Golden Gazette January 2023

Coming in February

The LBK Brand

Lubbock has a new brand – LBK.

This community brand is not just a logo. It is a system of beliefs that defines a place, attracts others to it, and inspires residents to share civic pride.

The new branding represents all that Lubbock is and will continue to be. It honors the history of Lubbock while paving the way for the next chapter.

It exemplifies that Lub-

bock is a place for social, economic, educational, and cultural groundbreakers.

The mission is about creating a unified sense of community pride for the opportunities that Lubbock provides.

Some questions and answers:

Q: What is a “community brand”?

A: It’s a way to identify what makes a community special, and to put words to what is usually an intangible

feeling. A community brand is a uniquely crafted idea and symbol of pride that can be used to represent a diverse group of people who share a region — a home.

Q: Who led the community branding efforts?

A: This community branding effort was funded and led by a group of local business leaders representing a variety of industries including education, supermarket, bank-

Historical marker recognizes Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church

The Lubbock County Historical Commission unveiled a Texas Historical Marker on Sunday, Dec. 11 recognizing the Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church.

The church, beginning its second century of service, is located at 306 East 26th St. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has designated Greater St. Luke’s as a significant part of Lubbock and Texas history by awarding it an Official Texas Historical Marker.

From its beginnings in 1921, Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church has been a spiritual and social center in Lubbock.

Organized by Rev. Wiley and originally known as

Caldonia Baptist Church, the congregation first met in the neighborhood’s Masonic Lodge at 16th Street and Avenue A. Worshippers purchased a lot at 1802 Ave. A in 1924 and met in a wooden shelter before building a frame structure. In 1950, new property on 26th Street was purchased and a brick sanctuary was dedicated in 1957.

Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, one of the earliest African-American churches in Lubbock, celebrated its centennial in Fall 2021. It remains an active and vibrant congregation, maintaining their historic church for future generations.

Hate has talked so loudly for so long.

Greed has talked so loudly for so long. Liars have talked so loudly for so long.

Love has got to stop whispering. – Marianne Williamson

Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it with love.

A Texas Historical Marker was dedicated at Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church at 306 East 26th St. on Dec. 11. Rev, Dr. J. H. Ford and Deacon Dale Richardson unveiled the marker, with Judge Curtis Parrish presiding. The congregation marked its centennial in October 2021.

Funding by Newby Family

‘Crocodile Rock’ & longing for bygone days

“Crocodile Rock” became Elton John’s first Number One hit single on MCA Records. (In time, eight more would follow.) But rather than appreciate his rare good fortune, John apparently

rospective fueled by longing for bygone days with a girlfriend - priceless moments impossible to retrieve. Yet Elton’s lyricist Bernie Taupin has admitted, “I don’t mind having created it, but it’s

song, a nostalgia song, a rock and roll song which captured the right sounds. ‘Crocodile Rock’ is just a combination of so many songs, really— ‘Little Darlin’,’ ‘Oh, Carol,’ some Beach Boys, they’re in there as well, I suppose. Eddie Cochran, too. It’s just a combination of songs.’”

life.” He began using his pocket money to buy records and then pick out their melodies by ear on the family piano.

In “Crocodile Rock,” Elton John manages to create an enduring music masterpiece that roars along with

high-octane gusto, pounding piano lines and whirling synthesizer riffs adding to the retro-rock feel, as do the growling guitar lines, pulsating bass notes, and throbbing drumbeats.

It is, one might say, a justabout-perfect pop disc.

later grumbled, “The last time I have to sing ‘Crocodile Rock,’ I will probably throw a party… It became a big hit, and people love to sing along with it.…I play to amuse people and to entertain people, but I have to say, when the last show is done at the end of the last tour, I will never sing that song again.”

I remember when rock was young Me and Susie had so much fun Holdin’ hands and skimmin’ stones

Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own “Crocodile Rock” is a microcosm of the past. A ret-

Don’t compare yourself to others. There’s no comparison to the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s their time.

Traditions reveal what you value enough to repeat. And, done with love, they build warm, happy associations.

– Daniel Willingham

to…I don’t want people to remember me for ‘Crocodile Rock.’ I’d much rather they remember me for songs like ‘Candle in the Wind,’ songs that convey a message, a feeling. Things like ‘Crocodile Rock,’ which was fun at the time, was just pop fluff.”

Elton’s hit song was based on two Bill Haley oldies – “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” and “See You Later, Alligator” (“After ’while, crocodile”).

But the biggest kick I ever got Was doin’ a thing called the Crocodile Rock

While the other kids were rockin’ ‘round the clock

We were hoppin’ and boppin’ to the Crocodile Rock

John told rock historian Fred Bronson, “I wanted it to be a record all about the things I grew up with, all the great ‘50s and ‘60s records that we used to love. I always wanted to write one

Elton was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947. He was 10 when his parents divorced. By then the chubby, soft-spoken lad had six years of piano playing under his belt. With his rock-musichating father out of the picture, John received encouragement from his mother when she handed him a copy of Elvis Presley’s breakout hit “Heartbreak Hotel.”

“I went on from there,” he said. “Pop was my whole

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806-253-1322

Grant to fund development of parenting skills

The Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) for Lubbock County has received a Texas Bar Foundation grant.

Since 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $24 million in grants to Texas law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

Lubbock’s grant funds will be used to explore and develop parenting skills for

those who are in a courtordered supervised visitation activity.

Dr. Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo is vice provost for International Affairs and C.R. Hutcheson Professor in Human Development and Family Sciences at Texas Tech’s College of Human Sciences.

Trejos-Castillo and her Positive Youth Development Lab are collaborating with dispute resolution for this project.

She will be conducting research and assisting with development of new parenting skills for participants.

visitation have experienced some level of trauma that has probably been ignored and needs to be addressed.

Using the collected data, it is hoped that parents will be provided tools to facilitate positive relationships with their children and improve parenting skills. It is also possible the research may suggest the need for additional court-ordered parenting services to allow parental/child relationships to flourish.

The LBK Brand

(Continued from Page 1)

ing, media, healthcare, and energy. The Chamber staff organized and coordinated the efforts.

Q: Why does Lubbock need a community brand?

I have come to believe that caring for myself is not selfindulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival. – Audre Lorde

Trejos-Castillo’s research will focus on how parental mental health issues and toxic stress can affect interactions with their children.

Unfortunately, many families involved with supervised

The county-university collaboration provides participants access to an abundance of resources that will enable ODR to make referrals when the need arises. It is hoped these efforts made will have a lifelong impact on the parent/child relationships of participants.

REHABILITATION

A: Lubbock continues growing, and with every new person, business, or idea, comes endless possibilities that drive our city’s narrative to a place of strength and prosperity. In order to share with residents — both new to Lubbock, and those who grew up here — how strong our community truly is, a clear brand that both unifies the city and allows for individualism, is just what is needed. This brand is a way to rally the masses and build pride in the city.

Q: What was the process that helped develop what the Lubbock brand should be?

A: The community brand project began more than a year ago when an agency with deep expertise in community branding was hired - Civic Brand. The process included research and engagement, brand audit, strategy, design, and messaging. The team worked to ensure every corner of Lubbock was listened to through the comprehensive community survey, interviews, and focus groups.

Q: What is the significance of LBK, and why was that selected as the logo moniker?

A: LBK has long been used within the city as a shorthand way of identifying it. It’s something that already existed. For this reason, it seemed only right to keep what had been organically created by the locals.

Q: How much of my tax dollars went to this branding project?

A: This was funded by private businesses within the community.

Q: Can anybody use the community branding materials?

A: Yes. As long as you adhere to the required brand guidelines designed to maintain strong brand integrity, all local businesses and sole proprietors are encouraged to utilize the community branding materials on print materials or digital content at no cost or fee.

Q: Will I be able to use the branding in ways that fit my small business’s individual branding (change colors of community brand logo, etc.)?

A: Absolutely. The community branding logo was designed to be universally flattering. Its color can be changed as needed to complement other brands’ colors.

Q: Is there a website I can go to for more info?

A: Lubbock.is/LBK

Q: Who can I contact with questions?

A: Contact LEDA for any questions, 806-749-4500 or lubbockeda.org.

By Amy Sweezey

Filling out forms and paying taxes can be complicated, especially when you’re a caregiver. If you aren’t a financial advisor or accountant, some tax tips for caregivers may be just what you need when trying to determine what you can and can’t claim.

Unfortunately, a lot of caregivers miss out on tax credits and deductions every year because they don’t realize how much they are spending taking care of a loved one.

Know What You Spend

Keeping good records is key to knowing what you’re spending and how you can claim the tax benefits you deserve.

In the 2017 study The Journey of Caregiving conducted by Merrill Lynch and AgeWave, 52 percent of caregivers said they had no idea how much they’d spent on caregiving-related expenses. Surprisingly, 45 percent couldn’t estimate the amount spent in the last 30 days.

Besides keeping track

of expenses, it’s important to know the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit. A tax deduction lowers your taxable income while a tax credit directly reduces your tax bill.

Tax Tips for Caregivers: Deductions

• Determine if you can claim your loved one as a dependent. There are specific IRS rules related to how much is spent caring for a relative whether living inside or outside the same house.

• Caregiver tax deductions can be applied to nonrelatives, too. If you are caring for a non-relative as part of your household, you may still be eligible for benefits.

• When multiple caregivers are sharing responsibility, decide who will receive the tax break. If several siblings share the cost of a parent’s care, only one sibling can claim the parent as a dependent.

• Sometimes you can use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for a relative’s medical expenses.

employee.

- Source: IRS.gov

Tax Tips for Caregivers: Credits

Establish whether or not you qualify for these specific caregiving credits:

• Other Dependent Credit: This allows you to claim a loved one (that is not your child) as a dependent with a credit up to $500 depending on income. You don’t need to be living in the same house as this dependent to receive this credit.

• Child & Dependent Care Credit: Many people think this only applies to child daycare costs, but you may be eligible for this credit if your loved one attends a senior care facility during the day or has in-home care.

Often a planned gift can help you make a more significant gift than you might have otherwise imagined - without sacrificing income or security for your own family. There are many forms of planned gifts:

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill

When gratitude becomes an essential foundation in our lives, miracles start to appear everywhere. –

Emmanual Dagher

• If you work as a nanny, senior caregiver or other domestic helper, ascertain if you are considered an employee or an independent contractor. Those two titles differ and the IRS requires different forms and different taxes. If you are paid more than a specific amount (in 2021 it’s $2,400) for caregiving in a year, the IRS considers you a household

• Medical expenses deduction: If your loved one qualifies as a dependent, you may be able to deduct a portion of their medical expenses if you pay for them. Don’t forget to keep all the receipts from the pharmacy, doctor and insurance company. Many places will send a printed list of expenses at the end of the year if you ask.

- Source: Jo Willetts, Director of Tax Resources for Jackson Hewitt

If you’re still confused, get help from a professional. Tax attorneys, qualified financial advisors, and many accountants can provide advice on the best ways to save money on your taxes.

LIVE

LOVE ● LEGACY

Plan for changes in driving and firearm use

New research from the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative has examined diverse viewpoints on reducing access to potentially dangerous situations among older adults due to changes in physical or cognitive functioning.

Specifically, the research engaged older adults, family members of older adults, and experts to look at whether reducing driving and reducing firearm access are similar decisions when an older adult can no longer safely perform the activity.

In an article titled “Cars, Guns, Aging, and ‘Giving Up the Keys,’” the research was published in The Gerontologist and led by clinicians and researchers in the initiative who are experienced in studying firearm safety,

aging, veteran health, and driving.

“There’s an urgent need for resources and planning in advance to help reduce firearm injuries and deaths among older adults, while still respecting and promoting their independence, autonomy and rights. This is especially important when there’s a high risk of them harming themselves or someone else due to cognitive decline,” said lead researcher Emmy Betz, M.D., MPH, director of the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative.

She’s also a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

The paper’s authors said they hope that by comparing insights into processes and preferences for reducing firearm access versus driving, they can provide key insights on how to develop resources to help adults and family members consider when to reduce firearm use and how to do so with respectful, thoughtful engagement.

To study this, the researchers conducted online focus groups and one-onone interviews with older adults who drove and owned firearms, family members of older adult firearm owners and still drive, professionals in aging-related agencies, and firearm retailers/instructors.

Among the 104 participants, one of the greatest similarities was that car

and firearm access both have strong psychological attachments and emotions involved. They also agreed reduction in either activity should be prompted by declining ability, rather than by age alone.

At the same time, there were important differences in how participants discussed safety concerns between the two. Participants who relied on firearms for personal protection were the least likely to conceive of a time when it may be necessary to limit or no longer access firearms. In fact, firearms were viewed as an essential tool for protecting oneself as one gets older.

For both driving and firearm decisions, most par-

ticipants agreed that trusted messengers (such as family and clinicians) would be best to lead the conversation around limiting access and advance planning. However, conversation needs to be approached with dignity and respect and consider the psychological attachment related to the item.

Regarding driving, clinicians and older drivers supported routine conversations to facilitate advance planning. The researchers suggest that firearms safety should be included in this conversation and other safety topics to destigmatize the sensitive issue and support older adults in making their own decisions.

New Neighbors, Jan. 13

New Neighbors Club of Lubbock will hold its January meeting/luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 13 at the Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway.

Featured speaker will be Dr. David Fraze who is with Lubbock Christian University youth & family ministry and is a motivational speaker.

Lunch will be served after the program, and the cost is $20. Reservations are required at least 3 days before

the event. Deadline for reservations is Tuesday, the week of the event.

RSVP to Roni Allen (text) 281-507-4083 or okieroni1@ gmail.com.

If unable to attend, cancel your reservation no later than Tuesday before the meeting. The club must pay for reservations not paid for. If not cancelled, you will be billed.

Games afterward are optional. Contact your game leaders if interested.

Life can be difficult if all you see is everything that’s wrong. Start focusing on what’s right, what’s good, what’s constructive. No matter what you’re facing, if you choose a positive mindset, you’ll emerge the winner. So if you want to feel better, you’ve got to think better. – Mufti Menk

Starting a constructive conversation with Mom & Dad

In this world, we’re getting older and living longer, and senior adults are changing what it means to age well every day.

So, how can we help our loved ones, and ourselves, live independent lives for as long as possible?

At Caring Transitions, we under-

Firefighters deliver coats to students

Representatives from the Lubbock Professional Firefighters Association (LPFFA) delivered new coats to each student at Williams Elementary School in Lubbock in early November. The coat distribution is provided through the Operation Warm program, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing coats to those in need. Members of LPFFA Local 972 have collaborated with the Operation Warm: Coats for Kids Foundation in Lubbock since 2013.

stand that talking about underlying issues—independence, health, and loss—is tough.

It can feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to put off as you search for the perfect time, place, and space.

How you approach these discussions is almost as important as the topics of those discussions themselves.

The Conversation Starter Guide is a great resource for you and your loved ones. It contains a step-by-step process and resources created by The Conversation Project, a research study by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement to help improve communication among families worldwide.

Fidelity compiled a list of 6 tips for starting a constructive conversation.

1.

Be patient.

Recognize the truth behind the saying “old age is not for sissies.”

Declines in health, cognitive ability, and losing independence are legitimate causes for fear, frustration, and emotional upset.

2. Pick your spot.

Choose a time, space, and place where you and your loved one won’t feel rushed. Anticipate interruptions and conversational derailments.

3. Don’t try to tackle everything at once.

Start small and celebrate success. Pace yourself.

4. Don’t take it personally.

It’s rarely about you. Aging raises difficult topics and sensitive issues. Reframe what you can do together to help your loved one stay safe and remain independent as long as possible.

5.

Practice.

Make notes, enlist a friend to role play, and rehearse the conversation in your head so you can feel confident and relaxed in real time.

6. Keep talking.

Agree to disagree, take breaks, and keep the conversation going over time.

Realize the difficult questions take time, patience, and perseverance to sort through.

Try these questions to get started.

 How do you think you’re doing with _____________?

 What does being able to _____________ mean to you?

 What would it mean to you if we ___________?

 How will doing __________help you to _________?

 What’s the next best thing we can do to __________?

 How would you feel if we ____________?

- https://www.caringtransitions.com/blog/ id/1560135/a-guide-to-starting-a-constructive-conversation-with-mom-dad

#LetsDoLunch

Once a week, or once a month, use your lunch hour to deliver a hot, nutritious meal to someone who is homebound.

You will make their day, and they will make yours.

Call 806-792-7971 for more info.

Lubbock Meals on Wheels

www.LubbockMealsOnWheels.org

Afraid of losing your mind?

By Dr.Elva Edwards

The biggest looming fear as we get older is keeping our wits about us. There are those moments of recognizing our memory isn’t as good as it used to be.

I remember having lunch with an older friend when I realized she was not thinking the way she normally did. But there was no talking to her. She was paranoid. She had never been like that.

I soon came to find that she had Alzheimer’s. My understanding is that if we are aware we are not remembering as well as we used to,

He who cannot obey himself will be commanded. That is the nature of living creatures.

— Friedrich Nietzsche

we most likely do not have Alzheimer’s.

My experience with my friend was a change in personality. She was angry with a friend. Before, she was very accepting of those human mistakes we all make.

But now she was paranoid. I had never experienced her that way before. She was blaming which was very unlike her. She could not see herself properly. I understand that is more how “losing my mind” presents.

So if you are experiencing memory slips, and recognize it, don’t worry too much. Of course, I will always do what I can to help my brain. Brain health, for me, is at the top of my list.

CASA Blanca Gala & Auction benefitting children set for Feb. 25

2431 S. Loop 289 806-771-8010

Best trained & friendliest staff in Lubbock. Top

lives of children in foster care on the South Plains.

The gala will be held Feb. 25, 2023, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Texas Tech Frazier Alumni Pavilion.

The CASA Blanca Gala will include dinner, live music, and silent and live auctions. The gala will be a time to celebrate together, and an opportunity for caring community members to change the life of a child in foster care.

“Today more than ever, we face a real and very urgent need to advocate for children in foster care in the South Plains,” said Jaclyn Morris, executive director of CASA of the South Plains. “Every single dollar raised during the CASA Blanca Gala will stay right here in our community and go directly to serving our most vulnerable children.”

Sponsorships are avail-

able, and CASA is requesting donations for both the silent and live auctions. Any support will help ensure the foster youth in the South Plains receive the advocacy they desperately need.

For more information about sponsorships, tables, or to donate to the auctions, please contact Stacy Kelley at stacyk@casaofthesouthplains.org or 806-763-2272.

CASA’s Impact*

1. 500 children received advocacy services from CASA of the South Plains in 2021.

2. 248 CASA Volunteers donated a total of 5,290 hours in 2021, saving county taxpayers $290,950 in county paid attorneys’ fees.

3. 194 youth in foster care found permanency with the help of their CASA Volunteer in 2021.

*CASA 2021 Calendar Year Statistics

Garrison Institute on Aging TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

I am sooooo ready for 2023. Here’s hoping that prices will no longer rise and temps will remain steady. With the thought of 2023, I have been thinking about how numbers play in our daily lives.

With more of the ‘Greatest Generation’ leaving us, I wonder what each name of a generation represents. This is what I have found about the titles and the years indicated.

Born 1901-1924 Greatest Generation

Born 1928-1945 Silent Generation

Born 1946-1964 Baby Boomers

Born 1965-1980 Generation X

Born 1981-1996 Millenniums

Born 1997-2010 Generation Z

Born 2011-2025 Gen Alpha

With numbers in mind, there are some things that have made me go hummmmm?

• When did you realize 2022 is pronounced 2020, too?

• You have to be odd to be number 1.

• 11% of people are left handed.

• The Grand Canyon can hold approximately 900 trillion footballs. (Who counted these?)

• A piece of paper cannot

be folded more than 7 times. (Did you just try this?)

• You are now the same age as old people.

Care Partner

The Care Partner Academy session will be held at noon Jan. 10 at 6630 S Quaker, Suite G. Dee Neil, Program Specialist, with SPAG-AAA will present How to Recognize Scams and Avoid Them. This is an informal group that meets monthly to share various topics and is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Joan at 806-743-1217 or email at joan.blackmon@ttuhsc.edu.

The Healthy Aging Lecture Series will host Pulmonology as We Age on Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Academic Event Center (3601 4th St.). Ebitsam Attaya Islam, MD, PhD, FCCP will present information on lung issues and the importance of recognizing and treating. This is becoming a growing issue with the after effects of COVID, smoking, environment and aging. For more information or to RSVP for the event, call 806-743-3751 or email malcolm.brownell@ttuhsc.edu.

Stress Busting

StressBusting Program is preparing for the next session. The program is evidenced-based and offers you the support and education you need to help you

By

take care of yourself and your loved ones. Sessions are in small group, informal settings. There is no charge but a confirmation is required. All sessions (individual or group are usually conducted at the TTUHSC Southwest Campus, 6630 S. Quaker). Sessions will provide you with skills and techniques to manage stress and develop problem solving skills. Sessions will be held weekly. If you would like to learn more about this program, contact the office at 806-743-7821.

Respite program

We are also hosting a respite care program with the assistance of Dr. Jonathan Singer, TTU Department of Psychological Sciences. If you are an informal (unpaid) caregiver of someone with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or other related dementia diseases, he has programs that can benefit you. Participation in his study can assist in providing future services for you and those you care for. Caregivers are encouraged to contact Dr. Singer for additional information at 806-834-5884 or email at jonsinge@ttu.edu.

January funnies…

• What can you catch in January with your eyes closed?

A cold.

• What do you call a

snowman in August?

A puddle.

• What is an angry polar bear’s favorite food?

A “brrr” “grrr”!

• What does a ghost say on January 1? Happy Boo Year!

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others? ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Happy New Year!

View the directory online:

www.WordPub.com/grd1.html.com

Or have a Golden Resource Directory mailed to you. send $3 to: Word Publications 2022 82nd St. #101 Lubbock, TX 79423 Include an address to mail the directory to.

Need assistance, help or information, and don’ t know where to look?

55+ Households are BOOMING!

It's crazy! From 2000 to 2021, the number of households headed by older Americans (people age 55 or older) grew by a stunning 65 percent in the United States, according to the latest gures released by the Census Bureau.

This was more than double the 24 percent rise in total households. Compare this with the number of households headed up by people, ages 35 to 54, which fell 3 percent.

And the number of households headed by young adults? Well, they only grew by 9 percent during that time frame.

Older Americans are now in charge of 46 percent of our nation's households and over three-quarters of its wealth!

If your business doesn't have a marketing plan in place to reach this booming, older demographic, then you’d be crazy!

The miracle is this – the more we share, the more we have. –

LEONARD NIMOY

First sign of civilization

Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones. But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said.”

We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized.

Lubbock,Texas 806-744-2220

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SOURCE: CENSUS BUREAUS HISTORICAL HOUSEHOLDS TABLES

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. – WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

Winter Brussels Sprout Salad

Ingredients

Salad:

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• ¼ cup pecans, chopped

• ¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)

• 2-3 tablespoons blue cheese or Gorgonzola, crumbled

Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons shallots, minced

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

• 1 garlic clove, minced (or ½ teaspoon minced garlic)

• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

• ⅛ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Toss Brussels sprouts in olive oil, and spread in an even layer on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper, and bake in oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle pecans on top. Return to oven for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until aromatic. Watch carefully so they don’t burn. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

3. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together.

4. Toss together Brussels sprouts, pecans and cranberries in a large bowl. Add vinaigrette mixture; toss to combine. Sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles and serve.

As you focus on serving others, you learn a lot about yourself. You learn how to focus on others’ strengths and not their weaknesses. You learn to invest yourself into the lives of others, and you learn how to mentor, teach and coach those who will replace you. – Vance Cryer, Colonel (Ret) USMC

10 Diabetes Superfoods seniors can say ‘Yes!’ to

Seniors who receive a diagnosis of diabetes may feel they have to give up all the foods they love, but that’s not entirely true. Sure, they may have to say no to ice cream and white bread, but you can help the senior you care adapt by offering new choices that will satisfy his or her desire for sweets and starches while keeping blood sugar levels stable.

Say yes to these 10 choices the American Diabetes Association calls “diabetes superfoods”:

1. Berries

Some fruits contain as much sugar as candy does, but berries go on the ‘safe’ list for seniors with diabetes. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries -they all offer a sweet touch to any meal without elevating blood sugar levels too much.

2. Skim milk and fat-free yogurt

Choose milk fortified with

Vitamin D, which can help seniors maintain bone health. When it comes to yogurt, look for sugar-free varieties. A fruity cup of yogurt makes a great dessert for seniors with diabetes.

3. Citrus fruits

Avoid fruit juices (which almost all contain added sugar) and go for the whole fruit. Oranges, lemons and limes can be eaten whole or used to add zest to other dishes. The exception? Grapefruit. Most seniors should avoid this citrus fruit because it contains compounds that may interact with medications. Be sure to talk with your loved one’s physician or pharmacist to understand how foods might affect medications.

4. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes satisfy that craving for a starch with the meal but don’t cause postmeal blood sugar spikes the

Map folds out to 34.5” x 22.5”

way white and red potatoes do.

5. Whole grains

Whole grain breads, oatmeal, brown rice, and barley allow your senior to enjoy bread with meals. Slowdigesting whole grains taste great and generally don’t negatively affect blood sugar levels the way refined grains such as white flour can.

6. Tomatoes

Seniors with diabetes can consume tomatoes to their heart’s content. Tomatoes are loaded with Vitamins C and E, along with iron. Eat them raw or cooked. (Read the labels of canned tomatoes and spaghetti sauces, which can contain undesirable levels of added sugar and salt.)

houses include spinach, kale, collard greens, beet greens, and many others. Seniors who take a ‘blood-thinning’ medication like warfarin (Coumadin) should avoid dark green leafy vegetables, but all others can consume these with abandon.

8. Beans

Packed with fiber, beans of all types -- navy, kidney, pinto -- provide protein along with the essential

minerals magnesium and potassium.

9. Fatty fish

Choose fresh or frozen fish like salmon once a week or more to garner the healthful effects of its Omega-3 fatty acids. Canned salmon and tuna count, too, and may provide a more affordable option.

10. Nuts

Almonds, walnuts, pecans and other tree nuts provide nutrients and protein, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable. Go for unsalted varieties.

Changing one’s eating pattern can be difficult, especially for elderly loved ones. Instead of telling them what they can’t eat, help your senior with diabetes overcome dietary challenges by suggesting foods they can say ‘yes’ to every day.

https://www.homeinstead. com/care-resources/healthconditions/10-diabetes-superfoods/

mail a check for $3 to:

806-744-2220

Word Publications

2022 82nd St. #101

Lubbock, TX 79423

Be sure to include a complete address to mail the map to.

7. Dark green leafy vegetables

These nutrient power-

Albondigas (Mexican Meatball Soup)

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

• 2 pounds 93% lean ground beef

• ½ cup dry breadcrumbs

• 2 eggs

• 2 teaspoons cumin

• 1 teaspoon chili powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• 1 lime, juiced

• 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine meatball ingredients and mix until well-combined. Form 1-inch meatballs and arrange about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet.

Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through.

2. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute 3-5 minutes, or until translucent. Add carrots and garlic and saute for 3-5 more minutes.

3. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, chili powder, cumin and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium. Simmer uncovered for 7-10 minutes.

4. Add meatballs, black beans, corn and zucchini. Simmer an additional 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve immediately with toppings of your choice.

The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else – Carson McCullers

For the Soup:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped

• 5-6 medium carrots, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 8 cups beef broth

• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with chilies

• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

• 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder

• 2 ½ teaspoons cumin

• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 ½ cups frozen corn

• 2 medium zucchini, chopped

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Garnishes: Avocado, queso fresco, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, sour cream, tortilla chips, etc.

Family caregivers: How to ask for help

In a perfect world, caregiving is a shared responsibility. Unfortunately, if a spouse or other family member is unable to lend support, the caregiving role tends to fall to one person – and that person alone.

According to Home Instead research, 72 percent of primary caregivers provide care to a parent or loved one without any outside help. Not surprisingly, 31 percent of those surveyed admit they’d like more help with caregiving, and one in four resents other family members who don’t help.

If you are a sole caregiver, look for ways to avoid burnout and stress. It’s important to take care of your own health, or you won’t be any good to the person you are providing care. Start with

a plan that includes family members like the Action Plan for Successful Aging. A plan can help identify what hurdles could stand in the way of providing an aging adult care.

One of the best ways to avoid becoming overstressed is to enlist the help of siblings, other family members and friends – without feeling bad or guilty for reaching out.

Asking for help is difficult for many people. These suggestions could help get other family members or close friends involved in the care of an aging adult.

Even if the tasks required are small, make sure everyone gets one. If your brother lives 1,000 miles away, make it his responsibility to call your elderly parent once a week to check in or to visit for a week each year to allow you to take your own family vacation.

Divide up the tasks

Converse about issues

If you don’t express your concerns (e.g., debilitating health, amount of time you are spending caring for them, etc.), you can’t expect your other family members to know what you are thinking and feeling.

Don’t be a control freak

ers to share the duties.

Learn the benefits of respite care and the many ways home care can help the entire family by contacting your local Home Instead office.

Give each person a re-

Quality End of Life Care

Designate a specific family member to handle the medical aspects of your relative’s care (talks with doctors, medication information, etc.), while another takes on the responsibility for groceries/meals and another handles paying the bills. By dividing up the tasks, each person becomes more involved with the details or these tasks and can keep each other abreast of changes, issues, problems, etc.

If you want to control every aspect of the care, other family members may be less apt to step in, thinking you have it all under control. They’ll be less able to understand your stress level if they believe you are the one creating it.

Find Support

If you don’t have other family members to help, consider joining a local caregiver support group or involving outside friends, church members or professional caregiv-

Whether you need respite care to get a good night’s sleep or 24-hour home care, services and care plans can be tailored to meet your family’s needs.

- Homeinstead.com

12 things to always remember

1. The past can’t be changed.

2. Opinions don’t define your reality.

3. Everyone’s journey is different.

4. Judgments are not about you.

5. Overthinking will lead to sadness.

6. Happiness is found within.

7. Your thoughts affect your mood.

8. Smiles are contagious.

9. Kindness is free.

10. It’s OK to let go and move on.

11. What goes around, comes around.

12. Things always get better with time.

It turns out that when asked who your favorite child is, you’re supposed to pick one of your own. I know that now.

How to effectively ask for help

sponsibility

Adult children with college degrees influence parents’ health in later life

Write down the benefits of obtaining a college degree and, more than likely, all the items on the completed list will relate to graduates: higher salaries, autonomous jobs, and better access to health care.

All of those factors, supported by extensive research, help draw a direct line connecting higher education and health. Similar research suggests how the education of parents affects their children.

Now, two University at Buffalo (UB) sociologists have used a new wave of data from a survey launched in 1994 to further extend the geometry linking educational attainment and health that demonstrates another dimension of the intergenerational effects of completing college. Their findings, published recently in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, suggest that adult children’s educational attainment has an impact on their parents’ mental and physical health.

“By analyzing these data, we arrived at the conclusion that it was detrimental to parents’ self-reported health and depressive symptoms if none of their children completed college,” said co-author Christopher Dennison,

Had a bad mixup at the store today. When the cashier said strip down facing me, apparently she was referring to my credit card.

Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology in UB’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“The negative mental health outcome of the parents was in fact our strongest finding.”

Dennison and co-author Kristen Schultz Lee, Ph.D., an associate professor in the UB Department of Sociology, have both used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) in their previous research. Add Health is a nationally representative longitudinal study of more than 20,000 adolescents. It is the largest such survey of its kind. There was an initial wave of data on the parents (ages 30 to 60) when the survey began and another wave of data from roughly 2,000 of those original participants (now ages 50 to 80) gathered from 2015 to 2017.

It’s this latter data set that provided the researchers an opportunity to look at the

intergenerational relationship between parents and children over time, while statistically balancing factors that could influence an aging parent’s health.

“These results are particularly important in light of growing educational inequalities in the U.S. in the last several decades,” Lee said. “We know how our own education impacts our own health. We know how parents’ education impacts their children in many different ways. Now we’re trying to add to that understanding by explaining how children’s education can have an impact on their parents.

“One thing I thought particularly interesting about these findings is that those parents who are the least likely to have a child attain a college education (low socioeconomic status) seem to benefit the most from a child having a college degree.”

Dennison and Lee speculate on a number of elements that might be driving this association, including anxiety, assistance and lifestyle.

“Parents whose children have lower levels of education might spend more time worrying about their children. That has negative implications for their mental health and their selfrated health,” Lee said. “Kids without a degree might need more help from their parents and are also less able to provide help if needed in return.

“Another possibility is that educated children might be doing a better job of helping their parents live healthier lives by encouraging exercise and a sensible diet.”

What’s clear is the evidence pointing to how the benefits of a college degree show up in the parents’ health later in life.

“In this era when a college degree is of ever-growing importance, we see how the long-term investment in education is advantageous to the adult child’s health, but also has benefits down the road for their parents, too,” Dennison said.

And it’s this idea of an investment that speaks to how educational attainment reaches across generations from a policy perspective.

“Historically, there has been a debate over whether or not different generations are at odds with one another, with one generation taking resources away from another older or younger generation,” Lee said.

“But our findings point to the fundamentally interrelated nature of the interests and needs of different generations.

“Investing in one generation, in this case, positively benefits another generation.”

May we ask a favor of you?

Please shop small.

Shop with local small businesses. For many small businesses, it’s now or never. We’re counting on you!

MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY WORD PUBLICATIONS, A LUBBOCK SMALL BUSINESS SINCE 1972.

THIS

Uncrewed aerial transport of organs from Lubbock, to Oklahoma City to San Antonio

LifeGift, LifeShare and TOSA joined forces with the Matador Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Consortium, co-developed by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and 2THEDGE, LLC., and Specialist Direct Inc., to conduct an uncrewed aerial transport (UAS) to test the ability to successfully move organs between Lubbock, Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

The test took place Nov. 15 with the flight originating at Lubbock’s Texas Tech University Reese Technology Center, proceeding a distance of 350 miles to Oklahoma City, and then traveling 471 miles to San Antonio.

This is the first time donated organs were transported this far a distance by an aerial system that was operated using robotic technology. The Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA) transported a

donated human liver, kidney, and pancreas between the three cities.

Although there was a pilot on board per FAA regulations, the plane was flown entirely by technology onboard. The organs were donated for clinical research and were not transplanted following the fight demonstration.

During these flights, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center conducted research to establish baseline data of the impact environmental conditions have on donor organs during flight operations.

This research, combined with both a static bench test and a typical ground transportation route of several hundred miles, will provide better understanding of the effect environmental conditions may have on tissue and organs.

The three organ procurement organizations’ proposed use of this groundbreaking technology aims to improve transport of donated organs and tissues in rural areas to better serve patients.

LifeGift is the non-profit organ and tissue donation organization serving 109 Texas counties in Southeast, North and West Texas; LifeShare is in Oklahoma City; and Texas Organ Sharing Alliance is in San Antonio.

LifeGift, LifeShare and TOSA’s shared objectives included:

• Address transportation

challenges in the facilitation of organs for transplant and minimize the time between

• Continue to drive innovation and technology to better serve all patients especially those in rural areas.

organ recovery and transplantation.

• Test the efficacy of transporting organs and biological materials via Uncrewed Aerial Transport (UAS) technology from hospitals in rural areas to transplant programs.

• Increase efficiency of the logistics involved in the testing of biological material to allocate organs and the recovery of donated organs.

“The use of uncrewed aerial system transportation of organs and associated tissues is a critically important mode of transportation to facilitate faster and more reliable movement of organs for transplant, especially in rural areas such as West Texas and neighboring areas,” LifeGift President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Myer said.

“Our partnership with LifeShare, TOSA and the Matador UAS Consortium aligns with our focus on research and innovation to drive performance improvement across the donation system to more effectively serve patients and save more lives through organ transplantation.”

In 1958, actor Peter Lawford paid $10,000 for a story idea that a movie-director pal claimed to have heard from a gas station attendant. Lawford then approached his fellow members of the celebrated Rat Pack (the men preferred the more dignified nickname of The Summit), which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop.

Lawford shared a proposal about using the idea for a heist-caper film set in Sin City. When he heard the con-

cept, Sinatra joked, “Forget the movie, let’s pull the job!”

The Ocean’s 11 plot line became a setup for the five hard-drinking, chain-smoking, dame-chasing headliners to make whoopee onscreen, which they did with ease and aplomb as they adlibbed many of their lines.

The premise of the gatherthe-guys yarn stars Ol’ Blue Eyes as leader Danny Ocean.

He has assembled a squad of Army-veteran paratrooper pals for a civilian commando raid in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve.

never pays, one of the 11 scofflaws unexpectedly dies and a monkey wrench is tossed into the mechanism of the “perfect” plan.

Sinatra and Martin earn the lion’s share of screen time together, with Frank once saying, “You know, sometimes I think the only reason I got into this caper was to see you again.”

alities who try to live life by their own rules.

Check out this classic; it’s one of the reasons we once loved going to the cinema.

Cameo appearances weave through the story and include such icons as Shirley MacLaine, Red Skelton, Angie Dickinson and George Raft.

In Print & Online

Each participant exudes a different level of passion, and each has a personal reason to be involved. One hopes to help his wife stop stripping for a living. Another is terminally ill and wants to provide for his kid’s college tuition. Yet another sees a chance to buy his way out of a mundane life that includes driving a truck.

Pick up a print edition at any of our 100+ locations throughout Lubbock or go online to www.WordPub.com click on “Seniors” click on “Golden Gazette” choose a ‘pdf version’ or a ‘ ip-the-page’ version.

Our 34th year in publication Published monthly by Word Publications

2 ways to read the Golden Gazette: www.WordPub.com

The plan was to simultaneously cut off the electricity at midnight at five major casinos—the Sahara, the Riviera, the Desert Inn, the Sands and the Flamingo. The thieves would then break into casino cages, stuff $5 million in cash into trash cans, and have one of the raiders drive a treasure-laden garbage truck out of town and into hiding. But, to prove that (Hollywood) crime

Filming often took place in Las Vegas in short bursts during the daytime before the superstars appeared onstage to perform for the likes of JFK and other celebrities of the time.

The original Ocean’s 11 became one of Warner Brothers’ most profitable pictures upon its August 1960 release. And while some movie critics harrumphed that the tale was immoral, most reviewers declared it a romp – and quite a clever scheme.

The original Ocean’s 11 is now a low-tech time capsule that delights to this day, and it allows us to appreciate larger-than-life fellows with oversize person-

Include an address to mail the map to. Ruidoso Map

www.RuidosoMap.com

Keep moving during & after the holidays

There have been so many things to do such as cooking, parties, shopping, and travel.

Physical therapy often gets put at the bottom of the list. But if you’re in physical therapy over the holidays, there’s a reason. It might be pain, a recent surgery, or just not moving the way you’d like.

Any of these things will put a damper on your holiday, so keeping up with your PT is important. Here are some tips to make it easier.

The crazy schedule is part of what makes the holidays challenging. That’s why planning is extra important right now. Your schedule isn’t the only one that’s full this time of year - so is your physical therapist’s. Plan and schedule your appointments well in advance. You’ll get the times and days that work best for you, and you’ll already have your PT appointments in your calendar to plan around.

Hopefully you have a regular time to exercise. With the holiday mania about to shake up your routine, that

time may no longer work. Think about when you’re going to exercise ahead of time, and you’ll stay consistent.

Planning won’t solve all of the holiday challenges though. Be ready to work with your PT and make modifications to your treatment.

You might have to modify your plan of care and attend fewer sessions for a week or two. If your PT knows this, they can give you a few extra things to work on at home so you don’t fall behind. If you find that getting in all of your home exercises is tough, your PT might be able to temporarily reduce the number of exercises you’re doing with a focus on maintaining your progress through the busy season.

The holidays are a special time of year. Keeping up with your health and your physical therapy can be challenging during this time. But you don’t have to fall behind.

With some planning and flexibility, you can stay healthy, survive the holidays and start the next year with good momentum.

Later on in life, we’re not the same as we once were. We’ve had our hearts broken, faced disappointments and tragedies but made it through. This time is likely the most beautiful outside of infancy. Though we are weary travelers with far less energy than before, we still carry within us a spark of hope and a great deal of love. It is with focus and this energy that we can truly live a life fulfilled.

Need a doc?

www.LubbockMedGuide.com

Lubbock & area physicians - by specialty & alphabetically + hospitals & related medical services

Golden Gazette Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

1. Seaport in SW Spain 6. Method 10. Flat-fish 14. Angry 15. In bed 16. Journey 17. Sickening 19. Skin eruption 20. Flow back 21. Overdue 22. Infuriate 24. Concern 25. Hit sharply 26. Supreme commander 31. Reprimand 33. Ruined city in W Iran 34. Plant 35. Coil 36. Am. Indian tent 38. Astound 39. Consumed 40. Garment worn by women in India 41. Valleys 42. Tending to reduplicate 46. Observed 47. Starchy food grain 48. Distorted 51. Worry 52. Jamaican popular music 55. 16th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 56. Forbearance 59. Cartel 60. Periods of history 61. Silk fabric 62. Surfeit 63. Depression in a surface 64. Equip

DOWN

1. Motion picture 2. Bedouin 3. Paint unskillfully 4. It is

5. Province in the SW Netherlands 6. Something occupying space 7. Off-Broadway theater award 8. Lair 9. Sideways 10. Begins 11. Killer whale 12. Freshwater codfish 13. Fencing sword 18. River in central Switzerland 23. US space agency 24. Prison room 25. Swing around 26. Pierced with horns 27. Savory jelly 28. Pineapple fiber 29. Pouting grimace 30. Possesses 31. Mark left by a healed wound

32. Pleasingly pretty 36. Having ability 37. Ireland 38. Rescue 40. Vomit 41. Prescribe 43. Benefits derived from wealth 44. Take into custody 45. Stratum 48. Labels 49. Tree frog 50. Public disturbance 51. Mexican custard 52. Immature herring 53. Serbian folk dance 54. Once more 57. Metal-bearing mineral 58. Large cask

How to reduce belly bloat naturally

Dr. Sameer Islam Gastroenterologist

A bloated belly can feel uncomfortably full. It may look like you have a “food baby.” And your waistband may feel tight. While bloating and gas can be embarrassing to deal with, everyone experiences it at one time or another.

trigger symptoms of bloating in certain people. Dairy products, carbonated beverages, cruciferous vegetables, greasy foods, highly processed foods, gluten, high FODMAP foods. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Examples of high FODMAP foods are wheat, beans, artichokes, and apples.

Common daily habits

sion can give rise to digestive symptoms such as bloating. Research shows that stress and brain disorders can alter the gut microbiome and cause intestinal permeability. This makes you more susceptible to digestive issues.

Digestive conditions

prevent your stomach from becoming overstuffed and bloated.

Low-FODMAP diet

M.D.

In many cases, temporary belly bloat after eating is a normal part of digestion. Certain foods get broken down by gut bacteria which produces intestinal gas. But if bloating becomes painful or constant, it can be a sign of a digestive issue. What causes a bloated belly?

There are numerous potential causes for belly bloat. It may be the body’s way of responding to certain foods or daily habits. Bloating may also be a symptom of a medical condition. Identifying what causes a bloated belly can help you understand how to treat it and find relief.

Food triggers

Some foods are common triggers for bloating. Because everyone is different, foods that cause bloating for one person may not affect someone else the same way.

The following foods may

Many daily habits and behaviors can cause you to swallow air and develop symptoms of bloating. Excess air that becomes trapped in the digestive tract only has two ways out - through belching or flatulence.

Common daily habits that increase bloating and gas include drinking through a straw, chewing gum, eating too fast, sucking on hard candy, eating too much, and drinking carbonated beverages.

Psychological symptoms

Incredibly, your mental health can also contribute to belly bloat. Your mental health impacts your digestive health through the gutbrain connection. Your gut and brain communicate back and forth through hormones, the gut microbiome, and the vagus nerve.

Your psychological, emotional, and social well-being have a direct effect on your gut. Negative factors such as stress, fatigue, and depres-

Bloating is a common symptom of many digestive conditions. The following diseases can cause bloating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), celiac disease, colon cancer.

Natural bloating relief

There are many ways to combat belly bloat naturally. Changing your diet and daily habits can help you find natural bloating relief.

The top 5 foods to stop belly bloat are raspberries, turmeric, oats, flaxseeds, and yogurt.

Mindful eating habits

It’s not only what you eat that matters, but also how you eat. Being mindful of how you eat can prevent you from swallowing excess air, which is a major culprit for bloating and gas.

Chewing your food slowly can help you digest your food better and avoid air pockets. Slowing down when you eat also means avoiding gulping or slurping. Another helpful tip to naturally treat belly bloat is eating smaller meals more frequently instead of large ones. This can

A low-FODMAP, or an elimination diet, can help you identify food sensitivities or intolerances. But you should see your doctor to rule out other potential causes of bloating before making drastic changes to your diet.

Exercise

Getting regular exercise is a natural way to boost your digestive health. Aerobic exercises such as running and cycling strengthen your core and increase blood flow to your digestive system. This can improve the frequency of bowel movements and help reduce bloating.

Yoga is another beneficial form of exercise. Yoga poses can stretch your internal

organs and help relieve gas. What’s more, yoga relaxes both your body and mind, which can reduce stress. When to see your doctor

for bloating

If you experience frequent bloating and natural remedies don’t improve your symptoms, you should see a GI doctor to rule out an underlying digestive condition.

Signs to see a gastroenterologist for bloating include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, change in bowel habits, vomiting, unintended weight loss, and fatigue.

Gastroenterologists have specialized training in the treatment and diagnosis of digestive conditions. They can save months or years of suffering by finding the source of your problem.

Is posture important?

By Dr. Elva Edwards

How important is posture?

It is at the top of the list in what we need to work on every day.

So many things are tied to posture, especially breathing. You can’t get a good breath with poor posture.

To get a little more into posture, watch people. What is the victim posture, the self-assured posture, the ‘I’m depressed posture’, or the ‘I’m ready for the world pos-

ture?’ Our posture is one way of communicating to others. Most importantly, poor posture leads to all kinds of health problems.

If you are walking through a door, bend your elbows and put your hands on both sides of the door frame and slowly walk through. This pulls your shoulders back. It stretches your chest muscles which are often contracted. Just that one move can be helpful.

Sameer Islam,

Start fresh with your financial planning this winter

Winter 2023 market closures

Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Feb. 20: Presidents Day Dates

to

remember

For deadlines that fall on a weekend, action may need to be taken by the preceding weekday.

Jan. 18: Fourth quarter 2022 estimated tax payments are due, if required.

Jan. 31: Raymond James mails year-end retirement tax forms for 1099-R and 5498,

if applicable.

Feb. 15: Raymond James begins mailing 1099 tax statements.

Feb. 28: Raymond James mails amended 1099s and those delayed due to specific holdings and/or income reallocation.

March 15 is the final day to mail any original 1099s and continued amended 1099s as needed.

Things to do

• Organize for tax time. Prepare for smooth filing.

By early February, you should have tax forms in hand. Make sure to organize them in a dedicated spot, as well as any receipts if you itemize. To ensure all is in order, talk to your advisor about coordinating with your tax professional.

• Get set for 65: This is the age you become eligible for Medicare; a 10% premium penalty applies for each year you go without Part B coverage beyond this birthday in most cases. You have seven months to enroll, starting from three months before your birth month. Ask your advisor about healthcare planning resources that can guide you.

• Become a benefits whiz: Research your company’s open enrollment schedule and decide if you need to make changes.

• Fine-tune your health spending: If you participate in a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), review contribution levels to take full advantage – without

exceeding limits, which are adjusted regularly for inflation. If you have an FSA, use available funds before your plan’s use-it-or-lose-it deadline.

• Finesse your bonus: Plan how you want to use your year-end bonus before it hits your checking account. Consider paying down highinterest debt, shoring up your emergency fund or increasing your 401(k) contribution.

• Pay yourself first: If you haven’t automated retirement contributions, start now. It’s also a good time to reconfirm your employer match and increase your contributions to allow more time to generate tax-deferred gains.

• Revisit an IRA: Pretax contributions to IRAs can reduce taxable income, and Roth IRAs might be the answer if you’re above income thresholds to make a tax-deductible traditional IRA contribution. You have until tax filing deadline (not including extensions) to contribute for the current tax year.

Cozy up safely

Heating causes 27% of structure fires during winter, so it’s a key time to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – and call the chimney sweep for a fireplace cleaning. Source: FEMA

Withdrawals from taxdeferred accounts may be subject to income taxes, and prior to age 59 1/2 a 10% federal penalty tax may apply. Investment products are: not deposits, not FDIC/ NCUA insured, not insured by any government agency, not bank guaranteed, subject to risk and may lose value.

© 2022 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/ SIPC. © 2022 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Raymond James financial advisors do not render legal or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding legal or tax advice.

22-BDMKT-5632 AB 9/22 Zach Holtzman Financial Advisor

CLEVER WORDS FOR CLEVER PEOPLE

ARBITRAITOR - A cook that leaves Arby’s to work at McDonald’s.

Local Personal ad

BERNADETTE - The act of torching a mortgage.

BURGLARIZE - What a crook sees through.

AVOIDABLE - What a bullfighter tries to do.

EYEDROPPER - Clumsy ophthalmologist.

CONTROL - A short, ugly inmate.

COUNTERFEITERWorkers who put together kitchen cabinets.

ECLIPSE - What an English barber does for a living.

LEFT BANK - What the bank robbers did when their bag was full of money.

HEROES - What a man in a boat does.

PARASITES - What you see from the Eiffel Tower.

PARADOX - Two physicians.

PHARMACIST - A helper on a farm.

POLARIZE - What penguins see through.

PRIMATE - Remove spouse from in front of TV. RELIEF - What trees do in the spring.

RUBBERNECK - What you do to relax your wife. SELFISH - What the owner of a seafood store does.

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Looking for vo Lunteers

University Medical Center is looking for volunteers to work as messengers, pop popcorn, and work at the information desk. If you would like to meet new people, socialize, be appreciated, and have all the free popcorn you can eat, call, 806775-8760. 6/17

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vo Lunteering?

Covenant Health and Covenant Children’s are in need of volunteers. Donate a morning or afternoon each week to help serve patients and families! If interested, call Lauren Orta, 806-725-3309, or email ortalh1@covhs.org 3/19

EYEGLASS REPAIR & REPLACEMENT

Frame repairs, new lenses, new frames and/or adjustments.

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Anxiety: The real reason mom won’t leave the house

Anxiety is a common illness among older adults, affecting as many as 10-20 percent of the older population according to the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation (GMHF).

Among adults, anxiety is the most common mental health problem for women, and the second most common for men, after substance abuse.

An anxiety disorder causes feelings of fear, worry, apprehension, or dread that are excessive or don’t realistically represent the situation at hand. There are several types of anxiety disorders, the GMHF reports.

Phobia, when an individual is fearful of certain things, places or events, is the most typical type of anxiety. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is also an issue for many older adults. Those with GAD worry constantly when there may be nothing to worry about.

The signs of an anxiety disorder

• Excessive worry or fear

• Refusing to do routine activities or being overly preoccupied with routine

• Avoiding social situations

• Being overly concerned about safety

• Racing heart, shallow breathing, trembling, nausea, sweating

• Poor sleep

• Muscle tension, feeling

weak and shaky

• Hoarding/collecting

• Depression

• Self-medication with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants

What contributes to anxiety disorder

• Extreme stress or trauma

• Bereavement and complicated or chronic grief

• Alcohol, caffeine, drugs (prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal)

• A family history of anxiety disorders

• Other medical or mental illnesses

• Neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer’s or other dementias).

Aging issues, such as poor health, memory problems and losses, also could trigger anxiety as could common fears about aging such as being left alone.

What about depression?

For older adults, depression often goes hand-in-hand with anxiety, and both can be debilitating, reducing overall

health and quality of life. It is important to know the signs of anxiety and depression, and to talk with a physician about any concerns. Anxiety can interfere with memory, and significant anxiety might contribute to amnesia or flashbacks of a traumatic event.

These symptoms that last at least two weeks could be signs of depression:

• Disturbed sleep (sleeping too much or too little)

• Changes in appetite (weight loss or gain)

• Physical aches and pains

• Lack of energy or motivation

• Irritability and intolerance

• Loss of interest or pleasure

• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

• Difficulties with concentration or decision-making

• Noticeable restlessness or slow movement

• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

• Changed sex drive

What you can do

If you believe your senior is suffering from an anxiety disorder, encourage him or her to see a doctor. Companionship may also go a long way toward decreasing feelings of isolation and loneliness, which could contribute to anxiety, according to Home Instead Senior Care Chief Executive Officer Jeff Huber.

“Seniors who are living alone may be more vulnerable to the risks of anxiety. Just knowing someone is coming to the home, whether it’s a family member or professional caregiver, can provide a senior with reassurance that they are safe and secure, which could go a long way toward preventing anxiety.”

The following are other suggestions from the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation that might help you help an aging loved one dealing with feelings of anxiety or depression:

• Acknowledge your loved one’s worries and help them address any fears that can be handled. For example,

if an individual is worried about finances, a visit to a financial planner may be helpful.

• Have your loved one talk with family, a friend, or spiritual leader to delve into their feelings and fears.

• Encourage your loved one to adopt stress management techniques that may help them alleviate some of the anxiety - meditation, prayer, and deep breathing.

• Suggest your loved one get more exercise. For some people, exercise works as well as antidepressants in alleviating symptoms of mild to moderate depression.

• Ask your loved one to avoid things that can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders including caffeine, nicotine, over-eating, overthe-counter cold medications, and alcohol.

• Propose your loved one limit news of current events. While it is important to stay current, too much negative news can contribute to anxiety.

After you implement a treatment, allow time for it to work. It can often take days or weeks for someone with anxiety or depression to notice a significant difference in their mood or behavior.

For more information about mental health as an important component of healthy aging, check out the resources of the World Federation for Mental Health.

Major road improvements to 114th Street

A road project is making major improvements to 114th Street from Indiana Avenue to Quaker Avenue. The $12.79 million project will completely rebuild the existing roadway from a two-lane roadway to a five-lane thoroughfare.

“This is a city of Lubbock project that is federally funded. TxDOT is overseeing the contract and construction work,” said Mike Wittie, P.E., TxDOT Lubbock Area engineer. “This is a busy and growing area. The reconstruction and expansion of a busy road always presents challenges, but our goal is to make sure we get the work done in the safest and most efficient way possible and keep traffic moving.”

The project will rebuild 114th Street to include two lanes of traffic in each direction, have a continuous leftturn lane, and will make drainage improvements by raising a portion of the roadway.

“114th Street traffic will continue to be one-lane in each direction for the majority of time during construction. At some point during construction, the road between Memphis and Indiana avenues will be completely closed, and traffic detoured around the area for several months, while we raise the roadway,” Wittie said.

“Motorists traveling on 114th Street can expect slow moving traffic and delays and are advised to seek alternative routes around the construction zone,” Wittie said.

The speed limit through the construction zone is 40 mph and motorists are urged to use caution when driving through the work zone since crews will be working in close proximity to traffic.

The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2024.

If you dropped something when you were younger, you just picked it up.

When you’re older, you stare at it for a bit contemplating if you actually need it any more.

One thing no one ever talks about when it comes to being an adult is how much time we debate keeping a cardboard box because you know – it’s a really good box.

My super power is holding onto junk for years and throwing it away a week before I need it.

We keep a potato masher in a drawer because sometimes it’s fun to not be able to open that drawer.

The best things in life are free

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Thank you!

Mardi Gras in Lubbock set for Feb. 28

Lubbock Meals on Wheels’ 24th annual Mardi Gras fundraiser is set for Feb. 28 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

The evening will have more than 37 restaurants providing sample-size portions of their delectable fare, music by Bo Garza, a large silent auction, a Mardi Gras King and Queen in full regalia, cash bars, and a large children’s area with a variety of activities and games.

Colorful beads will be available to make the evening festive. A Character Selfies Photo Booth will be there to document the Mardi Gras fun for $5 per photo.

Mardi Gras tickets are $45 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under. Note that the age for youth tickets has changed. The ticket grants you entrance, tasting from all the restaurants, the entertainment, and the children’s area. Tickets can be purchased in advance at lubbockmealsonwheels.org, at Lubbock Meals on Wheels’ office, any Select-A-Seat location (service charge applies) or for $50 at the door. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards (no American Express). Tickets can be mailed or held at will-call.

To become a sponsor or for more information, call Lubbock Meals on Wheels at 806-7927971. All proceeds help people remain at home, well fed, and independent.