Once harvested, the cells are mounted to a polymer scaffold in the shape of the desired tooth.

The polymer is the same material used in absorbable sutures, so the scaffold eventually dissolves. Teeth can be grown separately, then inserted into a patient’s mouth, or the stem cells can be grown within the mouth, reaching a full-sized tooth within a few months.

To date, teeth have been regenerated in monkeys and mice. Clinical trials with humans are under way. It is still uncertain whether teeth created in this manner can be nourished by blood and will have full and natural sensations.

Growing new teeth presents a real challenge, according to Dr. Peter Murray and his colleagues, who developed the tooth-growing process.

The stem cells must be stimulated to grow the proper balance of hard tissue, dentin (the major part of the tooth beneath the enamel), and the enamel.

If it can be proven that regrowth of teeth is safe and effective, these teeth will be widely accepted in the U.S. Interest from fellow dentists is evident in the fact that Murray’s presentation sold out at the American Dental Association conference in Las

7 out of 10 adults age 35 to 45 have lost at least one tooth and about 20 million people—those over 65— have lost all their permanent teeth.

Vegas recently.

The promise held by dental stem cell therapy has led to the rise of tooth banks. Stem cell therapies are already being used to repair bone damage and even organs.

Research progress, however, is still sometimes suspected because of the politics surrounding embryonic stem cell research. Look at some statistics on tooth loss: 7 out of 10 adults age 35 to 45 have lost at least one tooth and about 20 million people—those over 65—have lost all their permanent teeth. High sugar diets have increased the prevalence of periodontal disease. You can see that the market for tooth replacement is a big mouthful, so to speak.

Having a full set of teeth is increas-

March 2014 ingly important as an aging population seeks to continue to live an active lifestyle. The growth of social media has also led to people’s faces being plastered all over Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The way your teeth look is more important than ever.

Some people who feel the need to replace a missing tooth or teeth invest in implants. How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the type of implant and the condition of your jawbone. But all dental implant surgery occurs in stages and can involve several procedures. The major benefit of implants is solid support for your new teeth—a process that requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant. Because this healing requires time, the process can take many months.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. It is inserted into the jaw to hold artificial teeth in place.

It is typically made out of titanium, which is compatible with the jawbone. The direct fusing of bone and an implant is called osseointegration, which is a special characteristic of titanium. When a tooth is lost, some bone that helped support the tooth is also lost.

Dental implants help stabilize the jaw, preventing future bone loss and maintaining the jawbone’s shape.

Implants are a convenient alternative to dentures because they never have to be taken out and they

feel much more natural and comfortable. They are better than traditional bridges and crowns because they aren’t just cemented in place. When mounted to implants, bridges and dentures won’t shift or slip in your mouth, which can make talking and eating easier and worry-free. This also avoids other common problems such as gagging, poor alignment and sore spots.

But implants aren’t cheap. The cost depends on a number of things, including what dentist or surgeon you go to, the type of implant and procedure, how many and which teeth you need replaced, how many implants are required to support these teeth, how much insurance coverage you have, and your geographic location.

Once you get an examination and talk with your dentist, he or she will be able to provide you with an estimate. A single tooth implant typically costs $1,000 to $3,000. If additional procedures such as bone grafts, extractions and extensive imaging and/or modeling are required, the price can easily inflate to $5,000 or $10,000. Your dentist will be able to give you an idea of what costs you are looking at after a preliminary examination.

All of which shows the importance of stem cells used to grow new teeth. ■

Teeth can be grown separately then inserted into a patient’s mouth or the stem cells can be grown within the mouth, reaching a full-sized tooth within a few months.

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March 2014

Diversify your investment portfolio with real estate

By Kathy Kimbrough

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ou’ve heard the old adage, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” This is especially true when it comes to investing your hardearned money. Many of us have invested for retirement income through company 401(k) programs or IRAs. These are generally invested in stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Investing in gold and other precious metals can diversify your portfolio.

Another way to diversify your portfolio is by investing in real estate. Long-term or vacation rental properties, and even commercial real estate can be profitable in a market like ours, which is near the bottom of the valuation cycle.

approximately 3 to 4 percent.

“It’s a buyer’s market right now,” Haskins said.

Delta resident Rhonda Follman, 44, has invested in western Colorado real estate for several years.

“Don’t get emotionally attached to the property,” she advised. “Treat it like your other investments.

When it’s time to sell it, sell it.

Just like stocks and bonds.”

Follman also stresses that it is important to have a plan for each property before purchasing it. Do you want to buy a property, fix it up and sell right away?

Do you want a property for a vacation rental or long-term rental?

How long do you intend to hold the property? Start with the end in mind.

When purchasing any real estate, it is important to make your money upfront. Find those bargain properties and below-market listings.

Have a property inspection so there are no repair surprises. Have a local Realtor do a market analysis on area rents. Haskins said a general rule of thumb is that rent should equal 1 percent of the sales price.

Our market is at or near the bottom and is rebounding at a slow but steady pace...in 2014, sales prices have increased approximately 3 to 4 percent.

It’s a buyer’s market Grand Junction native and Century21 Homestead Realtor Curt Haskins, 57, has helped people buy and sell property in western Colorado since 2001 and has seen the local economy’s boom and bust cycles. He said our market is at or near the bottom and is rebounding at a slow but steady pace. Real estate values have fallen approximately 30 percent since the highs in late 2007 and early 2008. Our real estate market bottomed out in 2011 and 2012 and so far in 2014, sales prices have increased

Begin with the end in mind Interest rates are at historic low levels, even for investors. Freedom Financial Services Branch Manager Mickie Fisher-Rogers said interest rates are only marginally higher for non-owner occupied loans than owner-occupied loans. Down payments vary but can be as low as 10 percent.

March 2014 Getting pre-qualified will give you, your Realtor and the seller the satisfaction of knowing you can afford the property you are looking at and can close quicker than those who have not gone through the process.

Fisher-Rogers said if you are planning to hold the property for a long period of time, a traditional fixed-rate loan is the best way to go. If you are going to buy a property, fix it up and sell right away, you might consider a home equity line of credit on your own home. If you have paid off your primary residence or have built up a large percentage of equity, this might be a great alternative to a conventional loan.

Haskins said it is much faster to access this money and usually cheaper because there are no closing costs or fees. It’s clean and quick and puts you in a position to be a cash buyer, which sellers love. Fisher-Rogers also mentioned the lending regulations will get tougher in 2014. She feels this will keep a large pool of good tenants available because they are not willing to go through the process of obtaining a loan.

Single-family or multi-family rentals?

Single-family homes and condos are very popular choices for rental properties. Purchasing multi-family units can also be profitable. Start small if you are looking at multi-family units. Purchase a duplex and live in one half of it, for instance. Repairs and expenses are not automatically doubled on a duplex. There is only one roof on a duplex. There is only one tax and one insurance bill on the property as well.

Have your vacation home paid for!

Buying a vacation rental property is completely different than buying a long-term rental property. With a vacation rental, you have the ability to use the property yourself as a vacation home and have it paid for by renting it out the rest of the year.

When considering a property for a vacation rental, ask yourself if you would want to vacation in that home.

Is it close to attractions? Is it convenient to area restaurants, shopping and recreation? Follman said it takes

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com time to build up a clientele, and advertising on vacation rental websites like VRBO.com and HomeAway.com is helpful.

Buying commercial real estate Owen O’Fallon, 67, a Grand Junction real estate investor with both residential and commercial properties, said our economy has nothing in place to kick start it and real estate prices may hold or continue a slight downward trend for the foreseeable future.

“If you can afford to get into the commercial real estate market, now is a good time to buy,” he said.

Cash flow could be an issue because the lower valuation of the property will mean lower rents. On the flip side, lower rents will attract more tenants. When the market rebounds, rents can be increased accordingly.

Screen potential tenants. Check their credit and criminal history.

These services have a minimal cost but are well worth the investment.

If you are not going to handle the inevitable repairs yourself, have a list of reliable experts at your fingertips.

Collect a security deposit up front to cover the costs of cleaning and/ or repairing the property between tenants.

If you are investing in real estate far from your home, consider hiring a professional property manager.

They can give you peace of mind, be your eyes and ears and take care of any problems that arise with your property and tenants. Most property managers charge a monthly fee of 8-10 percent of the gross rent.

Investing in real estate can be a great way to diversify your portfolio.

If you are comfortable being a landlord and having a hands-on relationship with your investment, real estate could bring another steady stream of income to you. Like other investments, there are risks but there is potential for rewards that are more tangible than mutual funds and stock certificates. You could be buying your own vacation or retirement home and have someone else pay for it along the way. ■

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16 Laughing matters

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Laughing Matters Work or pleasure?

Submitted by Ric Keagle A U.S. Marine colonel was about to start the morning briefing to his staff.

While waiting for the coffee machine to finish brewing, he decided to pose a question to all assembled. He explained that his wife had been a bit frisky the night before and he failed to get his usual amount of sleep. He posed the question of just how much of sex was work and how much was pleasure.

A major chimed saying it was 75 percent work and 25 percent pleasure.

A captain said it was fifty-fifty.

A lieutenant responded saying it was 75 percent pleasure and 25 percent work, depending upon his state of inebriation at the time.

There being no consensus, the colonel turned to the PFC who was in charge of making the coffee and asked for his opinion.

Without any hesitation, the young

PFC responded, “Sir, it has to be 100 percent pleasure.”

“Why do you say that?” the colonel asked.

“Well, sir, if there was any work involved, the officers would have me doing it for them.”

No dogs in the bar Submitted by Cloie Sandlin A man goes to a bar with his dog.

He goes up to the bar and asks for a drink.

The bartender says, “You can’t bring that dog in here.”

Without missing a beat, the guy says, “This is my seeing-eye dog.”

“Oh, man,” the bartender says, “I’m sorry. Here, the first one’s on me.”

The man takes his drink and goes to a table near the door.

Another guy walks in the bar with a Chihuahua. The first guys sees him, stops him and says, “You can’t bring that dog in here unless you tell him it’s a seeing-eye dog.”

The second man graciously thanks the first man and continues to the bar. He asks for a drink.

The bartender says, “Hey, you can’t bring that dog in here.”

“This is my seeing-eye dog,” the second man replies.

The bartender says, “No, I don’t think so. I have never heard of them having Chihuahuas as seeing-eye dogs.”

The man pauses and replies, “What?! They gave me a Chihuahua?!”

Star salesman Submitted by Sheri Barber Airman Jones was assigned to the induction center where he was to advise new recruits about their government benefits, especially their GI insurance.

It wasn’t long before Captain Smith noticed that Jones had almost a 100 percent record for insurance sales, which had never happened before.

Rather than ask about this, the captain stood in the back of the room and listened to Jones’ sales pitch.

Jones explained the basics of the GI

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March 2014 insurance to the new recruits, and then said, “If you have GI insurance and go into battle and are killed, the government has to pay $200,000 to your beneficiaries. If you don’t have GI insurance, and you go into battle and get killed, the government has to pay only a maximum of $6,000.”

The new recruits didn’t seem too interested in what Jones had to say until they heard what he had to say next.

“Now,” he concluded, “which bunch do you think they are going to send into battle first?”

Are you sure about that joke?

Submitted by Donald Hart A blind guy in a bar shouts to the bartender, “Want to hear a blonde joke?”

In a hushed voice, the guy next to him says, “Before you tell that joke, you should know something. Our bartender is blond and the bouncer is blond. I’m a 6-foot, 200-pound black belt. The guy sitting next to me is 6 feet tall, weighs 225, and he’s a rugby

March 2014

Laughing matters 17

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player. The fella to your right is pushing 300 and he’s a wrestler. Each one of us is blond. Think about it, mister.

Do you still really want to tell that joke?”

The blind guy scoffs and says, “Nah, not if I’m going to have to explain it five times.”

Things just aren’t the same Submitted by Dorothy Hull For the first time in many years, an old man traveled from his rural town to the city to attend a movie. After buying his ticket, he stopped at the concession stand to purchase some popcorn.

Handing the attendant $4, he couldn’t help but comment, “The last time I came to the movies, popcorn was only 15 cents.”

“Well, sir,” the attendant replied with a grin, “You’re really going to enjoy yourself. We have sound now.”

New hearing aid Submitted by Karen Jones An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor, who fitted him for a set of hearing aids that allowed the man to hear a lot better.

A month later, the elderly gentleman went back to the doctor.

“Your hearing is perfect,” the doctor told him. “Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.”

“Oh, I haven’t told my family yet,” the man said. “I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I’ve changed my will three times.”

Touring heaven Submitted by Florence Adams An elderly couple was killed in a car accident and found themselves in heaven. Just after their arrival, St.

Peter appeared and gave them a tour of heaven.

“Here is your oceanside condo, and over there are the tennis courts, swimming pool and two golf courses,” St. Peter said. “If you need any refreshments, just stop by any of the many bars located throughout the area.”

“Heck, Gloria,” the old man hissed when St. Peter walked off, “We could have been here 10 years ago if you hadn’t heard about all that stupid oat bran, wheat germ and low-fat diets.”

Last request Submitted by Frank Bunker A cowboy and a biker are on death row, and are to be executed on the same day. The day comes and they are brought to the electric chair.

The warden asks the cowboy if he has a last request. The cowboy replies, “I shore do, warden. I’d be mighty grateful if you’d play ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ fur me before I hafta go.”

“We can sure do that,” says the warden.

He turns to the biker and asks, “And you, biker, what’s your last request?”

The biker responds, “That you kill me first.”

Short fortune teller Submitted by Lacy Todd Madame Nyteshade could tell fortunes and was a midget. The local authorities had her arrested because they said fortune telling was fraudulent. She was placed in a holding cell but was able to squeeze between the bars and escape. The judge ordered the local newspaper to print an article about her escape. The following was printed in the paper the next day: “Small medium at large.” ■

Send your jokes to

Beacon@pendantpublishing.com or P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

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11/11/13 9:39 PM

18

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

March 2014

The Iron Maiden

By Carrie Kellerby

T

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ammy McCurry has the power to shape metal to her will. A blacksmith, McCurry, 48, works her own forge and owns her own fabrication shop, specializing in custom designs for the home. She calls herself the Iron Maiden. How she got to this remote spot in the desert north of Loma and became The Iron Maiden is a tale almost as intricate as some of her metal work.

Sixteen years ago, she moved to the Fruita area with her husband, Scott, and three children. She thought she was going to be a CPA. She got a job working as a bookkeeper for Ken Hambel and Associates, a blacksmith with clients all over the world.

At the time, Hambel was hardpressed to keep up with his work, so about 15 years ago, McCurry asked him if she could do something to help around the shop.

He put her to work grinding. She continued to work in the shop for Hambel, essentially serving as his apprentice, for nearly 11 years.

When he retired, he told her that she needed to start her own shop and gave her his client list.

Today, McCurry fabricates custom items for

a number of interior designers, some local, some in the Aspen area, and one in Dallas. Almost everything she does is a special order forged to the customer’s desires, including theme, shape, size, color and patina finish.

She admits that while she can do the very specific kinds of things that most interior designers require, her favorite projects are those that allow her a little more scope, and a bit of creative license. She particularly enjoys doing things that she has never tried before.

A friend asked her to do some outdoor lighting with a palm tree motif. She set to work immediately, weaving a thatched roof and forming coconuts to hang from the palm trees she constructed out of iron. She then made the supporting corners with what look exactly like bamboo poles.

“If I think it can possibly be made of metal,” she said, “I’d like to give it a try.”

McCurry and her daughter’s friend, Alex, were working on a project when I arrived at her shop.

McCurry pointed to a table, indicating what she had recently worked on: scrollwork for a bathroom vanity base.

She demonstrated her propane forge and how

March 2014 she worked the hot iron, putting it in the jig to form the scrolls until they were perfect. She then welded them to the large vanity’s frame.

The shop where she works is large and comfortable, and it’s clear from the wood burning stove and the pets that lounge about either on or under all the work tables that she spends a great deal of time there. In her spare time, she admits she likes to go hunting or four-wheeling with her family and loves being outside.

“Oh, and anything Broncos, of course,” she added.

A little less predictably, she also loves to cook and sew. And, she also really, really likes her job.

She designs and fabricates a lot of specialty lighting. One of the reasons for this is that she obtained her Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listing.

Having a UL listing on her products means that what she sells has been tested and approved by this global safety science organization. Not all artisans acquire the expensive certification, and while it doesn’t mean their lighting is unsafe, the UL listing on hers assures the consumer that all of The Iron Maiden’s work has been safety tested.

Additionally, the sky’s the limit in terms of style. She fabricates wall sconces, table lamps, chandeliers, pendants, pot racks and an array of outdoor lighting. There is a gallery of things she has made for past clients on her website, www.theironmaiden metalworks.com.

McCurry also makes ornamental gates, range hoods, small tables, hat trees, decorative garden ornaments, candleholders, wine racks, swings and decorative headboards.

She’s happy to try her hand at just about anything and is willing to discuss any-

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com one’s potential project.

McCurry has taken to this work like a natural. When asked if she was artistic in school, she laughed, “Not really, no.”

It just seemed like something she understood from the very beginning.

She said getting dirty has never bothered her.

While she doesn’t admit to artistic leanings, she is obviously more enthusiastic about the creative side of what she does.

She described how much she enjoyed making pinecones out of metal.

She said it’s the variety of projects that she enjoys.

“No two projects are the same and I have different things to do almost every day,” she said.

Some of her work is currently on consignment at Interiors, Etc. and at Girlfriends in Grand Junction. She estimated that she has about 50 to 70 pieces on hand at the shop, ranging from small decorative tables, coat racks, candleholders and lamps to key holders and wine racks.

“If I have to make 10 of something for a client, I often go ahead and make one more so I can show it down the road,” she said.

Her special orders can take anywhere from a few days to weeks.

Larger, more complex pieces, or pieces with specialty metals or mica diffusers (a lamp’s glass), can take about six weeks from order to delivery.

She is happy to take special orders and have people come to her shop and take a look at the pieces she has on hand.

It’s best to call ahead. While she is usually at the shop, she occasionally visits a job site or meets with clients in their homes.

“I’m really out here,” she said.

“It’s better if I give directions.”

In addition to the website, you can reach The Iron Maiden at 216-8497, or check out her work on Facebook. ■

If it matters to Boomers and Seniors, it’s in the BEACON. Call Marsha Kearns for marketing help.

243-8829

Shouldn’t you be?

19

20 Travel

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

See what snowbirds do in Southeastern Arizona

NATIONAL PARKS OF AMERICA

September 20 – October 1, 2014 Highlights… Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks, Old Faithful, Crazy Horse… and More

FLAVORS OF THAILAND

OCTOBER 17- 30, 2014 HIGHLIGHTS… Reclining Buddha, Jim Thompson House, Damnoen Saduak, Floating Market, “Bridge Over the River Kwai”…

And travel through the lush jungle to Maesa Elephant Camp, home to one of the largest collections of elephants in northern Thailand..

Available…. Optional 3-Night Hong Kong Pre Tour Extension AND Optional 4-Night Angkor Wat Post Tour. A trip to Remember!

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Part 1 of 2

By Melanie Wiseman BRANSON OZARK CHRISTMAS November 10 – 18, 2014 Featuring… Johnny Mathis, Daniel O’Donnell, “JONAH” at the Sight & Sound Theater * and MORE GREAT Entertainers!!

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a Branson, Missouri Adventure. Let’s fill a Coach and have some Ozark Christmas FUN!!

Call for information, reservations, and to receive a free newsletter.

Payment plans available...call for details Margaret Krabbe

P.O. Box 2142 • Montrose, CO 81402 Specializing in Escorted Local, National & International Senior Group Travel!

Phone (970)

240-3020

Email: mkrabbe@montrose.net

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2014 ESCORTED TOURS

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March 2014

607 28 1/4 Road • Grand Junction, CO 81506 • 434-6494

A

dmit it. Every year about this time, you’re green with envy as your snowbird friends and family cheerfully return to the Western Slope with their fresh tans and stories of warm sunny days.

If heading south for the winter is not an option for you time- and budget-wise, listen up. There is still an easy way to get a taste of the snowbird lifestyle without heading south for an entire season.

Step one, get a pair of scissors and cut out this article so you don’t lose it. Step two, dust off the cookie jar in the back of the pantry and start making deposits toward escaping next year’s wintery inversion.

Mid-January my husband, Dan, and I headed from Grand Junction to southern Arizona for two weeks with our Papillion, Abby, and 17-foot Fun Finder camper in tow. Desperate for a break from the cold and gloomy skies, we decided to get a flavor of what snowbirds are so excited about.

To our pleasant surprise, we found many roads less traveled, and came back with more stories of adventure and discovery than we could have imagined.

Southeastern Arizona has a plethora of art, history, culture, canyons, outdoor activities, wildlife and more. Combine this with cool nights, comfortable sunny days in the 70s, and a lack of crowds—what’s not to love?

To help you plan your own winter getaway, here are some ideas of things to do, helpful hints, mustsees, best-kept secrets and places to avoid.

Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, AZ, sculpture of U.S. Cavalry and Apache Indian

Birding and wildlife During the winter months, hundreds of bird species migrate to southern Arizona. It’s a bird watcher’s paradise. The state of Arizona and area volunteer groups have stepped in to protect many canyons, preserves, and national conservation and wildlife areas to provide a place that the birds and their watchers can enjoy. Each area comes with a brochure displaying the birds to watch for, and a checklist to report back what you saw.

Patagonia State Park, Ramsey Canyon Preserve in Sierra Vista, and Madera Canyon near Green Valley offer three excellent bird watching experiences with few people.

Travel through the historic mining town of Bisbee to Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area to witness 30,000 sandhill cranes enjoy their winter break from Canada and the northern U.S. Free camping is available.

If you’re in the Tucson area, take in the International Wildlife Museum.

Get up close to over 400 kinds of mammals, birds, insects and prehis-

March 2014 toric animals from all over the world displayed in their natural habitat.

And no trip to the Tucson area is complete without touring Saguaro National Park.

Speaking of wildlife, keep your eyes open for javelinas (wild pigs), which are very common in southern Arizona.

Best-kept secret: San Pedro House, east of Sierra Vista, is the starting point for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. You can explore this network of trails with their self-guided brochure. The San Pedro River supports 350 species of birds.

Forget your binoculars? No problem.

Their friendly volunteers are happy to loan you a pair.

Spelunking Kartchner Caverns, near Bensen, boasts world-class features in this living limestone cave. Discovered in 1974, but not open to the public until 1999, this is a must-see. Formations are awe-inspiring, walkways are safe and wheelchair-friendly, and the temperature is a comfortable 70 degrees.

They also have outstanding displays at their visitor center for those who aren’t tour bound. Tour groups are limited so call for a reservation ahead of time.

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Best-kept secret: Colossal Cave Mountain Park, east of Tucson, is on the National Register of Historic Places. This ancient dry cave is full of history, including a train robbery escape route and prehistoric beauty.

The park also includes primitive camping (just $5) and horseback riding at 132-year-old La Posta Quemada Ranch. As the lone ranch and camping guests, we enjoyed a true wildwest experience.

Hiking and biking We never had to look far when making time each day for hikes or walks. Southeastern Arizona is full of scenic mountain canyons with wellmapped trails. Riverbeds provide more leisurely trail systems. Some of our favorites were Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley, Romero Canyon at Catalina State Park, Brown Canyon in Sierra Vista and the Sonoita Creek Trail near Patagonia State Park.

Avoid over populated Sabino Canyon Complex east of Tucson.

Tucson and southeastern Arizona are extremely bike-friendly. Bike route maps are easy to find, and wide roadway shoulders are the norm.

For mountain biking adventures, try the single-track Arizona Trail, which traverses 800 miles from Mexico to Utah. The trail is accessible for biking, hiking and horseback riding in hundreds of locations as it serpentines its way through Arizona.

Read part 2 in April’s BEACON. ■ Historic Brown Canyon Ranch, Sierra Vista, AZ

Hiking Madero Canyon near Green Valley, AZ Birdwatcher pontoon at Lake Patagonia State Park Just a few of the 30,000 sandhill cranes at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area

Travel 21

22 fun after 50

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Fun after 50

Personalized assisted living iN a Beautiful faMilY StYle HoMe.

Activities offered by GJ Parks and Recreation

 Safe and Secure  Private Rooms  Heated Pool in a Private Yard with Beautiful Views  Home Cooked Nutritional Meals  Just the Right Size to Meet your Needs  Respite and Day Care

F

or a complete list of activities, visit www.gjparksandrec.org. You can also pick up an Activity Guide at the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation office, 1340 Gunnison Ave., or the Senior Recreation Center, 550 Ouray Ave. Call 254-3866 to register for the following activities.

Call 241-6562  www.MlGJ.Co

Fitness Gentle Yoga

Senior Recreation Center 550 Ouray Avenue - 970 243-7408

The Senior Recreation Center offers activities for seniors age 50 and older. The center is open Monday - Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Annual membership is $10.

S e n i o r R e c re a ti o n C e n te r M o n t h ly C a le n d a r

March 2014

of

Ev e n ts

Relax, restore and bring focus to your strength, flexibility and wellbeing. Class is designed for all abilities. Class is at 7:45 a.m. Mondays at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $64 for the session, which lasts March 31 through June 5. Drop in for $5.

Total Core Conditioning Condition your body using weights, exercise balls, and your own body weight while focusing on deep torso and spinal muscles to improve balance, control and strength. Class is at noon Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lincoln Park Barn. Drop in for $5.

Monday

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Cribbage Computer Classes Gray Gourmet Card Bingo Dominoes Singles Pinochle (1st & 3rd Monday)

Tuesday

9:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

Cribbage & Pool Tourney Gray Gourmet Bingo

Wednesday

9:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

Ladies Pool, Card Social Jack & Jill Pool Tourney Free Blood Pressure Clinic (3rd Wed) Gray Gourmet Pinochle

Thursday

9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Canasta Cleaning Crew (Last Thursday) Bunco (3rd Thursday) Band (1st Thursday) Pokeno Dance

Friday

9:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

12:45 p.m.

Canasta, Painting Class & Pool Tourney Gray Gourmet Bible Study Bridge

Intermediate line dance

Saturday

8:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

Bridge Class Bridge Bingo

Class is from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $34 for a 10-punch pass or $5 to drop in.

Sunday

1:00 p.m.

Dance (1st & 3rd Sunday)

Friday Hikes: Twist-N-Shout (March 28) This unique trail system overlooks the Gunnison River and Orchard Mesa’s Spyglass Ridge. Distance is 8.5 miles and difficulty is moderate to strenuous. Elevation gain is 4,9065,890 feet. Cost is $5 and includes sack lunch. Meet at Albertsons in the Redlands at 10 a.m.

Dance Senior dances Dance the night away to live music at the Senior Recreation Center.

Dances are from 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Thursdays and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Cost is $3.

Country Swing (April 10 & 17) Learn basic moves and a few turns in just two weeks. Class is from

7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park Barn.

Cost is $14 per person, but you must register as a couple.

Education What to do when someone dies (March 12) This valuable workshop covers the basics you’ll need to know should a loved one pass away. We’ll discuss how to administer their estate and we’ll give helpful tips on keeping your sanity and avoiding family fights. This free class is at 4:30 p.m. at the Law Office of Brown & Brown, PC. Call 254-3866 to register.

Garden Talk (March 19) Plan for a successful household herb garden. We’ll discuss easyto-grow herbs for cooking, home remedies, herbal housekeeping and herbal craft. Class is from noon to 1 p.m. at Western Colorado Botanical Gardens. Cost is $5.

Sports Indoor pickleball From 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lincoln Park Barn.

Equipment available. Drop in for $5 or get a 10-punch card for $30.

Pickleball Referee Clinic (April 12) Increase your abilities and learn how easy it is to referee pickleball.

This free clinic will be from 9 a.m.11 a.m. at Lincoln Park Barn. Clinic will cover rules, calls and scoring.

Prepare yourself to help referee the Western Slope Regional Pickleball Tournament on April 26 & 27.

Softball This activity is open to men and women age 50 and older and is a great avenue for exercise and friendly competition. For more information, call Carl at 255-6688.

Trail Host program begins March 5. Get your application in now and don’t miss out on any of the fun!

Become an ambassador for the Riverfront Trail System. ■

a

V

alentine's spectacular!

Submitted by Sylvia Morrison

I

f you missed the recent Valentine’s Dance sponsored by the BEACON Senior Newspaper and Hilltop Senior Living Communities, you missed quite the whoop-dee-do! Mark your calendars for next year!

The parking lot was packed and every table occupied. Youth from the Palisade High School National Honor Society took our coats and showed us to a table decorated with adorable handmade valentines.

The Garden Room at the Commons of Hilltop really set the mood.

Each table had a gold-painted wine bottle containing a single red rose with a trailing string of pearls. (Does that bring to mind a special song and dance from the '40s?) The room was decorated with hearts, flowers and cardboard silhouettes of dancing couples.

The complimentary hors d’oeuvres were delicious and the presentation outstanding. There were kabobs of large basil leaves, cheese balls and Italian tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar; beef steak strips and Swiss cheese wrapped with bacon; mini shrimp cocktails; stuffed mushrooms; and chocolate desserts to die for. Grande River Vineyards had a marvelous wine selection and two glasses of wine were included in the ticket price.

The music by Clark Gault’s Swing City Express was grand. They played all the big-band hits that we fell in love to. The floor was packed with ladies in beautiful dresses and gentlemen in suits or dinner jackets. One couple in particular caught everyone’s eye—she in a red flapper dress and he in a Zoot suit—and boy, could they dance!

The dance was advertised for people age 55 and older and for the older crowd, it was very much our era. If you don’t believe that people my age are still active, you should have seen us having the time of our lives. Several couples came with friends and I watched them exchange dances, just like we always did. I even got to dance with BEACON Publisher Kevin VanGundy himself!

What absolutely splendid memories this event brought back. It was worth four times the $15 ticket price. 

Thank you to the Palisade High School National Honor Society for the wonderful handmade valentines and for all their help. Also, thanks to Dance Works’ ballroom dance instructors Michael Hardesty, George Kelly and Marilyn Kelly.

24 Local lore

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

WesternColor

of

Part 1 of 2

By Sandi Cameron

I

n the late 1880s, the open-range phase of the cattle industry came to an end, with the grasslands overstocked with cattle. Two disastrous winters hit, wiping out many of the weakened herds. Ranchers began to fence in grasslands they owned or had some control over, and began feeding their cattle hay during the winter months.

"Cattle" was not actually the original name for bovine animals. In fact, it was a term borrowed from the Anglo-Norman catel (from Latin caput) and was used to identify personal property, especially livestock, as opposed to real property, such as land. Domestication of animals started quite early in known history and cattle were likely domesticated in upper Mesopotamia during the time of the Sumerian civilization, the oldest recorded city-state society.

Cattle were brought to the New World by Columbus during his second voyage in 1493. By 1520, after acclimating to the wetter, warmer conditions of Central America, there were possibly 8,000 bovines in the New World. Cattle could be used to help with heavy projects in the sugar fields and in mining, and were often favored for food by those who could afford to own them. Some eventually escaped and roamed southern Texas as mavericks. Early accounts state that explorers and horse rustlers said they would rather face almost anything other than a wild cow.

A major economic activity in the West (1866-1886) were cattle drives, when possibly 20 million (or more) longhorns were herded from Texas to railheads, such as in Abilene, Kansas, to be shipped to Chicago (the meat-packing center of the U.S.) and

Cowboy bringing cattle in from range.

Circa 1938.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Major Cattle Trails 1866-1890 ...... Connecting Rail routes as of 1876

&

other eastern points. This was the age of the cowboy and the development of cow towns, i.e., Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cattle were usually driven no more than 15 miles per day, so it could take up to two months to arrive at the railhead. A $4 purchase realizing a 1,000 percent profit, particularly with free water and nutritious grama grasses, made the drive well worth the effort. In 1867, the Goodnight-Loving Trail opened up New Mexico and the Denver region with reserves of unsettled grassland to Texas cattle headed to the Rocky Mountains and the Dakotas.

By 1871, the first cattle had been driven into northwest Colorado.

Nine hundred steers were brought from southern Colorado into Brown’s Hole by George Baggs. He and his partner, William Crawford, decided to locate in the valley’s grassy region, an area long used by fur trappers.

Jesse and Valentine Hoy were the prominent cattlemen of the region, but there were other settlers, such as Charles Crouse, “Bibleback” Brown, and Sam Bassett. A number of notorious gangsters found their way there, as well, including Butch Cassidy, and much illegal activity seemed to be centered at the Bassett ranch.

Decades later, Steamboat Springs became the cattleman’s post in northern Colorado, when the Denver and Salt Lake Railroad reached it in 1909.

Following drought and severe winters, ranchers began to use barbed wire, patented in 1867, to enclose their ranches and protect their grazing lands from the intrusion of predators. Barbed wire played an important role in the protection of range rights in the West. However, ranchers also placed notices in area newspapers claiming rights to particular sections of land and joined stockgrower associations to help enforce their claims.

Cattle grazed in the Sinbad Valley-

2014 March

rado

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Local lore 25

Cowboys branding cattle for the Charles Sieber Cattle Company around 1890.

Photo courtesy of the Museum of Western Colorado.

La Sal Mountain-Gateway area and herds moved west of Grand Junction and Unaweep Canyon back and forth across the Utah border. This constant movement of cattle made the registration of brands difficult.

Cattle were also driven south from Meeker through Douglas Canyon to Rifle, where they were shipped on the D&RG to Denver and points east.

The Little Snake, Yampa, and White River valleys provided plenty of nutrition and sufficient water for range cattle. In the drier north, however, cattle fared poorly, partially due to the hard winters. The industry survived but the cattlemen were often greatly in debt to the banks. Cattlemen were forced to deal with rustlers, sheepmen and predators, but an additional crisis occurred in 1891 when the White River Forest was created. Some 750,000 acres of prime federal grazing land was withdrawn from their use. Now cattlemen had to get grazing permits and they had to compete with sheepmen for the right to use the new federal land.

Read part 2 in April’s BEACON. ■

Cowboys having dinner in the shade of a tree, LS Ranch, Texas, 1907.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Feet in the stirrups and seat in the saddle, I hung and rattled with them long-horn cattle.

Last night I was on guard and the leader broke the ranks, I hit my horse down the shoulders and I spurred him in the flanks.

The wind commenced to blow and the rain began to fall, Hit looked, by grab, like we was goin’ to lose ‘em all.

– Chisholm Trail, author unknown

A proper cowboy was prepared to handle two of anything that came at him. Circa 1900. Photo courtesy of the Museum of Western Colorado.

With thanks to the BLM, Colorado Historical Society, Museum of Moab, The Basque Sheepherder, and the Museum of Western Colorado for information for this article.

26 Finance

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

March 2014

Home equity loans: freeing up funds for seniors, but be cautious

By Marilyn Pribus

H

ome equity loans can be a useful source of cash for homeowners who are considering remodeling jobs, mortgage refinancing, major appliance purchases, or other big-ticket items. They may also be a smart economic move when consolidating existing high-interest rate loans such as credit card debts. Paying off highinterest loans with a single home equity loan translates into a single monthly payment with a considerably lower interest rate. The interest on a home equity loan is usually taxdeductible.

Still, it is always prudent to fully understand the benefits and risks of taking another loan on your home.

What is a home equity loan?

A home’s equity, of course, is the home’s value minus the existing mortgage balance and any other existing loans. Equity loans take two forms. One is an outright loan, which provides a lump sum, generally at a fixed rate for a fixed term. The other is a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which provides money as needed and usually has a variable interest rate that may change during the term of the loan because it is tied to the prime lending rate.

Both kinds of loans have additional costs such as appraisals, originator and title fees, closing costs and pre-payment fees. In some cases, the borrower pays, sometimes the lender pays, and sometimes the costs are shared. The closing costs are typically less than for a mortgage.

Outright loans Generally, people can borrow up to 90 percent of the equity in a home they occupy and about 70 percent for non-owner-occupied houses. You could get anywhere from a 5- to a 30year loan. These loans are commonly second mortgages.

Home equity loans are usually done through banks or credit unions. A repayment schedule, like that of a

mortgage, is set up so the costs are regular and predictable.

HELOCs Line-of-credit loans are useful for providing ready credit for needs that don’t require a large one-time payment. Proceeds might be used for long-term renovation projects, and the borrower can choose when and how much to borrow. The interest may be tax-deductible. As a rule, interest rates are lower than those for an outright loan. However, it’s important to remember that variable rates can climb.

Borrowers can use any part of the credit line at any time and payments are made on only the outstanding amount of the loan, not the total available. It’s basically similar to a revolving account on a credit card and the money can be used and repaid and used again.

Unlike a credit card, a HELOC is secured by the equity in the home so rates are much lower than an unsecured loan and depend on the repayment option chosen by the borrower.

It’s common for a borrower to have the option to make full repayment at any time or to just pay the interest.

There are many variables, such as the size of loan, the credit profile of the borrower, and whether it’s a first or second lien. It’s always a good idea to shop around among institutions.

Caveats Borrowers must always remember they are taking equity out of their home, which decreases its value. If the house is sold, the loan must be repaid. Failure to repay could result in foreclosure or a short sale.

HELOCs should be repaid in a relatively short time. A HELOC can be a smart idea when the money is being used to improve the home, but it’s not a good way to pay for a car or a big vacation.

Still, for people who handle their finances well, home equity loans can be a practical, low-interest way to find money for expenses. ■

March 2014

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

ask the computer guy 27

Local support professionals best way to solve computer issues Ask the computer guy

By Daniel Ashurst, Alpine Computer Solutions

I

n the realm of computer and technology support, the importance of communicating and dealing with a local and familiar face is more evident than ever.

Trust is a commodity in my life that is not doled out to just whoever comes along. From searching for a great mechanic to finding the right insurance and investment professional, the key is finding someone who will shoot straight with you and will offer a fair financial exchange.

At Alpine Computer Solutions, we are receiving weekly calls from home users that are being scammed. Perhaps if they contacted their local professional, they wouldn’t be.

The scam that is motivating me to write this article is the “manufacturer-recommended tech support line.” A scenario may go something like this: You are having trouble getting your Epson printer to behave. Rather than calling a local pro, you take to the Internet or to the 800 number on the paperwork that came with your printer.

Keep in mind, not everything labeled Microsoft or Epson support is truly from the manufacturer. Scam artists will position themselves on the Internet as if they are the factory support team for any number of companies.

They pay good money to be positioned high on the search engine (Google) and they represent themselves as the tech support line. Once they have you on the phone they go through some small talk and then politely ask permission to remotely access your computer.

Once in control of your computer, they have several tricks that are aimed at

convincing you that your computer and/or your printer are infected with viruses, and spyware won’t be able to be loaded until all the viruses are removed. They tell you that your local computer pro tried to remove the infections but was unsuccessful. They ask for $250 to clean up the computer and convince you that they will protect your computer for up to a year. They say your local computer pro is not qualified and would charge much more to do this type of cleanup.

Since many of these scam artists are located overseas, the likelihood of tracking them down is nearly impossible.

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Another scam is when scammers call you, claiming to be Microsoft, and tell you that you have a virus. But as powerful as Microsoft is, they are not in the business of calling customers to tell them about their virus issues.

While this article may seem a little self-serving, I strongly encourage you to find a local professional who has been in business for more than 10 years and develop a relationship with him or her. Of course, we would like to be that company, but if it isn’t us, take time to find a local professional who can protect your interests. This way, if they do something that you are opposed to, you can drive to their shop, walk up to their desk and ask for an explanation. Does that hold value for you? ■ Email your questions to Daniel Ashurst with Alpine Computer Solutions at solutions@alpinepc.com or mail them to the BEACON at P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502. For professional assistance, call Daniel at 234-1011 or Alpine Computer Solutions at 257-1011.

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28 faith moves

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

sharefestweekend SHAREFESTWEEKEND May 3 & 4, 2014 April 24&25, 2010

2014 • Anyone can submit a project.

• Deadline for submitting projects is April 21.

A CITY WIDE EVENT • Anyone can volunteer even if you don’t attend a local church.

• Project needs can include everything from helping clean up your Demonstrating the Love of Christ to Our Community yard to turning a mattress to washing windows to starting up your sprinklers to helping your neighborhood do a general clean-up.

778-4880

www.g jsharefest.com

What can we do for you?

March 2014

ShareFest: a win for people, congregations,

SHAREFESTWEEKEND

and faith in the community

By Carla Johnson

S

hareFest volunteers will soon roll up their sleeves and head into neighborhoods throughout the Western Slope to tackle honey-do lists for folks unable to do for themselves.

The annual initiative mobilizes churches in local communities in a nationwide effort to show the love of Jesus Christ in tangible ways. This year, Grand Valley ShareFest weekend takes place May 3-4.

Debe Colby of First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction is chair of the regional ShareFest steering committee. Colby said ShareFest has evolved over the last seven years.

“We have added nonprofits to our list of churches and for-profit business partners,” she said.

Organizations such as Strive, Mosaic, Habitat for Humanity, and Demonstrating the Homeward Bound cooperate with businesses such as Walgreen’s and independent insurance agencies.

Colby said Sutherlands in Grand Junction supplies materials at or below cost, and employees design handicapped access ramps and other light construction projects.

“Without them, the face of ShareFest would look very different,” Colby said.

Pat Austin, 74, and her late husband were former ShareFest volunteers, but last spring she needed a helping hand.

“I’m a widow on a limited income and I broke my arm,” she said. “I needed my back fence painted and I was going to have to hire someone to do it.”

Austin admitted it was difficult to switch from volunteer to “volunteree” but she said it was worth the call to ask for help.

“I got the paint and they came to the house and measured beforehand,”

Austin said. “Four people did the job in half a day. It was very professional and they did a good job.”

Colby said ShareFest organizers carefully screen both volunteers and beneficiaries.

“Nobody gets information until they’ve been vetted,” Colby said.

Project organizers also ensure that jobs are within the scope of nonprofessionals and that tasks are clearly defined.

“We talk to the homeowner to assess the project and determine what materials will be needed,” Colby said.

People who cannot perform manual labor may opt to bake cookies for ShareFest recipients, or sit and visit with homeowners while the work crews are busy.

Colby said churches often establish bonds that extend past ShareFest weekend. ConFirst Love of Christgregants to OuratCommunity Presbyterian have rallied to help Orchard Avenue Elementary School with needs that would otherwise fall to cash-strapped teachers.

“We do stuff all year long,” Colby said. “We have a group of ladies who sew bibs for special needs students.

Our teenagers do work at The House (shelter for homeless youth). They see kids who have no place to sleep besides there.”

Colby stressed that ShareFest takes compassion to a whole new level.

“Don’t throw a check at it,” she admonished. “Throw your heart and yourself at it.”

Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Grand Junction Dave DeMott said they only had to look across the street to find plenty of worthy projects at R-5 High School.

“In the past we’ve done things a custodian can’t, like washing windows and blinds, and deep-cleaning their nursery facility for single

April 24&25, 2010

A CITY WIDE EVENT Churches often establish bonds that extend past ShareFest weekend, taking compassion to a whole new level.

What can we do for you?

March 2014

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

faith moves 29

Great News!!!

The Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) recently extended to cover former Rocky Flats workers from 1952 to 1983

Thank You former workers of

Rocky Flats For serving our nation during the Cold War

ShareFest volunteers rally together to work on a project for someone in need. moms,” he said.

Members also built bookshelves for record storage, constructed dividers for office cubicles, performed landscaping on the school grounds, and painted a shed for the bicycle repair club.

“We encourage a team effort of R-5 students working side by side with church volunteers to help them take ownership of their school,” DeMott said. “We have an older congregation, but we have a good relationship with the school.”

Church volunteers provide a homemade meal for R-5 students once a week, and they hosted last year’s prom at the church.

DeMott believes ShareFest has a dual value.

“The community realizes the church is not just about Sunday mornings, and it allows churches to think outside the box, to think outside of themselves,” he said. “Many people who are not part of the ecumenical community don’t understand the nuances of difference between churches. They are subtle but important differences. At ShareFest, we set these differences aside. It’s a win-win-win situation. It’s a win for the recipients, a win for individual church congregations, and a win for the corporate faith community.”

To request help with a project or to volunteer with Grand Valley ShareFest, call 778-4880 or visit www.gjsharefest.com. Projects must be submitted by April 21. ■

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Attention

BEACON Advertisers

Donate your canned foods at BeaconFest.

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In a recent study of today’s active, affluent and aging adults, “a healthy mind and body” was cited as the “topic of most interest” to them. Because of our readers’ keen interest in health and wellness we have committed to publish this special insert three times a year (Jan., May, Sept.) with ads and articles created around you and your business.

Advertising Deadline: April 20, 2014 Publication Date: April 28, 2014

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They and Sherri Kole, right, bicycled over 500 miles to the 2012 HD convention in Las Vegas.

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Jeep tours may be the only way to get there

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Your Guide to Summer Travel, Recreation & Festivals

Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Mature travelers over the age of fifty, travel 60% more than the average American and spend 30% more money per trip than younger travelers. Of course, it would be hard for them to spend money with you if they don’t know about you. Let’s let them know.

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Got a booth? If you’re planning to participate in the area’s largest senior fair, it only makes sense to make the most of your investment by placing your ad in our BeaconFest Program. Not only do we insert the program into our April newspaper, but we also give the program away to each attendee.

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Rehabilitation at its nest

es, I have lived in Colorado for over 10 years and until recently, I had never been skiing.

I went skiing for the first time a few weeks ago, when members of the BEACON staff were invited to spend the day at Powderhorn Mountain Resort up on the Grand Mesa.

Our office manager, Lisa, and graphic designer, Heidi, hadn’t downhill skied in years so they jumped at the opportunity. Me? I’m not a big fan of snow or winter. In fact, most of the time that there’s snow outside, the only place you are likely to find me is in my bed, hiding under the covers, curtains closed, with the thermostat turned up high.

So how did I get suckered into this?

Well, actually, I suckered myself into it and here’s why.

1) I have fun with Lisa and Heidi.

2) Lisa and Heidi don’t write articles.

3) I like to try new things and I knew that if skiing was really as terrible as it sounded, I would have no problem spending the rest of the day with a beer at the bar while my coworkers skied to their heart’s content.

On the mountain The wind felt like ice up on the mountain. Luckily, I came prepared with the warmest attire I could convince my friends and family to lend me.

We met up with Powderhorn’s as-

sistant general manager, Luke Martin, who made sure we had everything we needed. He said I still had some time before my half-day ski lesson, so we headed downstairs to get fitted with our rentals.

The staff members at the rental shop were great. I was amazed at how well they managed to take care of all the skiers and snowboarders while still managing a smile on their faces. One staff member, Darren, entertained skiers and snowboarders as he boogied around the shop, singing to classic pop hits as he helped them with their rentals.

Pablo got us fitted with the proper equipment. He grew up working in the service industry in Aspen/ Snowmass and it was easy to see his knowledge and passion as he worked. He fitted us with Rossignol skis and boots; helmets; poles; and goggles. We were ready to ski.

Ski lesson While Heidi and Lisa went off to the advanced slopes to see if they still remembered how to ski, I sat down at a bench and waited for my lessons to start. I listened to the youthful ski instructors banter and horseplay with each other. An older, probably middle-aged ski instructor walked by and joined in the banter.

“Hey, Mo!” the younger instructors called to him. I enjoyed listening to their good-natured teases and his playful retorts.

March 2014 “Who’s got Mo?” they asked.

I got Mo, and I'm sure glad I did.

Mo was an experienced skier. He started skiing at age 12 and has been a ski instructor for over 30 years.

Now at 52, he and his wife Dorothy work at Powderhorn and live on the Grand Mesa.

Being that there was only one other person taking lessons from Mo, I felt like I learned a lot in a short amount of time. Mo worked patiently with both of us throughout the morning and by lunchtime, I was amazed to see how my skills had advanced. I could actually manage to ski down a slope without falling—even if it was the bunny slope. Mo praised our progress and encouraged us to return for another lesson after lunch… as long as we didn’t have too many beers.

Ski and repeat One beer was enough to complement a super messy but tasty sandwich at the Sunset Bar & Grille. (I think what I got was called the Bear Claw, which was something like a hamburger and pulled pork sandwich in one.) I signed up for the afternoon lesson and met Mo outside. My fellow ski-student had gone home so my afternoon essentially consisted of private lessons with Mo. The wind had died down and the rest of the day was sunny. While I never had the urge to take off any layers, I was perfectly comfortable.

According to Luke, inversions are common up on the mountain, causing the climate to be fairly mild.

“Often, the weather is nicer up

here than it is in Grand Junction,” he said.

The afternoon lessons involved riding the ski lift up a hill, skiing down a trail, and repeat, each time working on my technique. I only crashed once but I tripped over my skis a couple of times.

I completely agree with Luke when he said, “We have incredible instructors that can tailor lessons to all abilities.”

I thanked Mo for his patience and wonderful instruction after my lesson. He encouraged me to ski freely a few times before we headed home and I did. In fact, I skied (the bunny slope) until the lifts closed.

My ski lesson and our overall experience at Powderhorn was a day well spent outside in the mountains. Even inside, the staff was friendly, entertaining, and attentive to our diverse needs.

“I forgot how much I loved skiing,” Heidi said. “It had been so long since I spent a day on the slopes, it was exhilarating to feel the rush again.” ■

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Stay active at Powderhorn Clinics are popular among the 50 and older crowd because for $59, skiers receive a two and a half hour lesson and lunch, along with discounted lift tickets and rentals. Clinics are taught by ski instructors and are meant to help skiers take their skills to the next level.

Tele-Tuesdays are for those wanting to improve their telemark skiing skills.

Women’s Wednesdays is a clinic taught by women for women.

Young at Heart on Thursdays is especially popular since this program is designed especially for skiers and riders age 50 and older. It is not considered a clinic but is more of a social event, since there is no instruction-based lesson.

Skiers and riders are divided into groups according to skill level and ski/ride alongside a guide. This event is free. All you have to pay is the discounted lift ticket price of $38.

Pablo Spencer adjusts a rental ski.

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Stay tuned for Powderhorn’s summer schedule! Visit www.powderhorn.com or like them on Facebook. Call 2685700 for details.

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Phone: 243-8829 Fax: 1-800- 536-7516

Mail: P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502

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Central Library; stocking a “’tween” area in the children’s department; veryone needs good friends, inand the summer reading program. cluding Mesa County Libraries.

Friends of the Library is not a one“The volunteers who are part of person operation.

Friends of the If it weren’t for the Library support volunteers who the projects and help sort books equipment the and those who libraries need, work at the Novel which wouldn’t Idea Bookstore, necessarily happen fulfilling their misotherwise,” Public sion would not be Information Managpossible. er Bob Kretschman Volunteers said.

Estelle Lance, 60, Proceeds from Luis Lopez, 75, the Friends of the and Leslie Spurlin, Library book sale, 59, agree that the coming up March 20-22, and the Novcamaraderie and el Idea Bookstore at discovering books the Central Library together is what help finance the Don’t miss the book sale they enjoy about goals of Friends of volunteering for When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., March 20-22 the Library.

Friends of the Generous book Library.

Where: First Congregational Church, donations make it “Just because 1025 N. Fifth St. in Grand Junction possible to keep I’m not in school Volunteer the bookstore doesn’t mean I freshly stocked and To volunteer with Friends of the Library, should stop learncall Lopez at 201-0868. To volunteer offering a wide ing,” Lance said. at the Novel Idea Bookstore, contact selection of books Linda Crawford, Marilyn Robinson at 683-2432 or at the book sale.

71, loves purchasvolunteer@mcpld.org.

“I estimate we’ll ing books at Novel have 20,000 books Idea. for sale this year,” Friends of the Li“I can read them at my leisure and brary President Maggie Lopez said. pass them on to my friends,” she said.

The most popular categories of “Some I save for my own library and books are about Colorado and westreread, or I can donate them back.” ern history, but there are many Book donations are taken yearother categories, such as mystery, round at a drop box located on the biography, travel, large print, humor, west end of First Congregational poetry, outdoor sports, cookbooks, Church’s parking lot, 1025 N. Fifth St. religion, gardening, teen and chilAll book and financial donations are dren’s books, CDs/DVDs and more. tax deductible.

“I got involved in Friends of the Grandmother of six, Pattie Wade, Library because I believe in it,” Lopez 48, is the youngest bookstore volunsaid. “We are proud to have pledged teer. She occasionally uses an elec$100,000 to the library remodel.” tronic reader but she prefers books.

Programs and projects supported “There’s something about holding a

by Friends of the Library include physical book and turning the pages,” Poetry Night; One Book, One Mesa Wade said. “My grandkids come to County; the Homebound Book Van; the library often and love to see me the Literacy Center; special equipvolunteering here.” ■ ment for the low-vision area at the

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33

Positive change to rectify meal program uncertainty

By Liesl Greathouse

M

any Montrose-area seniors take advantage of the nutritious meal programs and services that the Senior CommUnity Meals (SCM) program provides. Unfortunately, budget cuts have caused some concern in the community regarding the program’s services going forward. Some recent changes in the program aim at alleviating some of those concerns.

Perhaps the most notable change is the appointment of Joe Walker as the program’s new director. Walker, a registered dietician and nutritionist, oversees the program’s administrative duties, meal site kitchens and contracts with vendors. His previous position with SCM, helping with nutrition analyses, helped him better understand the concerns of local seniors.

“My previous position gives me a wider perspective,” Walker said.

“Prior to my arrival in October, we were faced with significant cutbacks in funding. We are all concerned about it.” The solution to keep the program going was to make an essential change. Now people get frozen

meals through the Meals on Wheels program.

SCM oversees the home-delivered meals program, known as Meals on Wheels. It also provides congregant meal sites for seniors, where the community provides the location and SCM provides the staff, food and service. It also determines if someone qualifies for its services and works to help seniors figure out what other services may be available for them.

The meal sites have also felt the financial strain.

“We have had to cut back days,” Walker explained. “In some communities, people have stepped up to provide modified soup kitchens when we are not there. People are helping fill in the gaps.”

SCM recently received two grants to assist in operational expenses—$1,500 from the Montrose Community Foundation and $7,000 from the Montrose County Board of Commissioners.

“Funding is not going to get better and the grants are tremendous gifts that help keep us going,” Walker said.

“We will have to look at other ways

to get funds. We have a few plans for fundraisers in the future.”

Government nutrition standards for SCM are relatively strict, as the meals provided must meet set requirements. Walker meets with the cooks monthly to help them prepare meals that meet government requirements.

“I work with the cooks to improve the menu,” he said. “I honor what they know participants want and it has been working better.”

It’s Walker’s goal to continue ser-

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Pavilion public bus stop changes to flex service

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n keeping with an emphasis on efficiency and excellent service, All Points Transit implemented a small change for general public bus passengers who board APT’s Gold Route at the Montrose Pavilion. Passengers now need to call in advance to schedule a pick up at the Pavilion. These changes will have no impact on the Dial-A-Ride “lunch bunch” route that brings seniors to the Pavilion for meals every day.

Since All Points Transit began running the Montrose City Bus in September of 2010, the Pavilion has been a regular stop on Gold Mine Route 3. The bus stops at the Pavilion two times per hour between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., once headed south toward shopping and work destinations on South Townsend and a second time

headed back north toward the hospital and downtown Montrose.

“Gold Route is our busiest route,” Mobility Manager Sarah Curtis said.

“By asking passengers to call in advance, we can serve the traveling public more efficiently. We know the Pavilion is an important part of the Montrose community, and we will continue to serve the stop without any additional charge.”

All of the public route buses will deviate up to a half-mile off route for a “flex” stop, with 24 hours’ notice.

Flex service usually costs an extra $1 above regular pass rates. Passengers at the Pavilion stop will not be charged the extra $1 and can schedule their ride with just one hour’s notice by calling 249-1951. ■

vices as well as to reinstate old ones.

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34 Crossword puzzle

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

March 2014

Crossword Puzzle Donations to Community Projects – January 1, 2013 thru December 31, 2013 Agape Food Bank (Fruita Branch).......................$7,200.00 Memorials ...............................................................$100.00 Catholic Outreach Kitchen...................................$7,200.00 Fruita Fall Festival – sponsor Blue Grass band...$2,500.00 Gray Gourmet (Senior Meals) .............................$7,200.00 Salvation Army – Holiday Turkeys .......................$1,000.00 RSVP...................................................................$7,200.00 Western Slope Center for Children......................$1,500.00 Western Colorado Math & Science Center..........$7,200.00 Center for Independence ........................................$500.00 Family Health West Resident Activities ...............$1,200.00 Fruita Community Center – Senior Lunches........$1,800.00 Family Health West – Resident Outings..............$2,400.00 Fruita Fury Baseball Team – Equipment.................$300.00 Artspace & Open Studios Program ........................$300.00 United Group Homes of Mesa County....................$300.00 Am. Cancer Soc. – Fruita Relay for Life Event....$2,500.00 Fruita Historical Coloring Book ...............................$300.00 Lower Valley Imagination Library.........................$9,053.00 M.S. Society.........................................................$1,000.00 Foster Grandparent Program..................................$300.00 (this is made possible with donations) Family Health West – shopping carts for elders .....$200.00 Family Health Hospital – CPR Equipment ............$2266.00 Living Waters Baptist Church – Power Lunches...$3600.00 Thunder Cats Baseball Team – Equipment ............$300.00 Fruita Little League – to help replace equipment destroyed by vandals/fire – $1,000.00 Lower Valley Fire District – we have pledged $100,000.00 towards their building fund. We have paid $8,000 of that pledge so far. Pledge is to be completed in four years at $25,000 a year.

Total Donations in 2013 – $67,366.00 We sincerely thank all of the customers and all those who generously donated to the Thrift Shop.

Without your support, we would not be able to put all this financial help back into your community.

We are always looking for new volunteers who are willing to give four hours or more a month to help with stocking new items and working behind the counter. If you feel you would be interested in this organization, please stop by the shop on days that we are open or speak to one of the volunteers for more information. It can be a very rewarding feeling giving back to your community.

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Across 1 Kennedy and Turner 5 Clothed, as a judge 10 Word after ready, self, or man 14 Medicinal plant 15 Call forth 16 Sunday utterance 17 Brocaded fabric 18 Radium discoverer 19 Boot bottom 20 A Jackson 23 Animal pouch 24 Like old Paree 25 Philippine volcano 28 Fling to the mat 31 Beefeaters 36 Angie Dickinson’s big, bad role 38 Notable times 40 Kind of oil or branch 41 A Jackson 44 Not bogus 45 At the summit of 46 Japanese money 47 Rubber rubber 49 Meeting with an M.D. 51 Piggery 52 Play to the camera 54 Financial terms abbr.

56 A Jackson 64 “The Forsyte ___” (Galsworthy) 65 Tiger’s favorite color?

66 Live shot 67 A Baldwin 68 He saw the new “Star Wars” flick for sure 69 Tell imaginative tales 70 Wall Street ___ 71 Actors want them 72 Noble Italian name Down 1 Soapstone 2 Israeli airline 3 Capitol feature 4 Nostradamus and Elijah 5 Used, and used again 6 Being-to-be 7 When repeated, one of the Society Islands 8 Making do 9 Disc -spinner 10 Father’s concern?

11 Famous cookie man 12 Take out of context?

13 Needle point?

21 You may step on it or burn it

22 Keep an ___ (watch) 25 Good-sized 26 Whittler 27 Alpha to ___ 29 High-pressure ___ 30 Sea ray 32 Auto -pioneer 33 Sticks 34 Occurrence 35 Informative, informally 37 Used car caveat 39 Traffic sign word 42 List components 43 Assigns 48 Actor Hauer 50 Center X? 53 Pinup great Greta 55 SNL original 56 White as a sheet 57 Double curve 58 Prepare for an overseas vacation 59 Stagger 60 “A ___ formality” 61 Fuse measurements 62 Give off, as light 63 Like a certain wolf or eagle 64 Tool shed item

March 2014

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Mesa county 35

Mesa County Club Activities Compiled by Liesl Greathouse • Friendship Force meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at Community Hospital’s lower conference room. Call 260-4653 or visit www.thefriendshipforce.org.

• Western Slope Coin Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the VFW Post 1247, 1404 Ute Ave. Get a free coin/currency evaluation before the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Call 241-1770 or visit ww.gjcoinshow.com.

• Two River Sams Chapter, Good Sam RV Club, meets at 11:30 a.m. on March 8. For location, call 523-5625.

• Grand Valley Knights is a group of auto enthusiasts that meet every Saturday from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. at Spoons Bistro and Bakery with their sport and classic vehicles. Call 462-6762 or visit www.grandvalleyknights.com.

• Mesa County Genealogical Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Commons of Hilltop and at noon on the fourth Wednesday of the month (bring a lunch) at the Museum of Western Colorado. A help session is at 1 p.m. on the first Friday of the month at one of the Mesa County libraries.

Call 245-5312.

• Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays at the Masonic Lodge. Call 261-1670.

• Happy Feet Rounds meets at the Masonic Lodge on Sundays for a variety of dancing, including waltz, rumba, cha-cha and more. Beginners are welcome from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and intermediate dancers are welcome from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Call 243-5858.

• Grand Valley Woodcarvers Club meets from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month and from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays at the Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 523-5965.

• Levis & Lace Square Dance Club has beginner’s classes from 7 p.m.8:30 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge.

Call 936-8801 or 434-6541.

• Art Jewelers’ Guild meets at 6:30 p.m.

on the second Monday of each month at the Grandview Apartments, 1501 N. First St. Call 243-1220.

• Stamp Collectors meet the second Wednesday at White Star Electric at 7 p.m. Call 986-1502.

• Western Slope Non-Smoking Singles has potlucks on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.

They go out to eat on the third Wednesday of the month and have monthly outings. Call 434-5277.

• Mesa Fiberarts Guild meets at noon the first Wednesday of the month at First Presbyterian Church, and at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Center for Independence. Call 245-9469 or visit www. mesafiberartsguild.org.

• Blue Lodge Masons meet at 10 a.m. the first Saturday of the month at the Masonic Lodge. Call 245-5312.

• Grand Mesa Back Country Horsemen meet at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month. For location and details, call 242-8860.

• Post 2009, American Legion meets at 5:30 p.m. for dinner at The Atrium of the Grand Valley with a meeting to follow. All honorably discharged veterans are welcome to join. Call 242-9195.

• Play Pinochle from 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m.

Saturdays at Nellie Bechtel Senior Apartments. Will teach beginners.

Call 241-0048.

• Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club welcomes new members to play at 2923 North Ave. Open games are at 1 p.m.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. Call 243-7874.

• The Brush & Palette Club meets on the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Art Center. The public is welcome. There is no fee. The Brush & Palette Club provides opportunities for members to learn, practice and improve technical skills and abilities in all fine art media. Call 241-0410. ■

Palisade Fruita

Grand Junction (new location)

We will honor policies from any other funeral home, at these prices, and we will refund your family the difference.

Burials

Includes FREE 20 Ga. Sentry Metal Casket (Choice of 4 Colors) $3,540 All Veterans & Active /Retired Police & Firemen: Includes FREE Sentry Metal Casket (Choice of 4 Colors) $2,995

Cremations

Direct $1,095 • All Veterans & Active /Retired Police & Firemen $995

Palisade Funeral Home

Fruita Funeral Home

Grand Junction Funeral Home

729 373/10 Road

455 Kokopelli Blvd, Suite A

1022 Grand Ave.

464-5333

858-3933

549-1114

36 Mesa county

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Mesa County Calendar Compiled by Liesl Greathouse March 7 & 8

Western Colorado Chorale Spring Celebration Our two featured works: Constant Lambert’s jazzy “The Rio Grande” will be an exciting journey not to be missed and guest soloist Kelly Anderson joins the chorale in Vaughan William’s powerful “Five Mystical Songs for Baritone, Chorus and Piano.”

Kathryn Mientka, our accomplished pianist, is featured as soloist and pianist in these major works. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors 65 and older. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. at Colorado Mesa University's Recital Hall. For details and to purchase tickets, call 243-6787.

March 8 & 22

Recreation Center, 550 Ouray Ave. All ages are welcome. Cost is $5. For details, call 858-7825.

March 9

Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner Come celebrate those Irish Viking roots and cultural delight with a delicious home-cooked dinner provided by those fabulous Norwegian chefs of Vestafjell Lodge, Sons of Norway, and be entertained with Celtic music by Diamond Jim Hewitt & Friends. Event starts at 2 p.m. at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3133 F Road in Grand Junction. Cost is $8 per adult. To reserve a spot, call 245-5649 or 858-6702 by March 6. If you forget, come anyway. For more information, visit www.vestafjelllodge.org.

March 11

CMU Symphony Orchestra concert

Dance to traditional country Bill Bartley plays traditional country music for biweekly dances from 7 p.m.10 p.m. at the Grand Junction Senior

The Colorado Mesa University Symphony Orchestra will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Moss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall at CMU,

Home care beyond the expected

ME CAREDICAL AVAI ALSO LABL E

Companion care for you and your companion Just two of our unique home care services At Hilltop Home Care we realize that remaining safe and secure in your own home requires more than just medical care, that’s why we offer a wide-range of non-medical services including: n Personal care & grooming n Companionship services n Downsizing & relocation n Handyman services n Transportation for errands & shopping

n Housekeeping n Meal preparation & delivery

n Emergency Response Monitors n Pet care & customized services All caregivers screened & insured

(970) 208-1345 • HilltopHomeCareGJ.org L O C A L L Y

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which will feature the winners of the University’s Concerto Competition.

The competition takes place once a year and is open to all CMU music majors. In addition to selections played by the winners, the symphony will also perform Beethoven’s "Symphony No. 1." Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 248-1604.

March 13

AARP Driver Safety Class Save money on car insurance! Class will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the State Police barracks behind Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita. Call 858-1514 to register.

March 14

Writers’ Forum special event Meet and mingle with writers and readers at this Western Colorado Writers’ Forum special event from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at their new location, 740 Gunnison Ave. Local author Lyn Fraser will read from her new book “Debits & Credits” and offer a session on the page-to-print process. Cost is $10 for publishing session and $5 for

March 2014 Lyn’s reading, open mic and networking. No charge for WCWF members or for those who join at the event.

For details, visit www.westerncolora dowriters.org.

March 15 & 19

MET Opera in HD - Massenet’s “Werther.”

The Metropolitan Opera is broadcasted worldwide for millions to experience. See Massenet’s “Werther” right here in Grand Junction at Regal Cinemas, 648 Market St., at 10:55 a.m. on March 15 and the encore at 6:30 p.m.

March 19. For more information, call 241-2271.

March 15

Bowling Tournament

Bowl at Orchard Mesa Lanes, 295 27 Road in Grand Junction. Cost is $25 per person and $90 per four-person team. Bowling begins at 3 p.m.

There will be cash prizes and even 9-pin no tap games. Proceeds support the Grand Junction CHAMPS, the Veterans Golden Age Games Team. All proceeds will assist team members to travel to the 2014 National Golden Age Games in Fayetteville, Arkansas

March 2014 in June. Call 245-6175 for details.

March 20

Experimental art demonstration The Brush & Palette Club hosts this free demonstration by Ann Kurz Chambers on experimental art and mixed water media techniques.

Learn to layer transparent washes of liquid acrylic or ink over texture created by plastic, gesso and tools to create depth and interest. Use these techniques to enhance your current work or to develop a new style of painting. The event will be at 1 p.m. at the Art Center, 1803 N. Seventh St. For details, call 241-0410.

March 21 & 22

Grand Valley Health Fair The Grand Valley Health Fair is at 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Two Rivers Convention Center. There will be 17 free health screenings and hands-on activities for all. For details, call 244-8400 or visit www.grandvalleyhealthfair.org.

March 21 & 22

Ain’t We Got Fun! This variety show performed by Grand Junction Senior Theatre will feature an all-cast chorus, dancers, monologues and skits, providing fun for everyone. Performances take place at Grand Junction High School at 7 p.m. both nights and at 2 p.m.

Sunday. Tickets are $10 and available at Albertson’s, City Market and Roper Music. For details, call 720-272-7394.

March 22

Roast Beef Dinner Serving times will be 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 237 32 Road in Grand

fresioen admis

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Junction. Cost is $12.50 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12, and free for children ages 5 and under. For details and to get tickets, call 434-5683.

March 27

Square Dance fundraiser Do-si-do and swing your partner at this fun event from 6:30 p.m.8:30 p.m. at the Fruita Community Center, 324 N. Coulson in Fruita.

Admission is $6 per person and dancers of all skill levels are welcome. Refreshments will be available.

Proceeds support the Grand Junction CHAMPS, the Veterans Golden Age Games Team. For more information, call 303-548-5789.

March 29

Community Contra Dance Come with or without a partner to La Puerta Ballroom, 523 1/2 Main St. in Grand Junction. The Family Dance is from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Cost is $12 per family or $5 for adults and $3 for kids. All ages are welcome.

A new dancer’s workshop begins at 7 p.m. and the dance takes place from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Adults are $8. Enjoy live, Celtic/old time music.

For details, call 243-6736.

March 29

Saving Your Textile Treasures Talk about saving your textile treasurers in an interactive program with Julia Brennan from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 3040 27 1/2 Road in Grand Junction.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To purchase tickets and for details, call 241-7922. ■

April 17, 2014 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

River City Singles

March 2014 Activity Schedule

“Young-at-heart adults getting together for fun and friendship!”

Fridays at 5 p.m. - Friday Afternoon Club (FAC) meets in The DoubleTree Hotel’s lounge, 743 Horizon Drive. The first FAC meeting of the month is the business meeting. Visitors welcome. Call Janice Koppang at 261-9114 or 433-7108 for details.

Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. - Early Start Breakfast at Denny’s on Horizon Drive. Visitors welcome. Call Debbie Grose at 245-4995 for details.

Tuesdays at 4:45 p.m. - Taco Tuesday in Bailey’s Lounge at the Grand Vista Hotel, 2790 Crossroads Blvd. For details, call 241-6383.

Wednesdays at 5 p.m. - Dine out at the following locations every week. Visitors welcome. Call Debbie Grose at 245-4995 for details.

March 5 – Ale House March 19 – Applebee’s March 26 – Sang Garden Sundays at 12:30 p.m. - Bowling Sunday at Orchard Mesa Lanes, 295 27 Road. RSVP to Bob Lewis at 263-8462.

Saturday, March 1 at noon - Enjoy billiards, games of pool and lunch at Bank 8 Billiards, 2460 Patterson Road. Call Mary Wynn at 255-7370 for details.

Sunday, March 2 at 5 p.m. - Enjoy the Academy Awards with flair. Dress for the occasion and walk the red carpet at the DoubleTree Hotel. Call Janice Koppang at 261-9114 for details.

Wednesday, March 5 at 1 p.m. - Have lunch at Applebee’s, 711 Horizon Drive, followed by a tour of the Leitner-Poma site, 2746 Seeber Drive, at 2:30 p.m. Participants must be mobile, wear covered-toe shoes and be willing to wear safety glasses. Call Janice Koppang at 261-9114 for details.

Wednesday, March 15 at 6 p.m. - St. Patrick’s Party at Billie Herman’s home, 753 Bliss Drive in Palisade. Wear green, bring green potluck food and BYOB. Call Billie at 464-0578 for details.

Tuesday, March 20 at 3 p.m. - Tour Dinosaur Journey Museum, 550 Jurassic Court in Fruita. After the tour, we will eat at El Tapatio, 402 Jurassic Ave. in Fruita. Call Mitzi Taylor at 242-2807 for details.

Home

Loans Shelly Smith CO MLO License # 100011819 NMLS # 273372 Town & Country # 299128

In downtown Fruita

858-4752

Two Rivers Convention Center, Grand Junction, CO

Mesa county 37

122 E. A spEn , F ruitA , C olorAdo 81521

Yoga for Seniors with a

Therapeutic Approach One week of free unlimited yoga.

970-683-0166 1048 Independent Avenue A207 www.academyofyoga.com www.facebook.com/academyofyoga www.integrativewellnesstoday.com

38 Mesa county

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Mesa County Beacon Bits interested or if you have questions, call 260-4653 or email alfshouse12@ hotmail.com.

Compiled by Liesl Greathouse

Weight loss surgery seminar If you are considering weight loss surgery, attend a free education session presented by the staff of St. Mary’s Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Center. Learn how the different types of surgery work, who qualifies, and how St. Mary’s will support you.

Sessions take place at the St. Mary’s Life Center, 2686 Patterson Road.

Call 298-6400 to register.

• March 12 - 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

• March 26 - noon to 1:30 p.m.

Redlands Lions donate to Kids Aid Redlands Lion’s Club President Tom Kalenian presented a $2,000 donation to Kids Aid Program Director Mary Beth Luedtke on February 12 at the Kids Aid warehouse. Kids Aid is a non profit organization dedicated to providing for the needs of children, with a primary focus on supplying food to hungry kids.

Friendship Force hosts guests from Russia

HOA training seminars Your HOA Team is holding a series of four advanced training seminars for HOAs in March. Back by popular demand! Attorney David Firmin, Murray Bain and Barbara Lucks will be featured presenters at “HOA Board Boot Camp: Advanced Training Series” in Grand Junction from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Cost is $40 per

Friendship Force of Western Colorado, a travel exchange club, will host ambassadors from the Friendship Force club in Moscow, Russia, from May 27 to June 3. They would like to invite anyone in the community who speaks Russian or who is from Russia to help us entertain them. If D E M E N T I A

&

A L Z H E I M E R’S

S U P P O R T

“I found the support I needed to care for mom at home.”

S TRY UREE F R FO first 3 visits a Your EE for are FR d time limite

Exploring Watercolor With Nancy Lewis Nancy Lewis offers an 8-week series of watercolor classes at the Artist Haven, 240 North Ave., during March and April. The classes are developed for different artistic levels and can assist each student in taking their art to a new level. Monday classes will be for those who have developed intermediate skills with watercolor but want to take it to a new level.

Wednesday classes are for those who have little, if any, experience with watercolor but always wanted to explore it. Classes are from 9:30 a.m. to noon and are $160 for the 8-week series or $20 per class. Classes are limited to 12 students. For details and to register, call 424-5125.

GriefShare Program Community members who have

experienced the death of a family member or friend are invited to take part in the GriefShare program at First Presbyterian Church, 3940 27 1/2 Road. This nondenominational program features Christ-centered, Biblical teachings that focus on grief topics. GriefShare will be held from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. March 11 through June 3. Cost is $15 and includes a workbook. To register, call 242-1923.

Do you love to ballroom dance and dine?

Do you and your friends or significant other wish there was a place in town to enjoy ballroom dancing to great music while eating gourmet food in a nice venue? Get in on the ground level of an exciting new club that will provide an opportunity for members and guests to dance in the Grand Valley. For more information, call Jim Brock at 201-4506 or Marilyn Kelly at 260-2902.

Upcoming concert reminder The Mesa County Concert Association reminds season ticket holders of their upcoming concerts featuring Thank You for the Music—a Modern Tribute to ABBA on March 10 and Doc Severinson’s Big Band on March 31 at Grand Junction High School, 1400 N. Fifth St. For details, call 243-1979 or visit www.mesacounty concertassociation.org.

Happy 90th Birthday to

Mary Rublacaba

A safe and secure day program for seniors with memory loss... a break for the caregiver. n Get the flexibility and support you need to care for your loved one at home n Socialization and stimulation for seniors affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia

session and includes dinner. Cost is $150 for series. Advance registration required. Call 274-1286 or visit www. yourhoateam.com for details.

• March 5: Rules & Reason (rules compliance) • March 6: Money Matters (budgeting/reserves/tracking) • March 12: K.I.S.S. (simple ways to build community) • March 13: DIY HOA (strategies for effective self-management)

March 2014

n Activities customized to individual interests and abilities n Medicaid and Department of Veterans Affairs assistance available for those who qualify

Congratulations to our wonderful mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and great-greatgrandmother. Your abundant faith, love, support and commitment to family are our inspiration. We love you and may God bless you always!

(970) 241-7798 • www.seniordaybreak.org

All your family.

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Museum of Western Colorado activities • March 13 - Changing Landscapes of Science Lecture at 7 p.m. at the Whitman Educational Center, 248 S. Fourth St. Topic is “Tracks, Trilobites and Triconodonts: Recent Museum Paleontological Research Projects,” presented by Dr. John Foster. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

• March 20 - Oral history presentation at noon at the Whitman Educational Center, 248 S. Fourth St. • March 28 - Behind the Scenes Tour at 5:30 p.m. at Cross Orchards Historic Site, 3073 F Road in Grand Junction. Cost is $5 per person.

Support groups • Mending Hearts Support Group is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. This group meets from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest, 3090 N. 12th St. Call 248-8844 for more information.

• Caregiver Connections is open to all caregivers. This group meets from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest, 3090 N. 12th St. Call 248-8844 for more information.

• MACHO Men, a cancer support group, meets at 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at St. Mary’s Hospital’s Java City Café. For details, call 298-2351.

• St. Mary’s Stroke Support Group meets from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. on the third Friday of each month in the Grand Mesa Room of St. Mary’s Life Center, 2686 Patterson Road. Call 298-1929 for details. For March: Bring your hobby or craft to share. Also, learn about eating vegetarian.

• Breast Cancer Support Group meets from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the Reflection Room of St. Mary’s Hospital (Entrance 25). Call 298-2254 for details.

• GriefShare is a nondenominational Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one.

Meet from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Mondays.

For details, call Vicci Hofmann at 628-1453.

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com • Western Slope Scleroderma Support Group is free and open to all scleroderma patients, family, caregivers and friends. They meet from noon to 2 p.m. at Alpine Bank, 225 N. Fifth St. on the second Saturday of each odd month. Call 303-806-6686 for details.

Volunteer opportunities • RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of our member agencies. For a list of volunteer opportunities and to register, call 243-9839.

• Mesa County SOS needs volunteer drivers to give seniors rides to grocery shopping, pharmacy and medical visits once a week. Must be 25 or older and pass a background check.

SOS will reimburse for mileage. Call 248-2746.

• HopeWest is seeking volunteers for a variety of positions. Call Diane at 257-2378.

• Operation Interdependence needs volunteers to write notes for the troops, help collect products and pack civilian rations. Call 523-4217.

• Gray Gourmet needs several adult volunteers to deliver a weekday lunch to homebound seniors in the Grand Valley. Volunteers are also needed to work at one of their senior dining sites one day per week. Call 243-9844.

• Harden Hospice needs volunteers to help patients tell their life stories.

Training is provided. Call 210-5912. ■

FREE

Yard Waste Drop-Off

Tuesday- Saturday 8am-4:30pm

For more information call

263-9319

Organic Materials Composting Facility 3071 U.S. Highway 50, Grand Junction www.mesacounty.us/swm

Mesa county 39

IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Richard W. Lewis, Funeral Director One of the most lasting impressions you are likely to leave on this world after your death will be encapsulated in the words you choose for your epitaph. While many people choose to make their graves simply with their name and the years of their birth and death, others choose sayings, phrases, or poems that reflect their personalities and experiences. For instance, actress Bette Davis has the words “She did it the hard way” on her gravestone, while Edgar Allen Poe’s cryptic epitaph reads “Nevermore.” Epitaphs also commonly make reference to the deceased’s relation to his or her family and the wish for the deceased’s soul to rest in peace. Epitaphs allow us to have the last word.

An approach of many successful epitaphs is to ‘speak’ to the reader and warn them about their own mortality as “Remember friend as you walk by. As you are now so once was I. As I am now you will surely be. Prepare thyself to follow me.” originally found in a European monastery.

Taking a walk through a cemetery is not only a soothing experience, but looking at different styles of the headstones can be extremely interesting, as well as reading the epitaphs. The epitaphs are lasting records of people who are long gone.

The gravestones detailing the epitaph records of ordinary folk are just as absorbing as epitaphs for famous people. Consider the reasons why a particular death might have resulted in a specific epitaph. And remember that examples of epitaphs can be very enlightening and the poem and poetry epitaph very moving.

Martin Mortuary, your local Dignity Memorial Provider, strives to offer a wide range of services in order to fulfill the wishes of any family that calls on us. We make every effort to plan a celebration that will be consistent with the needs and expectations of each particular family. We will take the time to plan every detail and do everything possible to relieve the burden on you and your family during the time of loss. Please feel free to visit our Mortuary at 550 North Avenue, call us at 970-243-1538 to setup an appointment, or visit our website: MartinMortuary.com.

Whether you desire cremation or burial, Martin Mortuary now provides the security of insurance funded funeral prearrangements.

Preserve your precious memories with archival quality framing...

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If you have problems visualizing what your project will look like before it’ s done, we have the solution. It’ s called a visualization camera. We take a photo of your art and with a few clicks of the mouse you can see the frame, the mat width and the art as if it were already hanging on your wall.

529 Bogart Lane (next to Golden Corral) 245-6999 www.framedepotgj.com

40 Delta/ Montrose counties

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

March 2014

Delta/Montrose Calendar Compiled by Liesl Greathouse

more information, call 252-7172.

March 3

March 11

Trained counselors will give you the information to select a plan to fit your lifestyle. They may also have information available that may save you money. One-hour appointments are scheduled from 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Delta Public Library, 211 W. Sixth St. First come, first served.

Sponsored by RSVP-Colorado West.

For details and to set an appointment, call 249-9639.

If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Christians will always be fascinated by the founder of their faith and the Lord of their lives. Many are asking questions about Jesus. Was He merely a man, or is He the Son of God? If He is, what are the implications for our everyday lives? The Alpha course is an opportunity for all to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting. Long-time Christians develop a deeper personal relationship with God and new Christians and non-Christians learn about the basics of Christianity. An introductory meeting will be 6 p.m.7:30 p.m. at Montrose United Methodist Church, 19 S. Park Ave. Dessert and childcare will be provided. For details, call 249-3716.

Free Medicare Counseling

WE SUCCEED WHEN WE HELP CHANGE THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. • Home Health of Western Colorado • Valley Manor Care Center • The Homestead at Montrose • Horizons Health Care & Retirement Community • Senior CommUnity Meals • Senior CommUnity Care PACE On the Western Slope of Colorado, we offer; independent senior and family housing, senior care services, including site-based and home delivery meals programs; a PACE program, including senior day centers, in-home, and clinic care; home health care management, and assisted living, long-term, memory, transitional and respite care.

For more information, visit:

www.voahealthservices.org

March 5

Caregiver and Healthcare Information: Adult Education Series Free programs for caregivers or anyone interested in learning more about health and services available.

The event will be 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at Senior CommUnity Care - PACE, 11485 Hwy 65 in Eckert. For details, email tablair@voa.org or visit www. seniorcommunitycare.org.

March 8 & 22

Dances at the Montrose Pavilion The Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, from 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. On March 8, there will be music by Preferred Country and on March 22, there will be music by Ric and Karen. Admission is $5. For

Alpha Program

March 12

Montrose Botanic Gardens educational session Plant Ecologist Kathy See works for the Uncompahgre Restoration Project growing and producing native plant species—grasses and woody plants.

The URP is a multi-agency partnership working on healing areas that have been damaged by fire, disease, overgrazing, etc. These principles can be applied to improve your home

Custom Engraved:

Home appointments available

• Headstones • Stone Signs • Address Rocks • Sandblasting • River Rocks • Gifts & More

970-323-6658

Please call for an appointment

www.facebook.com/ MorrisMonument

morrismonument.com

1630 South Main Street, Delta

Life’s Legacy in Stone

March 2014

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

landscape, too. A short update of upcoming garden events will follow.

The event will be at 7 p.m. at the City Centennial Room off Centennial Plaza, 422 S. First St. in Montrose. For details, call 249-1115.

March 18

Region 10’s Lunch ‘n’ Learns Region 10 Community Living Services’ series of lunch and learn presentations are designed to educate the public on topics related to aging, disabilities and some of the issues caregivers face. This series will take place each month from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade Ave. in Montrose. March’s topic is “Care strategies for dementia and Alzheimer’s” presented by Teresa Black with the Alzheimer’s Association. For details, call 249-2436, ext. 201.

March 20

Delta Health Fair Health Care vendors from the community will be offering a variety of free health screenings and product information and some free samples.

The event will be from 6:30 a.m.11 a.m. at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center. For more information, email jgood@deltahospital.org or visit www.deltahospital.org.

March 23

The Sounds of Spring: Valley Symphony concert Valley Symphony Association will continue its 43rd season with a spring chorus concert at 3 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive.

This special concert will feature a variety of great choral music—both classical and popular as well as traditional and modern—so there will be something for everyone to enjoy. A few of the highlights include “Down in the River to Pray” from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou,” “Hallelujah, Amen” from “Judas Maccabaeus” by Handel, “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” by Richard Rogers and selections from “The Gondoliers” by Gilbert and Sullivan. Tickets are $20 for adults. For event information, call 209-2295, visit www.valleysymphony. net or email info@valleysymphony. net. For additional convenience, discounted advance ticket purchases may now be made online at www. valleysymphony.net.

March 29

CRAVE Women’s Seminar Join us for a day filled with fun, interactive activities and learning opportunities, featuring professionals from local area businesses and recreational organizations. Topics include cooking, crafts, fitness, health, beauty and family. Crave exists to break down the walls of separation in the body of Christ and to crave more of His presence and His power. Event takes place from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Crossroads Victory Church, 515 S. Hillcrest Drive in Montrose. Cost is $5, or $10 with lunch. To register, call 249-4319. ■ If you have an event or photo you would like to have appear in the Beacon, send it to: beacon@pen dantpublishing.com.

MONTROSE ORAL SURGERY AND DENTAL IMPLANT SPECIALISTS • Specialist Implant Surgeons with Advanced Training • Most experienced implant team in our area • Implants for denture stability & implants for individual tooth replacement • Do your surgery asleep or awake • We work with your general dentist • Conventional, Mini & Orthodontic Implants Craig T. Cayo D.D.S., Dorcha W. Boisen D.D.S.

www.montroseoms.com

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Delta/ Montrose counties 41

Quality Care with a compassionate touch Paonia Care and rehabilitation Center 1625 Meadowbrook blvd • Paonia, Co Hospice • Respite Care • 24 Hour Skilled Nursing Care • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy • Medicare/Medicaid Certified Transportation to & from Appointments • Respiratory Services Available as Needed • Dedicated Rooms for Rehabilitations and Recoveries • Long Term Care and Private Rooms Available • Basic Cable Service Provided to our Clients • All Qualified Insurances Accepted Medicare • Medicaid • HMO • Private • PACE • UMWA • Hospice Respite Care • VA We Accept MC & Visa Credit Cards

970-527-4837 www.PCrC.web.officelive.com

42 Delta/ Montrose counties

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Events for veterans

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Finance .................................. ............ 38 Garfield County ................. ........ 10 Health & Wellness................. ........ 16 Laughing Matters ................. ... 20 Local Lore .................................. 30 Mesa County................................. 22 ......

Parks & Recreation ................. ... 31 River City Singles....................... 18 .....

Travel & Recreation .................

How do Alaskan trust laws benefit your Colorado estate planning? page 2

and the ir bikes

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August 2011

Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

What’s Inside Advice and Ideas ............................ 9 Classifieds .................................... 44 Crossword .................................... 40 Delta/Montrose County ................ 36 Gardening ..................................... 28 Garfield County ............................. 41 Health & Wellness......................... 10 Laughing Matters ......................... 18 Local Lore ..................................... 22 Mesa County................................. 32 Parks & Recreation ....................... 17 River City Singles.......................... 33 Travel & Recreation ...................... 20

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Give a pet a home! Adopt a furry friend from Roice-Hurst.

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Fruita ........................

7 ....................... 22 Garfield County............ ....................34 Health & Wellnes s ........................ ... 10 Kvetch ........................ ...................... 38 Laughing Matters ............................

14 Local Lore ............ ............................

20 Mesa County............ ........................ 28 River City Singles ............................

29 Travel & Recreat ion ........................ . 16

Read about how one local man keeps the blacksmith’s trade alive in the Grand Valley. Story on page 22.

Summer down under

Vol. 25

Travel the world

Local Lore

This fun club promotes agility training for both dogs and their owners. Story page 9.

A Montrose woman crossed off an item from her bucket list when she visited Brisbane, Australia.

Story page 18.

Vol. 26 No. 10

Pickled pink

Some friends have scales

These seniors are competitive but enjoy helping people of the open road learn the of the freedom ce game Experien pickleball. likeonto “let it all go!” it’sStory and what page 6.

Read about how this small reptile made an impact on one Montrose couple’s lives.

Photo by Heidi Graf

Cruise to Alaska Join the BEACON staff on our first reader cruise to Alaska. Read about what wonders await. Story on page 20.

Local Lore

The library has had many faces and has been many places.

Read more about its 110-year history Terry Eakle has led so many tours, she can’t keep track. inside Atthis 72,issue.

traveling keeps her and her many repeat travelers active and loving life. Where will she go next?

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Long-Term Care

Family moments such as Pirate Day at Eagle Ridge of the Grand Valley impact quality of life more than anything else. With a staff like this to care for you, long-term care may not seem so bad afterall.

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What everyone needs to know about long-term care. Read more in this month’s special insert.

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Come with us as we take a close r look at local peopl and their pets.

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The Warrior Resource Center, 11 S. Park Ave. in Montrose, has the following events scheduled for veterans in March. If you have not previously registered with the Warrior Resource Center as a veteran, bring a form of military ID with you. For more information, call 765-2210.

• All veterans are invited for coffee from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. every Thursday.

• All military spouses (of any branch or era) are invited for coffee from 2:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays.

• The public is invited to eagle head cane presentations at 1 p.m. the first Thursday of every month. Beautiful eagle head canes created by Black Canyon Wood Carvers and Wood Workers Guild of Western Colorado are presented to veterans.

Support groups • Veterans PTSD support group meets at 10 a.m. Thursdays at the Montrose Workforce Center, 504 N. First St. Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 as verification of eligibility of services. Call 245-4156.

• Stroke Support Group meets 11 a.m. to noon, twice a month, at Montrose Memorial Hospital’s Acute Rehab Unit. For details and meeting days, call Tim Ramsey at 318-2028.

• Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group meets from noon to 1:15 p.m. Wednesdays at 645 S. Fifth St. in Montrose.

• Caregiver Support Group meets 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays at Crossroads Assisted & Independent Living model cottage (first cottage on the left) at 1380 Aspen Way in Delta. Call 773-4214.

• Mending Hearts Support Group, offered by HopeWest, is open to adults who have experienced the death of a loved one.

• Delta group meets at 6 p.m.7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at HopeWest, 195 Stafford Lane. Call 874-6823.

• Montrose group meets from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays and

6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays at the Bosom Buddies Room, 645 S. Fifth St. Call 252-2520.

• Cedaredge group meets at 2 p.m.

Tuesdays at the Cedaredge Public Library, 180 S.W. Sixth Ave. • Hotchkiss group meets from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays at First Baptist Church, 203 W. Main St.

Volunteer opportunities • Harden Hospice in Montrose is seeking volunteers to help their patients tell their life stories. Share some laughter, hold a hand, and be there when you’re needed most. For more information, call 210-5912.

• HopeWest in Delta and Montrose is seeking volunteers for a variety of positions. In Delta, call 874-6823 for more information. In Montrose, call 252-2642.

Magic Circle Players presents “A Few Good Men” “A Few Good Men” by Aaron Sorkin is a tense, challenging drama that questions whether the ends justify the means in a military setting. Veterans and their families will find this play especially poignant. The play includes some adult language and imagery. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, March 7- 22, with Sunday matinees March 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors. Play starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Magic Circle Theatre, 420 S. 12th St. in Montrose. For tickets and more information, call 249-7838.

CASA Ray of Hope Benefit CASA of the 7th Judicial District (Court Appointed Special Advocates) will host it's annual benefit on April 12 at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive. CASA holds its annual fundraising benefit during National Child Abuse Awareness month to reinforce the importance of their services. Fundraising highlights during the dinner will include the Dessert Dash and a live auction for great items, including overnight getaways and gasoline cards. Tickets are $60 per person or $550 for a reserved

March 2014 “Table of 10 Friends.” The event has limited seating and has sold out in all prior years. To sponsor, attend, volunteer or donate to this event, call 249-0337.

Blue Sage Center Activities All events at Blue Sage Center for the Arts, 226-228 Grand Ave. in Paonia.

For details, call 527-7243.

• March 22 - The Blue Sage Trio presents Beethoven’s “Archduke Trio” at 7:30 p.m. The concert will also perform American composer Philip Glass’ “Sonata for Violin and Piano,” and Robert Schumann’s “Fantasy Pieces for Cello and Piano” will round out the program. Ticket prices range from $10 to $20. All seating is reserved.

AARP SMART Driver Safety Course Save money on insurance and keep up on newer traffic laws. Membership in AARP is not required. Fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required.

• Delta: Class is from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on March 17 at Bill Heddles Recreation Center, 530 Gunnison River Drive. To register, call 424-1778.

• Montrose: Class is from 8:30 a.m.1 p.m. on March 13 at Montrose Health and Human Services, 1845 S. Townsend Ave. To register, call 275-5251.

Delta Senior Activities The following activities are offered at Bill Heddles Recreation Center, 530 Gunnison River Drive in Delta. To register for any of the following activities or for a full list, call 874-0923.

• Community Evening Dances Held from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month. Cost is $4 per person. Please bring a snack to share.

• Adult Dance Lessons - Come learn swing, line, waltz, the two step and more. This class will be held from 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m. on Thursday evenings, March 6 through April 1, with an April Fool’s Day Dance on Tuesday, April 1. Cost is $70 per couple and is limited to the first 15 couples.

Register by 5 p.m. on March 5.

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com • April Fool’s Softball Tournament - This annual preseason tune-up tournament at Mountain View Park on April 5 and 6 is your chance to test your team and have a great time before summer softball starts. Divisions for coed, women’s and men’s teams will be offered. The final deadline to register your team is March 30. Register your team by March 23 for a $50 discount. Team fee is $225 before and on March 23; after March 23 the fee is $275. Three-game guarantee for the weekend. Men’s and Women’s will play on Saturday with Coed playing on Sunday.

• Adult Summer Softball League - Register your team at Bill Heddles Recreation Center for the City of Delta’s summer softball before April 13. This year’s league play will begin the week of May 5 at Mountain View Park. You can expect a minimum of 10 games including the season end double elimination tournament that will be played on your regular league night. Six different league choices: Monday Recreational Coed Silver League, Tuesday Recreational Coed Gold, Thursday Men’s Recreational Slow Pitch, Thursday Men’s Competitive Slow Pitch, Thursday Women’s Slow Pitch, or Wednesday Men’s Fast Pitch (minimum of four teams required). Team fee is $275. Each player is also required to pay a $20 player fee the first night of league play.

Montrose Senior Activities The Montrose Recreation District has the following activities scheduled for seniors 50 and older in March.

Register one week ahead. Events take place at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, or transportation departs from the Montrose Pavilion.

Please arrive at each event at least 15 minutes early. For more information on any of the following activities, call 252-4884.

• Snowshoeing at Dave Wood Road - 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., March 4.

Cost is $18 with your own shoes and $23 if we provide the shoes. Bring a sack lunch.

• Shopping in Grand Junction 8:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m., March 6. We will

travel to Hobby Lobby, Sprouts, Mesa Mall and Kohl’s. We will also stop at the shopping center with Michael’s; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Ross; TJ Maxx and Sportsman’s Warehouse. You pick the stores you want to shop in.

Cost is $20.

• Lunch in Ouray followed by Ouray Hot Springs Soak - 11:15 a.m.4:30 p.m., March 13. Take a soak in the one million gallons of clear hot springs water. There are three pools, plus lap lanes. Cost is $20, or $12 for people over 75 years old. Bring money for lunch.

• Eckert Crane Days and Lunch in Cedaredge - 9 a.m.-3 p.m., March 21. Join us for Eckert Crane Days and observe the morning liftoff. This is a sight to see as the cranes take off together and circle overhead, catching thermals to gain elevation. We will attend an educational presentation in the afternoon. Cost is $18. Bring money for lunch.

• Montrose Manor Bed & Breakfast and Voices of the Wild Foundation Tour – 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m., March 26. Montrose Manor Bed &

Delta/ Montrose counties 43 Breakfast includes a beautiful spiral staircase, large theater room, library, workout area and separate apartment. Voices of the Wild Foundation provides a sanctuary where domestic and exotic animals who have been mistreated, abandoned and/or voluntarily surrendered can live out their lives in peace and with dignity.

We will see the animals on this tour.

Note: This trip requires climbing stairs. Cost is $16 (includes $5 donation to Voices of the Wild Foundation).

• Winter Hiking - 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., March 27. Join us in exploring a portion of the Colorado River Trail in Grand Junction. Cost is $20. Bring a sack lunch. ■

Trust is knowing someone is there to catch your fall.

It’s knowing someone will be there when you need a shoulder to cry on.

It’s knowing a promise made is a promise kept. Trust is something we earn everyday

Funeral Service & Crematory Mesa View Cemetery 682 1725 Road • Delta (970) 874-9988 105 S.E. Frontier, Suite F • Cedaredge (970) 856-3232 209 Bridge Street • Hotchkiss (970) 872-3151 311 Grand Avenue • Paonia (970) 527-3836 www.taylorfuneralservice.com

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To Place a Classified Ad...

3 easy steps!  Write your ad: ....................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................

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Apartments Available Two-bedroom, one-bathroom ground floor units. Two different apartments available immediately in Palisade. $655 and $695. Call for more information. 462-1115.

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beacon, po box 3895, Grand Junction, Co 81502 fax: 1 800 536-7516 email: beacon@pendantpublishing.com

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queStionS? Call Lisa M-TH, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 970 243-8829 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

507 Bookcliff Drive Convenient city-preserved location. 3 bedrooms, 2-1/2 bath, or 4 bedroom/ office option. 2,600 square feet, large rooms, 62’ enclosed patio, 3 car, 2/3 acre, great privacy, spacious storage, a classic residence. 314-0880. $345,000.

Hickory Crest 55+ Community In Columbia, MD. 1 bedroom, den, 1.5 bath, wood floors. Close to Lorian/Hospital. $320,000. LongnandFoster Realtors. 410-730-9573/ 410-730-3456. Ann Detraglia.

594 West Conestoga Grand Junction Lovely double-wide manufactured home, certified FHA foundation, premier Seniors-only park. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, carport and patio that backs up onto nice greenbelt. $107,500. Contact Cynthia at 261-2533.

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2859 Presley Avenue • Lock & Leave Patio Home • Legends Rancher • All appliances included • Gas Log Fireplace • Patio has Monument & City views $199,900

Hill & Homes, LLC Ben Hill 970-250-5002 www.benhill.com ben@hillandhomes.com

For Sale Burial Plots 2 side-by-side burial plots in Grand Junction Memorial Gardens on North Ave. Garden of the Christus. Lots C59 – 1 & 2. Asking $2,600 for both. Call 702-647-1128 or email harsay@cox. net.

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Please call for courtesy evaluation of your home care needs.

Serving: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel Cortez (970)565-6833; Durango (970) 247-1211; Montrose (970) 240-1771; Toll Free (877) 685-6833

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Home Services Reliable Estate Sales Are you in the midst of a stressful relocation or passing of a loved one?

Let us handle the burden of personal property liquidation from start to finish. Contact Mark Bluhm at 2602327, cash4@bresnan.net or www. reliableestatesales.net.

March 2014

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Antiques, Appraisals, Estate Sales With over 30 years in the antique, appraisal and estate sale business, Great American Estate Sales is the Valley’s leader in appraisals and estate liquidation. Settling an estate, moving into a smaller home or just simplifying your lifestyle? Great American Estate Sales can provide a worry-free and quick solution. Free consultation. 216-8236.

Professional Flooring Installer Insured and bonded. You purchase the tile, laminate, hardwood or vinyl, and I provide everything else.

Special discounts. Call Bill for a free estimate. 245-3344.

Accessibility Services Grab bars. Walk-in tubs/showers.

Licensed plumber/handyman.

“Serving Western Colorado Since 1989.” Free estimates. Compare and save! 985-1403.

Miscellaneous Services Dedra’s Hair and Nails On Wheels Licensed cosmetologist offering: perms, cuts, shampoo sets, color, pedicures, manicures. Tuesday through Saturday afternoons, by appointment only. Service from Palisade to Fruita. 200-9799. Dedra.

Computer Lady – In-home PC Repair Services Friendly, affordable, easy to understand. Computer not-soliterate my specialty! Cleanups, virus removal, setups, upgrades, instruction, wireless and more. Call Mindy at 255-1216 or 261-3120.

Wanted to Buy BUYING BOOKS Nonfiction, history, nature, westerns, religion, antique, reference, etc. Also buying stamp collections. Call Frank at 241-7778. Will pick up.

CASH Paid for Old Stuff Wind-up men’s wrist/pocket watches.

Gold and silver jewelry. Pocket/ hunting knives, antique firearms, fishing gear, toys, BB guns, old Colorado bottles, old motorcycles, radios and amps, railroad, military, mining items. www.cash4oldstuff. net. Mark 260-2327.

BUYING OLD CLOTHING Costume jewelry, purses, sewing patterns and perfumes (pre-1970s).

Call Linda 234-4736 or 1-800-5727670.

Help Wanted

salesperson needed The BEACON Senior Newspaper is growing, and we’re looking for a Delta/ Montrose salesperson to grow with us.

Please send your cover letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com.

writers wanted The Beacon Senior Newspaper is looking for writers in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties.

Send your letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com

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46 Kudos & kvetch

kudos \ ku·dos  “Great job on the dance and the band was outstanding! We didn’t know we had that talent in Grand Junction.

We, and the people at our table, loved the whole evening. We hope you can do this again…hopefully every month or two. The location and dance floor was ideal.” - Margie and Dick, Grand Junction Kevin: Wow! What a hit the Valentine’s Dance was! And more than a few people suggested we do it monthly.

While I’m sure that won’t happen, I’ll bet we could at least do it every year.  “I really enjoyed your recent articles on the Avalon Theatre. I worked there for many years and through many managers, from selling tickets to popping popcorn to ushering. I tell people I had my first date at the Avalon. When I was about 7 years old, a neighbor boy came by and asked my mother if he could take me to the movies. Mother said yes.

He had a dime and I had a dime, and we walked excitedly, holding hands and swinging them between us all the way to the theater.” - Irene Perry Ray, Grand Junction

 “Ula Kirkman appreciates so much the prayers and cards that have been sent her way by the many BEACON readers. Recently, Ula found out that she had bile duct cancer. Doctors at that time had planned on operating and removing about half of her liver. Instead, the doctor was scoping before the operation and discovered that the liver also had cancer cells. So the decision was made not to operate but to do chemo instead. Ula misses all the wonderful people she has entertained over the year. If you wish to donate money for her expenses, there is an account set up at Wells Fargo for Ula, the account # is 5701750373. Her address is P.O. Box 401, Mesa, CO 81643. I’ll try to keep you informed as Ula goes through her journey.” - Becky, Mesa

Wanna give a shout out? Pass out a compliment? Write us at Beacon@PendantPublishing.com.

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Shooting Congress

By Tait Trussell

T

alk about a family outing: my father, brother and I took part in a rather exciting one on March 1, 1954.

That was when three Puerto Rican nationalists fired shots into the House of Representatives, wounding five members of Congress and spreading panic throughout the capitol.

My father covered the drama that day as congressional correspondent for The New York Times. My brother covered the exciting event for a string of New England papers for which he then worked. I was Washington correspondent for the St. Petersburg Florida Times at that point.

The overwrought Puerto Ricans fired their guns from the spectator’s gallery or balcony, shooting at random toward the members of the House.

Capitol police quickly took the Puerto Ricans into custody. The following day, The New York Times reported that the Nationalist Party members sought full independence for the island, which has been under U.S. control as a possession, then as a commonwealth.

My father, who observed the incident from the press gallery, which looks down on the House chamber, was accidently wounded, after a fashion. He was struck in his cheek by a piece of the gallery ceiling that flew down from a stray shot by one of the nationalists.

Shouting for the freedom of their homeland, Lolita Lebron screamed, “Viva Puerto Rico.” She held a large Luger pistol in both hands, waving it wildly. One shot must have hit the ceiling of the chamber, causing a piece to fall and strike Dad on his cheek.

He later claimed, with his usual humor, that he was one of those wounded in the shooting.

My brother, Douglas, and I crossed paths in a capitol hallway shortly after the members of Congress who had been wounded were carried from the chamber.

“Any of yours hit?” he asked.

What he meant, of course, was if any Florida congressmen were among those who were wounded.

“No,” I answered quickly. “Any of yours?

“No, unfortunately,” he responded.

It would have made a better story for each of us if someone in the congressional delegations we covered had been among those shot.

Many of the members told reporters, “I was sitting right next to someone who was shot.”

So many of them said this that there had to have been several members sitting on each other’s laps for it to be true.

It was later reported that a capitol policeman had asked the four Puerto Ricans when they came into the visitors’ gallery if they had any cameras.

They supposedly replied in the negative. But the capitol cop didn’t ask them if they carried guns.

Some 30 shots were fired in the barrage of bullets that rained on the House members, who at the time were debating an immigration bill.

All of the wounded representatives eventually returned to Congress after their wounds were healed. The Puerto Rican nationalist extremists were imprisoned.

As I recall, there was considerable conversation at home that evening about the day’s events and the intriguing fact that all three of us were covering the same news event. ■

March 2014

kvetch \ kfech  “I’ve often told my grandchildren, ‘Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.’ State Representative Jared Wright gave a wonderful example of why not everyone should be allowed to carry a gun. Has he ever accidentally left his gun at other public places besides the state’s capitol building?

Good thing that it wasn’t at McDonald’s or after speaking at an elementary school. But then I forgot he’s a licensed, professionally trained gun owner.”

- Terrence J., Grand Junction

 “Why, after a career in Congress, does Scott McInnis want to be a local county commissioner?”

- Wanda W., Grand Junction

 “My husband and I dine out often.

We’re both in our mid-60s. I notice that many of the people around us look similar in age. So why don’t more restaurants advertise in the BEACON? It’s a shame really.”

- Martha H., Grand Junction

Kevin: Good observation, Martha. I’ve often wondered the same thing.

BEACON readers, what do you think?

Wanna pitch a fit? Write us at Beacon@PendantPublishing.com.

Capitol police members hold the Puerto Rican nationalists Lolita Lebron, Rafael Miranda and Andres Cordero as they were taken into custody on March 1, 1954, after a shooting from a House gallery. (Associated Press)

March 2014

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

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Screenings and education provided by St. Mary’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center at the Grand Valley Health Fair Thank you to all sponsors and media!

Diabetes Education Complete a brief questionnaire to identify personal risk factors for developing diabetes. Further blood sugar screening and education depend on the risk factors revealed. Our diabetic educator can answer general questions about diabetes and its management.

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Visit our website at www.stmarygj.org for information about our services, campus maps, and driving directions.

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March 21–22, 2014 10:00 am–3:00 pm

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For more information: www.grandvalleyhealthfair.org

Access to healthcare The Grand Valley Health Fair offers many free and low-cost screenings, on-site health professionals to answer your questions, and materials to educate you on health topics A-Z, an easy way to access the resources you need to put you and your family on the path to healthier living.

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