VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Crisp air, colorful foliage, and a little seasonal magic—fall is one of the best times to visit The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium. The Park, known as Virginia Beach’s largest zipline and climbing adventure experience, has just released its 2025 lineup of autumn events, filled with festive outdoor thrills for ages 5 and up.
“The Adventure Park is always a favorite fall destination,” said Park Manager Darlene Zimble. “Cooler weather and stunning foliage make it the perfect time to experience the rush of ziplining and climbing with the backdrop of nature at its best.”
This season, guests can look forward to the Park’s signature Glow in the Park events—Friday and Saturday nights through October 25, then Saturdays through November 15. Glow in the Park transforms the forest into a glowing wonderland, where guests climb and zipline under dazzling lights set to themed playlists ranging from 70s Disco to Singalong favorites.
October brings spooky fun with Halloween-themed Glow events. Family-friendly Halloween Glow events will take place on Saturdays, October 4, 11, 18, and 25. The Park’s Creepy Glow will take place on Fridays, October 10, 17 and 24. This spookier
version of Glow in the Park is recommended for ages 12+.
“Day or night, there’s nothing like seeing the leaves change from high in the treetops,” added Zimble. The autumn lineup also features returning favorites and seasonal surprises:
Iron Squirrel Challenge: Sunday, September 21. Take on all 17 courses in one day and claim the ultimate bragging rights as an “Iron Squirrel.”
“Eyeball” Scavenger Hunt: October 1 — 30. Hunt for hidden “eyeballs” around the Park and earn a treat from the Park Store.
More details on these events, as well as tickets for all the Park’s activities, are available on the Park’s website, myAdventurePark.com/VBAP. Participants may choose day or evening timeslots.
About The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium: The 17 trails at The Adventure Park consist of 258 various challenges in the trees, including bridges, tightropes, ladders, and 33 ziplines. The longest zipline runs 315 feet and crosses Owls Creek for a spectacular view.
Participants wear harnesses with clips that connect to the trail’s safety system, ensuring that they are always locked on to the course until they reach the end. The main trails are designed for ages 5 to adult.
Non-climbing participants are admitted free of charge to share the experience on the ground and enjoy the property’s nature trails and picnic tables. The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium is open to the general public and is located just minutes from the Boardwalk, on acres of forest on the grounds of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. The address is 801 General Booth Boulevard in Virginia Beach. Walk ins are welcome on a space available basis, but guests are encouraged to book ahead on the Park’s website or by calling 757-385-4947.
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NashFest 757 returns Saturday to Norfolk’s Town Point Park
Press Release
Get ready for the 5th Annual NashFest 757, a FREE one-day festival celebrating the best of Tennessee and the iconic culture and cuisine of Nashville! Join us this Saturday, September 13, 2025, from Noon to 10pm at Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront for an unforgettable experience reminiscent of Nashville’s vibrant atmosphere. Enjoy national and local recording artists, delectable hot chicken, barbecue, line dancing, craft beer, whiskey, and much more! To learn more visit festevents.org.
NEW THIS YEAR! Open Jam with Tidewater Bluegrass Society
Bring your instrument and join in!
Throughout the festival, the Tidewater Bluegrass Society will be hosting an open jam session. Whether you’re a seasoned picker or just love the sound of bluegrass, this is your chance to play alongside fellow musicians and keep the spirit of Nashville alive right here in Norfolk.
Live Musical Performances
The Travelin’ McCourys | 8:30 PM The Travelin’ McCourys, led by mandolinist Ronnie and banjoist Rob McCoury, carry forward the deep bluegrass legacy of their father, Del McCoury. Joined by Jason Carter, Alan Bartram, and Cody Kilby, each an IBMA award-winning musician, they blend tradition with innovation, creating a sound that’s both rooted and revolutionary. From collaborations with Phish and Dierks Bentley to their self-titled debut album, their music and performances are a thrilling journey through contemporary bluegrass.
Southern Avenue | 6:30 PM Southern Avenue, the Blues Music Award-winning, GRAMMY-nominated Memphis band, blends blues, soul, and gospel into electrifying, original songs. Led by Tierinii Jackson, her husband Ori Naftaly, and her sisters Tikyra and Ava, their churchhoned harmonies and groove-driven performances create a bold, contemporary sound. With acclaimed albums like Family and tours alongside Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Southern Avenue connects deeply with fans through music, trust, and love.
Peyton Aldridge | 4:45 PM Peyton Aldridge is a Mississippi Delta-born country singer and songwriter whose soulful, raspy voice blends heartfelt storytelling with humor and grit. From singing in church to performing with his duo Mississippi Gravy and appearing on American Idol and The Voice, he has honed a sound that spans country, bluegrass, and rockabilly. With his eyes set on Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry, Aldridge is dedicated to sharing his God-given talent through honest, electrifying performances.
Aniela Salinas | 3:00 PM
Meet Aniela — a dynamic local talent with deep roots in Hampton Roads and music running through her veins. Raised by two professional musicians, Aniela grew up surrounded by sound and quickly found her voice as a singer, guitarist, and pianist. With an extensive background in live performance, she brings a rich blend of style and soul to every set. From country classics to crowd-favorite covers across genres, her
performances are heartfelt, engaging, and full of Nashville spirit — perfect for a celebration like NashFest.
Food & Shopping
In addition to the music, the festival will also boast an authentic dining experience with local restaurants, food trucks, and chefs crafting a regional spin on Tennessee-inspired cuisine, such as hot chicken, barbecue and more!
Festival guests can peruse a wide range of shopping options from Nashville-inspired clothing, including western hats, cigar box guitars, specialty sauces and more. View the full list of food and shopping vendors online at festevents.org/ events/2025/nashfest.
First 100 Guests Receive A Limited-Edition Event Poster
Arrive Early for a Special Giveaway! The first 100 guests to arrive at NashFest 757 this Saturday, September 13, will receive a limited-edition, hand-printed festival poster created by Nashville’s legendary Hatch
Show Print. Posters will be given out at the Guest Relations tent onsite. Hatch Show Print has been crafting iconic posters since 1879, producing artwork for legends like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Dolly Parton. Each print is made using traditional letterpress techniques, making it not just a poster, but a piece of Nashville history. Don’t miss your chance to take home this collectible keepsake!
McDonald Garden Center invites
Press
Release
McDonald Garden Center is excited to announce the 29th annual Make a Scarecrow event is on for 2025! Join us, rain or shine, September 13-14, 2025 at 9am - 4pm at our Independence Blvd. location. Bring the family to create your very own, custom, life-size scarecrow. Your purchase includes everything you need to make 1 scarecrow (stake, wheat straw, collection of clothes, and accessories), but feel free to bring your own accessories to personalize your scarecrow. McDonald Garden Center, partnered with The King’s Daughters, the founding
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Opening to the public on October
5, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s newest changing exhibit, Survival of the Slowest, presented by Little Ray’s Exhibitions, will teach guests about the incredible and unexpected advantages of being slow, small, and weak.
Survival of the Slowest will feature the often-overlooked species that have used their disadvantages to help them survive and thrive in a world where large, strong, and fast animals are often the top of the food chain. This exhibit will feature live animals that display these unique and effective adaptations such as sloths, tortoises, hedgehogs, a tarantula, and more. Guests will have the chance to meet and interact with some of these animals and experience animal programs throughout the day.
Guests will learn about effective evolutionary traits such as camouflage in tortoises, nocturnal adaptations of sloths, “sit-and-wait” tactics of snakes, and many more incredible survival characteristics.
Survival of the Slowest will be open and included with Aquarium admission until January 4, 2025. Virginia Aquarium members will get first access to the exhibit with a private opening on October 4.
Little Ray’s Nature Centres is the largest exotic animal rescue organization in Canada with educational programs reaching more than one million Canadians each year. Most of the animals in this exhibition are rescues.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is located at 717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451. For more information visit VirginiaAquarium.com or call (757) 385-3474.
Press Release
Local AAU District Chairman and the winningest high school wrestling coach in VA, Tony Reynolds, reflects on his iconic career and talks wrestling for the Oaks Halloween Classic
Interview By Yiorgo
With us today is the American Athletic Union (AAU) District Chairman for Southside Hampton Roads, who is also the winningest high school wrestling coach in the state of Virginia ever and twice back to back winner of the Portsmouth Sports Club Coach of the Year, Norfolk’s own, Mr. Tony Reynolds.
Yiorgo: Thank you Mr. Reynolds for talking with us today. First I would like to focus on your involvement with AAU. What does the Southside Hampton Roads cover? Tony Reynolds: My pleasure and we represent all the cities between Elizabeth City, North Carolina and up to Williamsburg, Virginia as well.
Y: Do you have any upcoming AAU events?
TR: Yes, our first upcoming wrestling event is the Oaks Halloween Classic on November 1st at the Norfolk Collegiate School. With only a $25 entry fee, we make it very affordable for entire families to be a part of it. All grade levels can participate. See flier for info regarding registration. We also have several, pending events and activities that we will be announcing in the upcoming weeks.
Y: How did that opportunity come up for you to be in charge of this region?
TR: Everybody’s familiar with the basketball AAU in this area. However, AAU wrestling was huge in this area but over the course of the years the people that were running AAU here locally either left the area or they progressed on to doing other things. We are very excited to be bringing AAU back to this region where it rightfully belongs. One thing I loved about AAU when it was going on in this area for wrestling was affordability and we are bringing that back so the kids can come out and participate, and give them plenty of activities to do with their AAU card that they can use for any sport that AAU has. And their insurance is second to none. I’ll give you an example. I have an AAU card and I’m coming to practice, I’m covered. Even if I’m not sitting in my parents’ car or somebody else’s car, I’m covered. That AAU card is amazing, and it’s your insurance for when you go to tournaments. And again, like I stated, it also allows you to participate in other sports.
Y: What are your goals and aspirations for the youth that you’re representing and supporting in the area? What are you hoping to do with this program?
TR: It’s twofold. One is on the developmental end and the other is on the sport end. On the sport end, I wanna have a vehicle for these kids to have an opportunity to wrestle year round. And that ties right into the development part. It’s another way to mentor the kids and give them something to do. And if we provide tournaments year round, that question becomes a moot point.
Y: Now let’s talk about your high school coaching wrestling career. Your 513 career record varsity wins has made you the winningest wrestling coach in the state of Virginia ever. Can you share a couple of great memories or moments from your illustrious career that you’re very proud of?
TR: There are several. I’m gonna give you the ones that really stand out, and that I am so proud of. And I would say this, none of this happens without my other coaches and the dedication of my wrestlers, the parents and the school.
Y: Who are those coaches?
TR: Let me apologize ahead of time if I miss somebody. My initial group was my brother Gaskins Reynolds who’s now coaching at Booker T. High School. There were also Steve Rahimpour, Johnathan Boone, Lamonte Jett and Thomas Culpepper. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two other names: Fred Salinitro, the booster club president in charge of our wrestling club for a long time. He was the one that really helped us to generate our funds for our club. He made that machine run. Also David Mick’s dad I can’t remember what his first name is. We would go on trips. These guys would tell us to pull over to the side and they would make spaghetti and other dinners. Mr. Mick wrote the bylaws for our club and I had two college coaches ask me if they could copy our bylaws. Also a very special thank you to Ron and Cindy Kramer and the Kramer family, who have been lifetime supporters of the family and of my wrestling career.
Y: Great, so now let’s hear about your great memories.
TR: One of those memories is about Leotis Watkins, one of my wrestlers. Leotis came out as a freshman, never had wrestled before. We had a late practice. Manor High School’s practice area was up on the balcony in the gym. His mother came and was at the foot of the stairs. Leotis was at the top of the stairs, and his mother was very upset because he did not call that he was going to be late. So upset to the point that she was gonna discipline him by using a belt. So I went down to the foot of the stairs and I spoke with her and finally added, “Ma’am, one day you’re gonna be in this same gym and you’re gonna point down to those mats and you’re gonna say, ‘That’s my son. He’s an outstanding wrestler and he’s also an honor student.’ ” And while I’m talking to her, I really don’t know whether my conversation with her is calming her down or she’s taking it in, but she didn’t do what she came there to do.
So let’s fast-forward two years after that. Now Leotis is a junior, doing very well in school, an All-American and he finished in the top eight in the country at an AAU tournament. During the summer, I almost lost Leotis to a prominent program that his mother told me was trying to recruit him. They made a lot of promises and his mother was tempted to say yes but she remembered our conversation from three years ago. And she said, “Now I can point to my son and say he’s an outstanding wrestler. Leotis is on the honor roll, he’s your coach. He’s not going anywhere. Come get him for your practice.”
Y: You said you have several examples.
TR: Yes, it was during the 2014/2015 season
involving one of the better teams that I’ve had. This team won the regular season, they won the tournament, and they won the conference. For those of you reading this story, you have to understand a couple of key points. Originally, I was a graduate of Maury High School, where our team won the state championship. We were state champions under the direction of Jack Kennedy. So this is crucial because on that night, during that period, I had no idea that Jack Kennedy was in attendance. The match came down to the heavyweight match. I’m thinking in my mind, there is no way because Norview High School had an incredible athlete, humongous human being. I had a sophomore heavyweight who was, to use a WWE comparison, a Rey Mysterio in front of The Undertaker. So I’m sitting there, hoping for the best. Our kid is getting pummeled in the first period. And I’m saying to myself, “Just hold on.” And I told him, “Grab his wrist because I don’t care how big you are, it’s hard to pin a man with one hand. So he held on to that wrist until the end. I look up at the clock. And I’m so happy. We’re going to lose the match it looks like but we’re gonna finish second in the conference. My sophomore, who is on the bottom, is holding onto the guy’s wrist. The guy from Norview turns him over and puts close to 300 pounds on top of him. Well that sophomore turned that senior and put him on his back with seven seconds left. And it looked like it took forever for that referee to count. The gym is packed, everybody is standing up, yelling and screaming, I mean, it’s berserk. And with one second left ... Now keep in mind, we gotta take into account the ref has to hit that mat. I’m looking at the clock, I’m looking at the match, and with one second left, the ref goes down. That place erupted! But one of the coolest things, if not the coolest thing for me, was to have my former coach to just appear out of nowhere with tears in his eyes and say, “Man, great, man. I’m so proud of you.” It was so cool for him to witness that, and to honor him, that year, I named our tournament in honor of him. We called it the Jack Kennedy Open.
Let me give you two more from the academic stance. One of them is David Mick. David Mick wasn’t the most athletic, but he was really smart, really talented, really talented and I am so proud to say that David Mick is now an attorney for the state of Virginia. I can tell you that’s more important to me than the wrestling accolades that some of those kids got.
Another one was 17 year old Robert Stone who was already married. Robert Stone was six foot four, the meanest, the baddest kid in that building. It’s important to note that this kid was chiseled, but he stayed in trouble. Even though Robert told his friends he wasn’t doing that wrestling, he comes up on the balcony and wants to wrestle. He gets on the mat and says, “I’m gonna wrestle man.” I said, “Well, good. But first of all, let’s clarify something. I’m not your man.” Robert said, “Oh, oh, okay. Okay, okay.” But he started to clown at practice and I asked him to stop. He stops, he starts to clown again probably two or three minutes afterwards. So I dismissed the team except for Robert and I told him, let’s go to the mat. Robert is 240-250 pounds easily and towered over me.
We started wrestling on the mat and I can tell you with no uncertain terms, it took every fiber in my body to wrestle this young man and at that time I was very strong and fit. He was so strong and so tough but I knew that he was gonna get tired. And I was just hoping I didn’t get tired first. And he did get tired first. After we wrestled, it was no longer man, it was Coach. Robert stayed with us for two years and he went on to graduate from the University of Florida I believe. This was the kid that told me, “You don’t want him.” I was told this by people in high places. “You don’t want him on your team.” And I would respond to them and say, “Well, thank you. I always appreciate that advice but I would always like to make that determination on my own. I’m not gonna discard what you’re telling me, but I want the opportunity to find out.” And the last one I want to talk about is John Haun, who right now is running a big green company in California.
Y: Another milestone was when your wrestling team captured the Virginia Conference Championship, regular season title and tournament championship all in the same 2014-2015 season. What are your memories of that season?
TR: From a seasonal standpoint, I’ve had some good teams, but that team was so cohesive, just so together. That team that year, and I’m not exaggerating, all of my team, but especially my 14 starters, it was like coaching 14 of my sons. That’s how close we were. And
that team was able to do what we were able to do because of the closeness of that team, the coaches, the parents, this was just one of the things that was able to propel us to those three titles.
Y: You were also twice the Portsmouth Sports Club Coach of the Year back to back 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. What are your memories of those awards?
TR: It was those kids, they were just outstanding, and we had an outstanding record. When you win 20 plus matches in a year, you’re doing good. But we won 30 plus and during that period, we were one of the top teams in the area. And winning Coach of the Year twice in a row, it was such an honor because that wasn’t the Coach of the Year for wrestling. That was Coach of the Year over all the coaches: Football, basketball, hockey, whatever. So when you get that award, you’re being judged and rated among all of the coaches. That was a huge award and what was so great about that was when you win something like that, you start thinking about your journey, of how you got there and the people that got you there.
You know, for me, when I wrestled, we had a janitorial company. So let me tell you what my day was. I got up at 3:30 in the morning to go and clean office buildings. We
would get home, about 7a.m., eat, get ready, go to school, get out of school, go to wrestling practice, leave practice, come home, eat, do homework, get into bed and get up at 3a.m. and do it all over again. That was every day for high school. I always tell everybody, I knew how long I was going to coach and that was when it no longer became fun to me. And I can tell you today, in 2025, it’s just as enjoyable and just as fun, even though I’m doing AAU and coaching, doing clinics and stuff with the high schools, I love it just as much as in 1989. Y: Besides AAU, what else are you involved with today?
TR: As I mentioned to you earlier, our father had a janitorial business, so we kind of piggybacked off of that with some additions. I am now running Exceptionally Great Operational Services or EGOS for short. Our phone number is 757 698-0444 and our email is tonyreynolds533@gmail.com. We are a maintenance company specializing in landscaping, janitorial and fire and water restoration.
Yiorgo is a sports, entertainment and arts writer. A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.
ABOVE: Coach Gaskins Reynolds on the far left and coach Tony Reynolds on the far right. Second row far left is Robert Stone. LEFT: Coach Tony Reynolds on the left, receiving the 2013 Coach of the Year award.
(PHOTOS COURTESY TONY REYNOLDS)
I asked what kind of family Amina wanted. She said, ‘A family like yours.’ That’s when I knew I had to adopt her. Denise, adopted 17-year-old Amina
LEARN ABOUT ADOPTING A TEEN YOU CAN’T IMAGINE THE REWARD
Tackle game day with these tailgating tips
No grill, no problem! 5 easy tailgate treats that don’t require cooking
By Family Features
Source: Hormel Foods
Tailgating season is in full swing, but not everyone has time (or space) to fire up a grill before kickoff. Whether you’re hosting friends in your driveway, tailgating without a truck or trying to simplify game-day prep, you’re not alone.
According to Paul Zahn, entertaining expert, fall is the perfect time to rethink the traditional tailgate menu.
“You don’t need a grill to impress your guests - you just need the right mix of crowd-pleasers, portability and no-fuss presentation,” Zahn said. “It’s all about creating a vibe that feels fun and elevated, without requiring hours in the kitchen.”
The makers of Hormel Gatherings products - known for their ready-to-serve party trays loaded with premium meats, cheeses and crackers - tapped Zahn to share his five go-to tips for building a no-cook tailgate spread that scores big.
1. Lean Into Local Favorites
“I love anchoring my events with a theme and what better way to celebrate your team than creating food and drinks that pay homage to them and their states,” Zahn said. “I’m talking hometown eats with a twist.” For instance, Virginia ham fans can stack mild cheddar and honey ham between two crispy crackers, hit it with mustard and boom: instant ham-and-cheese bite. Bonus points for pairing with a local brew.
2. Make It Portable and Shareable
“No one wants to juggle a plate and a beer,” Zahn said. “Think grab-and-go.”
He loads up Hormel Gatherings trays and gets creative: caprese skewers with tomato, basil, mozzarella and salami, or “jar-cuterie” - mini jars layered with meats, cheeses and crackers. It’s a creative way to serve charcuterie without the mess, and guests love the grab-and-go convenience.
3. Sweeten the Deal
“A sweet treat always buttons up your tailgating fun so dessert is a must-have,” Zahn said, “but keep it bite-size.”
His go-to is mini doughnuts in football-themed cups with whipped cream and team-colored sprinkles. Or go seasonal with apple cider doughnuts, pumpkin cookies or mini pies.
4. Don’t Forget the Bevs
“I love creating signature cocktails for events but no one wants to be mixing and muddling drinks when tailgating with friends,” Zahn said. “Make your cocktails the night before so you can actually enjoy the party.”
He preps mason jars of team-themed drinks (a Bloody Mary if your colors are red and black) and loads them in a cooler with sparkling waters, canned cocktails and local beers.
5. Go Big on Chips and Dips
“Dips are a no-cook crowd-pleaser, and they’re perfect for tailgating,” Zahn said.
He serves guac, hummus and buffalo ranch with tortilla chips, pretzels and veggie sticks in single-serve disposable cups - no double-dipping, no mess.
Tailgating without a grill doesn’t mean compromising on flavor or fun. With the right no-cook lineup - and a few strategic shortcuts - anyone can host a winning party this season. For more ideas, visit HormelGatherings.com.
Cheer on your team with the most flavorful MVP level dips
By Family Features
Source: Duda Farm Fresh Foods
It’s time to tailgate. Load up your favorite yard games, put on your team’s colors and pack the cooler with drinks and game day foods to get in the spirit.
For some, the real action takes place before kickoff, whether you’re in the parking lot or watching from the comfort of home with fellow diehard fans. To be the star of your next tailgate or homegate, make sure you’ve got fuel for the party with convenient dips that perform at an MVP level.
This Bloody Mary Dip combines a pair of game day favorites - the taste of a morning libation with a savory snack - to calm nerves before the players take the field. It’s made and served with Dandy Celery from Duda Farm Fresh Foods, which boasts a legacy of quality, innovation and consistency in celery cultivation since 1926. Its produce is crispier, sweeter and less stringy, redefining the veggie that’s a perfect teammate for tailgate dips. Or you can stick with a classic in this Skinny 7-Layer Dip, which layers familiar flavors like garbanzo beans, avocado
and shredded cheese but pairs them with nonfat Greek yogurt in place of full-fat sour cream to create a better-foryou game day bite.
For an especially nutritious snack, scoop it using Dandy Celery, which is available year-round, packed with flavor and low in calories, making it a smart choice for snacking and cooking meals throughout the game. Plus, it’s 95% water, high in fiber to leave fans feeling full and refreshed and packaged fresh and crisp with no preservatives.
To find more ways to tackle tailgating menus, visit dudafresh.com.
Bloody Mary Dip Recipe courtesy of Laughing Spatula on behalf of Duda Farm Fresh Foods | Prep time: 5 minutes | Servings: 8
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons pimento olives, chopped
2 tablespoons onions, chopped
2 tablespoons bacon, chopped
1/4 cup chopped Dandy Celery, plus additional whole sticks for serving, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
olives, for garnish
tomatoes, for garnish
crackers, for serving
In large bowl, combine cream cheese, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, pimento olives, onions, bacon, 1/4 cup chopped celery, salt, pepper and garlic. Mix well. Transfer to serving dish.
Garnish with skewered olives and tomatoes. Serve with celery and crackers to dip.
1 1/2 cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt, plus additional for garnish, divided
2 medium tomatoes, diced
2 packages Dandy Radish MiniSticks
2 cups low-fat cheddar cheese
1 cup sliced black olives
10 cilantro leaves
In skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil and garlic until softened and lightly browned.
Add garbanzo beans and hot sauce. Cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Scrape contents of pan into food processor, add 6 tablespoons water and process until smooth. Add 1-2 tablespoons water as necessary to get puree to spreadable consistency.
Transfer bean mixture to bowl to cool before assembling dip. Cut avocados in half and remove pits. Scoop out flesh and cut into 1-inch chunks.
In food processor, process avocado chunks, lime juice and salt until mostly smooth. Set aside until ready to assemble.
In small bowl, mix celery, cilantro, onion and 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt.
To assemble: Using spoon or plastic bag with tip removed for piping, distribute garbanzo bean mixture evenly among 10 small containers.
Add layer of avocado puree in same manner.
Sprinkle layer of diced tomatoes over avocado puree in each container. Add layer of radish sticks.
Distribute Greek yogurt mixture evenly over cups.
Divide cheese over cups then layer black olives. Garnish with dollop of Greek yogurt and cilantro leaf.
TRICARE medical vs. dental coverage: Understanding key differences
By TRICARE Communications
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — When you need care for your mouth, jaw, or teeth, you may have questions about whether you should use your TRICARE medical or dental plan. Knowing when to use your medical or dental coverage helps avoid unnecessary costs or delays in care.
“When you need dental care because of an injury, it may be covered under your TRICARE medical plan,” said Douglas Elsesser, TRICARE Dental Program Analyst at the Defense Health Agency. “But this is only if it’s tied to a medical condition and pre-authorized. Knowing the difference can save you time and money.”
Here’s what you should know. When is dental care considered “medical”?
In some cases, TRICARE medical coverage includes limited dental care known as adjunctive dental care. Adjunctive dental care is treatment you need to support a covered medical condition, injury, or disease. This is different from routine or restor-
ative dental work. Routine and restorative dental work are covered separately under the TRICARE Dental Program, TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program, or other dental insurance.
Here are some examples of adjunctive dental care that TRICARE may cover:
You break your jaw and a dentist removes a tooth to stabilize the fracture.
You need surgery to remove tooth fragments embedded in your tongue after an accident.
You need a restoration—like a crown or bridge—to replace a tooth lost during treatment of a medical condition.
Note: TRICARE requires pre-authorization for any adjunctive dental care unless it’s a medical emergency. Make sure your provider submits a request before you receive care. However, if you simply crack your tooth, TRICARE medical plans won’t cover repairing or replacing it.
What is the TRICARE Dental Program?
The TDP is a separate, premium-based dental plan available to active duty family
members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their family members. As described in the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook, it covers services like:
Checkups and cleanings
Fillings and crowns
Oral surgery and tooth extractions
Sealants and preventive care
Orthodontics, in some cases
You can find more details in the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook, which outlines which restorative services are covered and which aren’t.
Note: TDP doesn’t cover adjunctive dental care. When you need a dental procedure to treat a medical condition, it falls under your TRICARE medical plan instead—but make sure to get pre-authorization.
Coverage scenarios
Generally, when the care supports a covered medical problem or injury, it qualifies as adjunctive dental care under medical. Otherwise, it falls under dental.
Scenarios for Dental Coverage
Routine tooth cleaning or filling
Root canal due to infection
Braces for cosmetic reasons
Scenarios for Medical Coverage—with pre-authorization
Tooth removal after facial trauma
Surgery for a jaw fracture
Removal of tooth fragments from soft tissue
Know before you go
Unsure which benefit to use? Speak to your TRICARE health plan contractor or the TRICARE dental contractor, United Concordia, to confirm coverage before getting treatment.
Dental and medical care are both important parts of your overall health. Knowing which benefit to use—and when—gets you the care you need with less hassle.
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions to get benefit updates, news, and more.
In some cases, TRICARE medical coverage includes limited dental care known as adjunctive dental care. Adjunctive dental care is treatment you need to support a covered medical condition, injury, or disease. This is different from routine or restorative dental work.
