Vol. 26 No. 3
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April 2016
Older Americans Act reauthorization leaves Colorado short of funds By Jeanne Davant The Older Americans Act has been re-enacted by Congress, five years after the act’s last official re-enactment. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 in March of this year with bipartisan support and was set to go before the Senate for a final vote. Congress has extended the last reauthorization each year since 2011, but it took three years for legislators to work out the details of the new reauthorization bill. The new act extends the law’s provisions through 2019. The Older Americans Act (OAA), originally enacted in 1965, provides funding for nutrition programs, including Meals on Wheels; home- and community-based services, including preventive health services and transportation assistance; assistance for
See ACT, page 9
Photos courtesy of Frank Rosenberg
Above, Members of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society take a break during a field trip to the Smokey Hawk Claim owned by Joe Dorris, a featured cast member of “The Prospectors” TV reality show. Below, Sharon Holte, membership chair of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society, holds piece of amazonite and smoky quartz she found during the society’s Smokey Hawk dig.
Diggin’ what they do Rockhounds gather Rocky Mountain minerals By Jeanne Davant
... We’re still disappointed that Colorado seniors are not going to have access to the funding and ser vices they need simply because they live in Colorado and not some other state. - Rich Mauro, senior policy and legislative analyst Denver Regional Council of Governments
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magine the thrill of finding a special rock with a rainbow of colors. Or one that’s valuable. Or both. The members of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society aren’t necessarily looking for specimens that will make them rich, but on their rock hunting field trips, they enjoy finding specific minerals in the hills around Colorado Springs. “The Pikes Peak area is one of the finest mineral-collecting areas in the world,” says society member Frank Rosenberg. “Gemstones such as topaz, aquamarine and garnet as well as many other minerals including gold are regularly found here only a short drive from Colorado Springs.” Smoky quartz, amazonite and topaz also are commonly found. The 150 active members of the club come from all walks of
INCLUSIVE TO ALL AGES Colorado Springs commits to becoming an Age-Friendly Community
See Page 5