SEPTEMBER 2015 Vol. 29
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No. 9
Mesa County’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 27,300 Readers.
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on Grandparents’ Day September 13
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SEPTEMBER 2015
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SEPTEMBER 2015
EDITORIAL
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Grandkids are our children’s way of saying thank you By Kevin VanGundy
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n 1978, Congress passed legislation making the first Sunday after Labor Day National Grandparents Day. (No doubt this was done after some heavy lobbying efforts from Hallmark.) Now, as a grandfather to three, I am less the skeptic and more the celebrant. YAY! GRANDKIDS!
Even the president has thanked me President Obama has recently gotten in on the act by saying that Grandparents Day is to “honor those who have helped shape the character of our nation, and thank these role models for their immeasurable acts of love, care and understanding.” All of the grandparents that I’ve talked to love their grandkids, but their favorite part is being able to return them to the loving arms of their parents.
Except when they can’t According to a 2013 report by Generations United, 2.7 million grandparents have become the “parent de facto” for some 7.8 million grandchildren. Why? Though there are many reasons for missing parents, the biggest reasons are substance abuse and/or prison. Alarmingly 21 percent of these grand families live in poverty. So the next time we’re out and about let’s buy an extra bag of groceries, drop em by and give the grandparents a hug. Perhaps we could offer to take their grandkids to the movies with our grandkids. Or pick up some extra school supplies, or offer to pay for their piano classes. This month we asked BEACON readers about their favorite restaurants to take visiting guests. While I won’t weigh in on that, I will say that my favorite restaurant to take my grandkids is Texas Roadhouse. Here’s our precious little Juniper enjoying her T-bone.
Come enjoy Montrose-Delta BeaconFest—September 17 We’re having a party and you’re invited. The fifth annual Montrose-Delta BeaconFest Senior Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, September 17 at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive. This year’s Montrose-Delta BeaconFest features an exciting lineup of live entertainment, free food, informative seminars and booths sponsored by over 50 senior-related businesses. For more information or to get a booth, call 243-8829.
Scary photos? Let’s scare up a good time next month. Please send us your Halloween photos for October’s BEACON. They can be old photos of yourself, newer photos of your grandkids, or recent photos of your neighbors trick-or-treating in the nude. Now that’s scary!
M O N T RO S E- D E LTA
Send to: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502
FREE Admission, Entertainment, seminars, & food!
September 17, 2015 9 am - 2 pm,
Montrose Pavilion, Montrose FOR INFORMATION CALL 970-243-8829
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COVER STORY
ACTIVITIES YOU AND YOUR GRANDKIDS WILL LOVE Every Wednesday Beverly Van Dover spends quality time with her eldest great-grandson Tobyn. She picks him up after school and they spend the rest of the day together doing activities and visiting some of the interesting shops and museums around town. Many of the activities they do together are free or low cost. You can follow in Beverly’s footsteps by doing some of these things with your grandchildren. • John McConnell Math and
Science Center • Downtown Grand Junction • Canyon View Park • Museum of the West • James M. Robb - Colorado River
State Park • Enstrom Candies • Candytime Shoppe • Allen Unique Auto Museum • Bananas Fun Park • Spin City • Grand Valley Climbing • Kidz Plex • Cross Orchards Historic Site • Western Colorado Botanical Gardens • Grand Junction Motor Speedway • Get Air At The Silo • Western Colorado Center for the Arts • Colorado National Monument • Grand Mesa
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Why would I want to be a grandmother? By Laverne Bardy
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or years I smiled, tolerantly, as friends rambled on about their grandchildren. I bit my lower lip and endured endless reports on their intelligence, creativity, reactions to Barney and potty training. I couldn’t relate. I didn’t have grandchildren and that was fine. My life was full. I didn’t need grandchildren to feel complete. I wasn’t interested in changing diapers or comforting cries in the middle of the night. I was past the age of mashing ripe bananas, wiping tiny fingerprints from mirrors and aspirating noses. And I certainly had better things to do than knit a layette. Then she came into the world. Shari Lynne was a tiny, velvety pink package, swaddled in a soft white receiving blanket. I could hardly catch my breath. I had given birth to three children, but the wonder of it all seemed even more extraordinary than it had back then. All I could think was that my baby had had a baby. My son, my flesh and blood, had joined with his wife to create a miracle, and I, in some unobtrusive way, was an important and necessary component. My heart had never known such fullness. I had a baby to play with and hopefully I would be a positive role model. I wandered gleefully through infant and toy departments purchasing baby things. I held innocent people captive and showed them baby pictures. The depth of my love grew in proportion to Shari’s response to me. And before long, I had fallen madly in love with a pint-sized person with her very own mind and personality. Soon Shari was old enough to join me on outings to pet shops, parks and bookstores. She sat in a high chair in a Chinese restaurant and smiled as she dipped crispy “nu-nuz” into duck sauce and ate wontons with her fingers. She held my finger tightly as we walked
through malls and ate ice cream. A second grandchild came along; a beautiful boy. And son number two bestowed upon me the privilege of being present during his wife’s agonizing labor as he wiped her brow and cried. I was honored to be invited into the hospital nursery moments after Dylon James’ entrance into the world. The nurse placed him gently on his back under warm lights and his tiny arms thrashed helplessly as she performed necessary but invasive procedures on his defenseless tiny body. I winced and imagined what he must be feeling after the trauma of being pulled from the warmth and security of the womb and placed on a hard surface, vulnerable and robbed of protection, certainty and dignity. As a toddler Dylon stayed with me for several days while his parents took a much-deserved vacation. We threw a ball, and pushed toy trucks along the floor. We went down sliding boards, sat on swings, built sand castles and crawled through makeshift tunnels. We made circles on the ceiling with flashlights in a pitch-dark room, and played hide and seek behind the armchair, under the bed, and in the closet. I reread stories so often I have them memorized. I removed my coffee table from my living room to make more space for toys and for play. After he’d been bathed and tucked into bed, I looked around at the clutter. Being a neat freak by nature, my
SEPTEMBER 2015
instinctive reaction was one of emotional discomfort. Suddenly, a change of thinking put everything into perspective. Dylon did not care that Mema’s house was messy. He wouldn’t even remember it. Nor would he someday thank her for her great housekeeping skills. More than likely he would only recall warm feelings of our time together. For a moment my heart ached. I wished I’d had such insight when my children were growing up. Back then I thought that being a good wife and mother meant doing everything perfectly: daily dusting and vacuuming, cooking gourmet meals, polishing white Striderite baby shoes, combing neat parts and Shirley Temple curls, ironing fresh creases in toddler overalls—all things I now realize were of no real importance. My third grandchild arrived. Now Steven Wayne just lies in his crib, or sits propped up in his car seat looking like a bobble-head doll and Humpty Dumpty rolled into one. Compliant, affable, trusting and helpless, he is totally at the mercy of those who love him and knock themselves out to meet his needs. And all they ask for in return is a smile and an occasional burp. I concerned myself over whether I had enough love left to give this precious bundle. Then he looked into my eyes and grinned from ear to ear, and my concerns vanished. I like to think that grandchildren are our children’s way of thanking us. ■
TOP: The author’s lovely grandchildren, Shari and Dylon, when they were little. RIGHT: The author, Laverne Bardy, right, with Dylon all grown up.
SEPTEMBER 2015
COVER STORY
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Granparents with their
Gr a ndc hildr en
National & Regional Award-Winning Publication
1. Robert Hall with grandson Patrick 2. Lyle Van Dover with great-grandson Ander 3. Genevra Shal with grandaughters Ashley and Olivia 4. Katy Edmond with great-grandchildren Nakoyia, Namiya and Breckin
5. Karen and Robert Jones with great-grandson Devin
8. Linda Bennett and granddaughter Brooke Anne
Publisher .......................... Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher.................... Susan Capps Editor..........................................Cloie Sandlin Graphic Design....................... Melissa Trottier Graphic Design...................... Katherine Lopez Production.................................. Karen Jones Office Manager........................Sherry Harmon Account Representative............... Sue Bowen Account Representative.............Sidney Jayne Proofreader...................................Jan Weeks Cheerleader............................... Genevra Shal Delivery ..............................Lauren VanGundy Delivery........................................Patty White DELTA-MONTROSE BUREAU Assistant Editor.................... Liesl Greathouse Account Representative........... Virginia Carlile Delivery........................................... JR Milner Delivery.................................. Brandon Carlile
6. Sherry Harmon with granddaughter Paityn 7. Katherine Lopez with son AJ and granddaughters Lanie and Maddie.
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9. Brent and Virginia Carlile with their children and grandchildren
P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 ph: 970.243.8829 fax: 800.536.7516 Website: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com E-mail: Beacon@ PendantPublishing.com The BEACON is published at the beginning of the month. Our goal is to inform and inspire the 50+ community in Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Garfield counties. Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Columns are opinions of the writers, not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Display advertising rates are available upon request. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 20th of the month preceding publication. © Copyright 2015 • All Rights Reserved
Cover Photo: (Kids from left) Lexi,
Ander and Tobyn Trottier spend time with their grandmother Lisa Trottier and great-grandmother Beverly Van Dover at Lincoln Park.
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FEATURE STORY
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Chautauqua: the most American thing in America By Melanie Wiseman
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wo Rivers Chautauqua has thrilled live audiences in Grand Junction for years by bringing historical figures to life. No doubt this year’s 10th anniversary event will feature the same high-quality performances, education and entertainment as in past years. Hosted by the Museum of Western Colorado, the Two Rivers Chautauqua will be held September 17-19 at Cross Orchards Historical Site, 3073 F Road in Grand Junction, in large open-air tents, just like when it began in 1874.
Chautauqua beginnings Teddy Roosevelt called it “the most American thing in America.” Woodrow Wilson described it during World War I as an “integral part of the national defense.” And Chautauqua speaker William Jennings Bryan deemed it a “potent human factor in molding the mind of the nation.” Chautauqua (sha-TAW-kwa) was an education movement in the U.S., and was highly popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The first event was organized as an outdoor summer school at a campsite on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York by Methodist minister John Heyl Vincent and businessman Lewis Miller. These assemblies expanded throughout rural America. Speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and topic specialists gave presentations to whole communities
er popular performer on the circuit, whose descriptions of prison life moved her audiences to tears and called them to take action. On a lighter note, author Opie Read, told endearing homespun stories to the delight of audiences. Christian instruction, preaching and worship were a strong part of the Chautauqua experience. Although Methodists founded the Chautauqua movement, it had nondenominational principles from its inception. People involved in the Chautauqua movement believed that both secular and spiritual knowledge radiate from God and are equally important. Music was very much in demand and was vital to Chautauqua. Numerous singing and instrumental groups performed everything from contemporary favorites and sentimental ballads to opera and nostalgic music from “the old country.” Public readers and plays could be found in the programs, although theatre, considered performances by actors in makeup and costume, did not enter the picture immediately. One-person shows, which were not a reading or impersonation, but were a re-creation of historical characters began to take shape. Actors transformed themselves into these characters in full view of the audience, using only a few props and costume pieces, therefore instituting theatre as a solid part of the Chautauqua experience.
hungry for education, culture and entertainment. As Chautauqua events grew in number, so did the competition for the best performers and lecturers. The Chautauqua circuit was organized in 1904. Programs were presented in tents pitched in fields near small towns and after a few days, Chautauquans would fold up their tents and move on. By the mid1920s, when circuits were at their peak, they appeared in more than 10,000 communities to audiences of more than 45 million. By 1940, they had run their course with the popularity of cars, radios and movies.
Sought-after performers Lectures and speeches on a variety of topics were the backbone of Chautauqua and dominated the programs prior to 1917. William Jennings Bryan, with his populist and evangelical message, was the most popular Chautauqua speaker until his death in 1925. The most prolific speaker was Russell Conwell, who gave his famous “Acres of Diamonds” speech 5,000 times to circuit audiences, the theme being “get rich, young man, for money is power and power ought to be in the hands of good people. I say you have no right to be poor.” Other favorite political reform topics included temperance, prohibition, women’s suffrage and child labor laws. Maud Ballington Booth was anoth-
Chautauqua today Chautauqua has been reinvented as a way to bring the humanities, especially history, back to life. Organizations across the country bring in professional scholar-actors (Chautauquans), who bring historical characters to life. Two Rivers Chautauqua in Grand Junction began in 2006 by a committee of volunteers, led by Eric Alpha, working with the Museum of Western Colorado and Colorado Humanities. Chautauquans portray well-known as well as lesser-known American icons. More familiar characters portrayed over the years include Teddy Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin, Will Rogers, General Patton, Henry Ford, Thomas Jefferson, Babe Ruth, P.T. Barnum, Coco Chanel, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, John Audubon, Albert Einstein, Dr. Seuss, Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln. This year’s theme is “Rascals and Rogues.” Professional Chautauquans will portray characters, incliding Benedict Arnold, a general during the American Revolutionary War who originally fought for the American Continental Army but defected to the British Army. Belle Starr was a notorious American outlaw in the 1800s who associated with the likes of Jesse James and the Younger brothers. Aimee Semple McPherson, aka Sister Aimee, was the most publicized Christian evangelist during the
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SEPTEMBER 2015
FEATURE STORY
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1920s and 1930s. Huey Long, nicknamed The Kingfish, was the Robin Hood of the 1930s as an outspoken populist who denounced the rich and banks, and created the Share the Wealth Program in 1934. Each visiting professional Chautauquan is required to visit a local middle school and present his or her character to the students. Each year, over 600 School District 51 students have been able to enjoy one of these presentations. Teachers spend time in their classrooms training their own students to be young Chautauquans. Students choose historical characters to research and present them in first person to an audience. At the end of both professional and student presentations, audience members can ask questions—first while the Chautauquan is in character, then out of character. One-day admission at the door is $8 per person and $20 per family. Weekend passes (online only) are $14 per person and $30 per family. For more information, call 314-4036 or visit www.museumofwesternco.com.
“RASCALS AND ROGUES”
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Retirement living with the emphasis on living Doris Dwyer portrays “Sister Aimee” McPherson
Karen Vuranch portrays Belle Starr
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6:15–7 p.m. Young Chautauquan performance 7–8 p.m. - Frank Mullen portrays Benedict Arnold 8:15–9:15 p.m. Karen Vuranch portrays Belle Starr
Chuck Chalberg portrays Huey Long
L O C A L LY O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D B Y H I L LT O P - M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E F O R P E O P L E O F A L L A G E S
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RECIPES
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SEPTEMBER 2015
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Instructions: 1. Cook the chicken according to package directions. 2. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the remaining ingredients. 3. Drain the olives. 4. Rinse the cherry tomatoes. 5. Cube the cheese in order to have 15 large cubes (or however many skewers you can get from your box). 6. Clean and dry the romaine lettuce leaves and then cut into strips, about an inch or inch and a half in width. 7. Once the chicken has been tossed with the sauce packet and is cool enough to handle, begin to assemble the skewers. 8. Bundle one romaine piece and pierce through the vein, slide it on the skewer three quarters of the way down. 9. Add one piece of chicken, coming to stop at that romaine leaf. 10. Add another bundle of romaine. 11. Push a cube of cheese onto the skewer and then another romaine slice. 12. Add an olive, then another romaine slice. 13. Finally, push the tomato through the top of the skewer. 14. Either drizzle the BBQ ranch dressing or serve it alongside the skewers for dipping.
SEPTEMBER 2015
ASK THE OLD BAG
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ASK THE OLD BAG Advice Column for the Over 50 Crowd By Gayle Lagman-Creswick Dear Old Bag: I have come to think that communication is the most difficult, yet one of the most important things there is. I am speaking specifically of doctors’ offices. Both my friend and I are fed up with office staff saying they will call you back and then they don’t, or they call you with results and they have no idea what they are reporting so you ask them a question about it and they don’t know the answer. My friend said they called her to set up a bone density test when she just had one. I realize they have to protect their busy doctors, but this is getting out of hand. Not to mention that lots of them speak so fast you can’t tell what they’re saying. Signed, Fed Up Dear Fed Up: Communication is very important in all relationships. I agree that communication has been eroded to the point of frustration for a lot of us. But we also need to communicate with our doctors about our feelings about the problems with staff. Things do not get better unless you let them know. Sometimes you have to change doctors. I changed my cardiologist because the communication in the office was so bad that I could never get hold of the doctor. I really liked the doctor, but what good is he if you cannot reach him? Please let your doctor know. Good luck. OB Dear Old Bag: I want you to say something about depression in the over 50 crowd. My friend committed suicide, and neither our friends nor myself realized that she was depressed over growing old. She left a letter saying that she saw nothing but loneliness and illness in the future, and she chose not to live it. She had just retired at age 66. Thank you. Signed, Shocked
Dear Shocked: Depression is more common than people realize. Some of the symptoms to look for are puzzling, too: sleeping too much or being unable to sleep, eating too much or not eating, isolating oneself or being constantly on the go, talking too much or not wanting to talk to anyone. You see? It’s difficult to pinpoint sometimes, and to top it off, depressed people often do not know they are depressed. Some people go from doctor to doctor thinking they have a disease because they are tired and have no energy. Hopefully the doctor will check them out for medical ailments, and if they find nothing, they will talk about depression and how it can manifest itself. By the way, depression crosses all walks of life, both sexes and all ages, although it’s common in the elderly. The best advice I can give you, readers, is that if you know someone who might be depressed, get them to go see their primary doctor. OB Dear Old Bag: I am a decent guy, however, I do not see anything wrong with meeting with a decent woman and having a sexual relationship for enjoyment, with no strings attached. My sister said I am a “dirty old man.” What do you think? Signed, Fun Lover Dear Lover: Yikes! I am inclined to agree with your sister. Just meeting up with someone to have sex sounds like prostitution without pay to me. To most women and some men, the gift without the giver is bare. I know that men are from Mars, but you might be from Pluto. There may be women who feel like you do, but I think very few. I live by the motto “Love people and use things.” Not the other way around! OB ■
Send your questions to the Old Bag in care of the BEACON, or email lagmancreswick@cox.net
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There’s A New Prosthodontist In Town! I’m Jake R. Atwood and although I am new to town, I am not new to Prosthodontics. I served in the United States Air Force where I polished my skills and learned the value of self-sacrifice and service. As a prosthodontist, I primarily deal with the replacement of missing or worn teeth. Whether it’s just one or all 32 of them, I can help you achieve a comfortable bite and a beautiful smile. And remember, it’s important to get your dentures checked annually! Having 4 kids, I know what it’s like to want the best for the ones you love. That’s why it’s not just about teeth. It’s about providing the best care in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. So, come on over, get to know us, and leave feeling like one of the family! *Dr. Atwood is the only Prosthodontist in the Western Slope of Colorado.
ATWOOD PROSTHODONTICS Jake R. Atwood DMD, MS
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Great Old Broads for Wilderness By Melanie Wiseman
I
n 2014, America celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Congress designated 90 million acres of wilderness in the first 20 years, and just over 13 million acres of wilderness have been designated in the last 20 years. The original legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and America finally had a goal to preserve the wilderness resource. Today intensified bipartisan battling makes it extremely difficult to pass further legislation. There are currently more than 34 wilderness-related bills sitting in Congress. Along with lobbyists who work for well-funded organizations, ordinary citizens taking action across the country are still an essential component to protecting wilderness. Members of Great Old Broads For Wilderness have stepped up over the past 25 years, seeing wilderness as the public’s lands, not the government’s, and being extremely passionate and motivated to preserve that gift to future generations. They view wilderness as one piece of the ecological puzzle to save our country from ever-expanding development, being refuge to wildlife and an epicenter of bio-
logical diversity, untamed forests, deserts, seashores and grasslands. It’s also quiet and restorative. “Great Old Broads was started by eight 65-plus women who were basically laughed at for their interest in wilderness,” Joyce Olson, 82, said. “They were told, ‘You’re too old. You can’t do that.’” But don’t let the name fool you. “We push back against those who try to use old age and disability as excuses for not designating wilderness,” Associate Director Rose Chilcoat said. Instead of being offended by being called “Great Old Broads,” members embraced it, and members continue to take pride in the name today. “We are a group with a great sense of humor,” Barb Hill, 81, said. Great Old Broads welcomes all women and men who share their love of the wilderness. Younger members are called Training Broads and men are called Great Old Bros.
Broadbands around the country There are currently 36 chapters (broadbands) across the U.S. and with thorough training, fresh and enthusiastic leaders are starting new groups. Broadbands focus on protecting wilderness-quality public lands through education, advocacy and volunteer projects. The Grand Junction area broadband was started in 2008 by Jan Burch and
SEPTEMBER 2015
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now has 55 members. “I’ve kind of wandered through places where I felt I could make a difference in protecting wildlife and it was part of my background,” Burch, 76, said. “I had been a national member of Great Old Broads, they knew I had interest, so I was recruited to see what I could accomplish here.” Current President Sherry Schenk has been a Great Old Broad since 2006. “I think that initially the attitude in the name was engaging for me, but wilderness has been an important thing all my life,” Schenk, 71, said. “When I lived here the first time in 1987, there was a proposal for a Dominguez Canyon dam and reservoir. When I came back in 2010, the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was a big pull for me.”
Networking for the good Many Great Old Broads are involved in more than one environmental organization. “I work with Citizens for Clean Air and a lot of us came here already with background in things relating to public lands,” Joan Woodward, 70, said. “I was involved in wilderness and helped get a segment of the Dominguez area designated wilderness.” Sally Matchett, 73, was also drawn to the group because it was suggested she share her passion and enthusiasm for similar causes with the Great Old Broads. “A goal of the Grand Junction chapter in the beginning was to do as much networking with like organizations as we could, and is something I think we’ve been really successful at,” Burch said. “Because we really put our minds into an activity, there are people who look to us for support, help, leadership or research. Other groups may feel small, but we’d like them to know that we’re working with a lot of people to make a difference.” Whether part of a larger effort to secure wilderness designations, or to help ensure an area is not com-
promised by poorly managed grazing, off-road vehicles, recreation, or oil, gas or mineral development, Great Old Broads add their voices and energy to a wide array of issues across the country. “A basic motto we have is, it’s okay to use the land, but not to abuse it,” Olson said. Janice Shepherd said the Great Old Broads were part of the instigators who alerted the BLM about concerns in Recapture Canyon near Blanding, Utah. “When there was a protest in Monticello by ATVers over the closure of illegal trails, 14 Great Old Broads from Salt Lake City, Durango and Grand Junction went in support of the BLM,” Shepherd, 57, said. She told the story of when the broads were camping on private property (with permission) near Blanding, when someone came and chain locked the gate. “They also put up a big sign, ‘Great Old Broads For Wilderness, Wanted Dead or Alive,’” she said. But this didn’t stop them. One member walked several miles to borrow a hacksaw to cut the chain and the event became a newspaper-worthy story about Recapture Canyon.
Broadwalks: getting things done “We write a lot of letters to legislators,” Hill said. “People pay attention to the letters and they make a difference as they add up or even receive new coverage over an issue.” Recently, the Palisade Rim Trail was rerouted and 15 broads and bros were called to action. “We went out and worked on the old trail, restoring it to its natural landscape,” Shepherd said. Grand Junction Broads also worked in tandem with the Mesa Land Trust on the Three Sisters Project. Several times a year they have Broadwalks, which are stewardship and service projects where members gain first-hand experience on the land in order to advocate for
protection with passion and education about the area’s history, natural history and wilderness issues. Projects ranging from training in botanic field observations to all-out river restorations are typically four days of work Pho to with a day of play thrown in the mix. The Broads Healthy Lands Project (BHLP) provides land management agencies with thorough information they can use to create and enforce balanced and effective land management plans. It was established in 2003, when the broads determined that increased monitoring of motorized use on public lands was essential. “Broads are inspired and ready to jump into action to support wilderness bills,” Chilcoat said. “We are fiercely idealistic, courageous and determined. We speak out, put boots on the ground, partner with local conservation organizations, and participate in local processes.
by Lee Gelatt Pho tography We personally know and love the wild lands that are at risk today. Broads make a difference, and of that, we can be very proud.” For more information, contact the Grand Junction chapter at 596-8510 or visit www.greatoldbroads.org. The Grand Junction broads meet monthly from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on the last Mondays at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 536 Ouray Ave.
Upcoming event: December 21 at 6:30 p.m. Join Janice Shepherd at the Mesa County Central Library for a presentation on public lands. ■
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Playful to the happy end By Tait Trussell researching how playful people “You can’t be serious,” she said. live and work, mainly to make the “Well,” he responded. “I was just “mysterious process by which they being playful.” come up with new ideas” more Is that any way for a 60-year-old understandable. man to behave? Maybe so. “They work long hours with great Mary Ann Glynn, now a profesconcentration” while projecting an sor at Boston College, who, along aura of enthusiasm. But it’s surpriswith her co-author Jane Webster, ing how individuals in their 70s or published a paper in the 1990s that 80s recall childhoods plagued by described adult playfulness as “a illness. predisposition to define and engage In spite of the carefree air that in activities in a non-serious or many playful people affect, most fanciful manner to increase enjoyof them persist when less driven ment.” individuals would not. Based on a series of “Of all human activi- Playful people alternate lab experiments and ties, playfulness comes between imagination surveys, Glynn and and a rooted sense of closest to providing the reality, he said. Webster concluded that playfulness in fulfillment we all hope to Although psychologadults was linked to get in our lives. Call ical research considers “innovative attitudes” introverts and extroit full-blast living.” and “intrinsic motiverts, playful individuals, vational orientation,” seem to exhibit both meaning playful people were more traits. Noble Prize winning econlikely to do things without regard omist George Stigler said, “One of for their practical purpose. the most common failures of able The researchers also found that people is a lack of nerve. They’ll when study participants were asked play safe games. It’s in innovation to compose sentences using a speyou have to play a less safe game if cific set of words and told to treat it’s going to be interesting. It’s not the task as work, they exhibited predictable that it’ll go well.” less creativity and figurative think“Most playful people are very ing than people who were primed passionate about their work, yet to approach the exact same task as they can be extremely objective as play. well,” De Koven said. “Perhaps the A recent study has found that most important quality, the one that playfulness, which includes havis consistently present in all playful ing a “sense of humor,” a “playful” individuals, is the ability to enjoy attitude, or a keen and abiding love the process of creation for its own of “fun,” is among the most coveted sake. According to a recent study, character traits for potential mates, people who have a sense of humor both men and women. and a playful nature are more likely “Of all human activities, playfulto find a romantic partner. ness comes closest to providing the A team of U.S. researchers surfulfillment we all hope to get in our veyed 250 undergraduate students lives. Call it full-blast living,” game to test their hypothesis for why hudesigner and author Bernie De mans, unlike other animals, continKoven said. “Playfulness is a cenue to play in adulthood. Researchtral source of meaning in our lives. ers found that both genders listed Most of the things that are interest“sense of humor,” “fun loving” and ing, important and human are the “playful” among the most important result of playfulness.” traits they desire in a potential longDe Koven has spent 30 years term partner. ■
SEPTEMBER 2015
The grandparent’s guide to losing weight By Sy Rosen
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’ve noticed I’ve lost some weight lately, which I’ve been trying to unsuccessfully do for years (apparently the pastrami and cheesecake diet has been discredited). I’ve come to realize that my weight loss has to do with my having a 2-yearold granddaughter and the exercise program it entails, which I call Toddler Aerobics. Since my daughter and son-in-law are working, I help out by taking care of my granddaughter, Summer, twice a week. Here’s an example of our activities and the calories I burn keeping up with her. Reading to her (50 calories): This is supposed to be a passive activity but the books today are interactive. For example, you have to hop like a bunny, flap your wings like a bird, and scratch yourself like a monkey (or like my cousin Phil). After reading the same book four times I want to sleep like a sloth (or like my cousin Arnie). Getting ready for the park (80 calories): This includes chasing her, getting her dressed, changing her when she stains what I put on, packing her sweater, water bottle, milk bottle, snacks, diapers, wipes, bib, sunbonnet and sunscreen lotion. It also includes trying to convince her not to eat her snacks until we get to the park, letting her eat her snacks, and then making more snacks. Putting and taking granddaughter out of car seat (40 calories): You have to bend and crouch like a contortionist to get her buckled in, all the time making sure your little one doesn’t bang her head while you are constantly banging yours. I remember the good old days when my dad just tossed me in the back seat. It may not have been as safe but it was a lot easier. The slide (80 calories): This is
Love (30 calories): I pick her up, hug her tight, and tell her over and over again that I love her. helping her up the slide and then running to the bottom of the slide so you’ll be there when she comes down. I do this about 15 times. Add another 20 calories if your granddaughter insists on you going down the slide with her, and another 10 calories for a loss of dignity. Sandbox time (30 calories): Some of you may think this is also a passive activity but it includes getting in the sand with her, taking off her shoes and socks (and cleaning her toes and putting socks and shoes back on when she’s done). It also includes convincing her it’s okay to share her pail and shovel with other kids, and then picking her up and cuddling her when she’s crying because she shared her pail and shovel with other kids. Panic in the park (400 calories): This is when you momentarily lose sight of your granddaughter and you run around like a maniac calling out her name. My heart is thumping as I run under the children’s bridge, past the monkey bars, under the overhead ladder, crawl through the rock tunnel, past the spiral slide and the bumpy slide screaming her name while I’m thinking I’m her grandfather, I’m supposed to protect her. Finally I see her. She’s sitting near the jungle gym with another girl who is sharing her goldfish snack with her. Getting stern (20 calories): While pacing back and forth I sternly tell her never to wander off again. Love (30 calories): I pick her up in my arms, hug her tight, and tell her over and over again that I love her. Those were the best calories I burned all day. ■
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Boomers go back to school By Carrie Kellerby
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s young students return to their classes, it’s back to school for many boomers and seniors as well. Why bother going back to school at such an age? Some see it as a way of enhancing their careers through additional education and training. Others return to school as a way of changing professions entirely, learning new trades and techniques that will make them more attractive in a competitive job market. Some return in the hopes of finishing something they began long ago, but didn’t get the chance to complete. Finishing what was started In 2004, while working in retail, Barbara Tweedy decided to pursue a degree in business management online through the University of Phoenix. Not long after she started school, her husband started a HVAC business, and she took charge of the bookkeeping. In 2006, she and her husband
had their fourth child. Within a year, she decided that between working her retail job, raising her daughters, and managing the fledgling family business, she would have to put her college degree on hold. A year later, Tweedy went to work for Starbucks and quickly worked her way up to the manager of the 25 Road store in Grand Junction. She was happy and felt settled. When Starbucks launched the Starbucks College Achievement Plan last summer, which offers all eligible partners (employees) full tuition coverage for a four-year bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online undergraduate degree program, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “I didn’t really care what my degree was in, I just wanted to finish what I started,” Tweedy, now 53, said. She enrolled at ASU last fall and is on the road to receiving her bachelor’s degree next spring. Currently,
RIGHT: Barbara Tweedy attends ASU online. TOP: Card from Starbucks CEO congratulating her 4.0 GPA. Photos by Cloie Sandlin three partners from the store she manages have followed in her footsteps, enrolling at ASU. “I have been with Starbucks for over eight years, and I want to stay with them,” Tweedy said. “I just wanted the self-satisfaction of getting my degree and being a role model for the other partners here, helping them with their journey.” Tweedy says that even though her degree isn’t directly related to career advancement, she’s gotten a number of benefits from going back to school. She’s learned time management, honed her organization skills,
and improved her writing and communication skills. She takes her education seriously and it has paid off. After her first semester at ASU, she received a hand-written card from Starbucks’ CEO, Howard Schultz, congratulating her on her 4.0 GPA. As thrilled as she is with her accomplishment, she is also looking forward to having it behind her. She said it’s taken a great deal of time and discipline, and after graduating she just wants to enjoy her job and spend time with her family, totally relaxed because she has nothing left to prove.
SEPTEMBER 2015
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Tweedy doesn’t think she ever would have finished her education if it hadn’t been for the serendipity of online learning options offered by universities like ASU. The free tuition offered by Starbucks didn’t hurt, either. She didn’t want to go into debt to get a degree, especially if it wasn’t necessary, and she didn’t want to be cooped up in a classroom. The access to education online, any time of day or night made it work for her, and the generosity of Starbucks made it an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. It’s worth the journey Raised in Grand Junction, Paul Harshman moved to the Front Range and took a few classes at a community college, but quit school when he got married and started a family. Eventually he moved back to Grand Junction, where he worked as a Realtor for almost 20 years. “I always meant to go back to school,” he said, “but there was always a reason why I didn’t.” After the housing bust in 2009, the question of going back to school seemed to get a little more persistent. By then he was divorced, and his kids were mostly grown, and he sensed the housing market was not going to make a quick comeback. His reasons for not getting his degree were no longer so compelling. He found a part-time job helping manage a real estate office, applied for financial aid, and got accepted to Mesa State College, now Colorado Mesa University. His intention was to become a high school English teacher. “It was like starting from scratch,” he said. He had to take a lot of foundational courses, which led him to consider other career options. At one point he switched from English to environmental sciences, then to environmental geology. But after talking with a number of professors he decided to join the business department and pursue a degree in general management, something that had built-in diversity and wouldn’t take as much time. Paul Harshman stands next to a maverick on campus at Colorado Mesa University.
While the path to his degree resembles a long distance road-trip, Harshman has no regrets about going back to school. “Until I went back to college, I feel like I had never tapped into my personal truth,” Harshman, now 56, said. “I came to see how I had lived up to that point with an undisciplined mind. The first thing the university instills in you is critical thinking skills—how to make your own mind up about things.” Unlike Tweedy, Paul Harshman pursued his degree in the traditional setting of a brick and mortar university, and he had to navigate the financial terrain as well. Though he admitted that it’s been a financial strain, he’s glad to go through with it. “It was all stimulating, and I’ve really enjoyed being with younger people and being exposed to new ideas,” he said, though adding that a traditional route, like CMU, is certainly geared for the younger student. Both Tweedy and Harshman said they now have the satisfaction of being able to talk to young people about the importance of a college degree. They understand the value of the experience. Harshman mentioned that none of his kids had chosen to go to college, “but last semester my eldest son followed me in there,” he said, nodding his head in the direction of the CMU campus. “It’s totally worth it.” ■
Photo by Katherine Lopez
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16
LAUGHING MATTERS
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LAUGHING MATTERS Letter to the boss Submitted by Jan Weeks
Dear Boss, I have enjoyed working here these past several years. You have paid me very well, and given me benefits beyond belief. I have three to four months off per year and a pension plan that will pay my salary until the day I die and a health plan that most people can only dream about. I plan to take the next 12-18 months to find a new position. During this time I will show up for work when it is convenient. In addition, I fully expect to draw my full salary and all the other perks associated with my current job. Oh yeah, if my search for this new job proves fruitless, I will be back with no loss in pay or status. But before you say anything, remember that you have no choice in the matter. I can and will do this. Sincerely, Every Senator or Congressman running for president
The lowdown on diapers Submitted by Sherry Harmon
I know you have been lying awake at night wondering why baby diapers have brand names such as Luvs, Huggies and Pampers, while undergarments for old people are called Depends. Well here’s the lowdown: When babies crap in their pants, people are still gonna Luv ‘em, Hug ‘em and Pamper ‘em. When old people crap their pants, it Depends on who’s in the will.
Anniversary card Submitted by Sue Hughey
My brother and his wife have a wedding anniversary coming up, so I went to a nearby convenience store to pick out an appropriate card from their large selection. One card in the anniversary section had no words on the front, but a picture of sunrays shining
down on a beautiful forest scene. The message inside read, “May the love of friends and family carry you through this difficult time.”
Damn autocorrect Submitted by Willy Charles
A man received the following text from his neighbor: “I am so sorry, Harry. I’ve been riddled with guilt and I have to confess. I have been helping myself to your wife, day and night when you’re not around. In fact, more than you. I do not get it at home, but that’s no excuse. I can no longer live with the guilt and I hope you will accept my sincerest apology with my promise that it won’t ever happen again.” Harry, feeling anguished and betrayed, grabbed his gun and stormed toward his neighbor’s house. Then a second text came in: “I hate autocorrect! I meant, “Wi-Fi” not “wife.”
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SEPTEMBER 2015
I want to be a bear Submitted by Shirley Nolan
In this life, I’m a woman. In my next life, I’d like to come back as a bear. When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that. Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that, too. When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that. If you’re a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that. If you’re a bear, your mate expects you to wake up growling. He expects that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat. Yup, gonna be a bear.
SEPTEMBER 2015
LAUGHING MATTERS 17
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Snotty receptionist
Intuitive Mom
Submitted by Karen Jones
Submitted by Angela Diaz
Yesterday I had an appointment to see an urologist for a prostate exam. Of course, I was a bit on edge. The waiting room was filled with patients. As I approached the receptionist’s desk, I noticed that the receptionist was a large unfriendly woman who looked like a sumo wrestler. I gave her my name and in a very loud voice, the receptionist said, “Yes, I have your name here. You want to see the doctor about impotence, right?” All the patients in the waiting room snapped their heads around to look at me, a now very embarrassed man. But I recovered quickly and in an equally loud voice replied, “No, I’ve come to inquire about a sex change operation but I don’t want the same doctor that did yours.” The room erupted in applause.
A young man excitedly tells his mother he’s fallen in love and going to get married. He says, “Just for fun, Ma, I’m going to bring over three women and you try to guess which one I’m going to marry.” The mother agrees. The next day, he brings three beautiful women into the house and sits them down on the couch. They all chat for a while. He then says, “Okay, Ma, guess which one I’m going to marry.” She immediately replies, “The one in the middle.” “That’s amazing, Ma. You’re right. How did you know?” asks the son. “I don’t like her.”
■
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Loading to railcars - Some growers preferred to use bushel baskets instead of boxes. The fruit was also inspected and shipped in refrigerated rail cars. Palisade Historical Society photo from the Peska Family Collection
PACKIN’’ PEACHES: The history of Palisade’s Elberta peach harvest By Priscilla Walker
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hrough much of the 20th century, Palisade peaches were primarily the Elberta variety, with harvest making for a busy two to three weeks in August. Getting as much fruit processed and shipped via refrigerated railroad cars to arrive in the best possible condition was paramount to the economy of the Grand Valley. To speed the packing process, Palisade’s Billy Edwards and his financial partner Raymond Peeples invented a mechanical device designed with brushes to get the extra fuzz off Elberta peaches. The grader sorted peaches by size and packers stood next to a bin at the end of a conveyor belt, which delivered uniformly sized, freshly picked peaches. They grabbed an
empty wooden box and began individually wrapping each peach with a sheet of thin paper and placing them in rows of two or three at one end of the box. When the bottom layer was filled, a second layer of peaches was placed on top and offset, so the fruit was carefully nested and wouldn’t shift during shipping. A paper label from the grower or marketing cooperative identified the source or brand and was glued to one end of the box. The opposite end was blank, allowing packers to write their initials and how many peaches were in the box. As few as 30 larger peaches and as many as 70 smaller peaches would fill a 16-pound box. Fast packers could pack 400 boxes a day. Packers would place filled boxes on the track leading to the lidding machine. Packed boxes were loaded on trucks and taken to marketing cooperatives, such as the Mountain Lion brand or United Fruit Growers’ Association, for inspection and shipping, mostly in Denver & Rio Grande Western refrigerated railcars to the Midwest. In 1954, the United Billy Edwards with his Edwards Grader. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Hansen Ford
Fruit Growers filled 1,004 boxcars from August 12-31. Each boxcar held 1,400 boxes or up to 528 bushel baskets filled with approximately 80,000 peaches. Today more than 40 varieties of peaches are grown, so peach harvest stretches from June to October. Colorado typically produces about 12,000 to 14,000 tons of peaches Left: Woman with truck loaded with United boxes - The boxes are packed and ready to be driven to the United Fruit Growers’ Association platform for shipping. Bottom left: Packers work at a shed on Orchard Mesa, 1956. Notice that the packers’ hands are blurred because they are moving so fast. Bottom right: Once wooden boxes were filled with peaches wrapped with pink paper, they were sent to a machine that nailed lids to the boxes. Photos courtesy of the Baisinger Family Collection
from 600,000 trees on 2,400 acres, 75 percent of which are in Mesa County. Shipments via railcars stopped in the mid 1970s, so now fruit is sold locally or transported in refrigerated semi trucks. If you have photos of Palisade you are willing to share, contact the Palisade Historical Society at 464-2177 or visit www.historicpalisade.org. ■
SEPTEMBER 2015
ANTIQUES 19
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I’m not collecting junk, I’m collecting memories
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Antiques, By Terri Benson By Terri Benson
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re you a collector? If not, chances are you know someone who is. If you’re not one, you might not understand why someone would want a bunch of junk. But if you are a collector, you know that it’s anything but junk—it’s memories. Some people collect for value. They buy things they think will appreciate and know that someday they’ll sell them for a profit. Those people are not collectors, they’re investors—a different avenue altogether. Collectors are attached to specific things because they trigger memories. In my case, I collect cookie jars, because I identify them with the excitement of getting cookies, one of the few types of sweets I could have when I was a kid. The cookie jar that started it all, the one my family had when I was a kid, was an intricately designed and painted squirrel—one I’ve been searching for all of my adult life. My mother started collecting butter dishes when she moved to a Wisconsin dairy farm. Her husband, who owned a farm implement company when they met, collects antique tractors (the big ones!). Collectors don’t just collect antiques. There are people who have a series of the same car in successive model years, gun collectors, shoe collectors, stamp collectors, and those whose goal is to attain as many items made by a single company as possible. It’s the excitement of the chase, the thrill that comes when you see what you’ve been looking for at a price that you can’t believe, and the satisfaction of putting your new find in a place of honor. Linda Weber is a collector of silver and crystal serving pieces.
“I started because I found some really unique pieces,” she said. “I like to have fancy dinners, something we didn’t do much when I was a child, and I always wanted to.” Karen Jones said having a husband who collects has its own set of issues. “When his collection of 500 hats migrated into the living room, I put my foot down,” she said. However, she admits she’s the one who started his keyring collection. “One day I was on my way into town and asked if he wanted anything,” she said. “He said to pick him up a gun. So I brought him back a gun on a keychain. Now he has over 300 different keychains.” The Joneses are serial collectors, with many different types. “We’re both Leos, so we started collecting lions and had over 500 at one time,” she said. Then there are the cowbells, imprinted pens and old toys. As long as the collection bug doesn’t bankrupt you, it’s usually not a serious problem. My husband will argue that collecting thimbles would be much easier to deal with than 80 cookie jars. It helps if all partners are on board with the collection activity or if everyone has his or her own collection. It can be difficult to find space to put your collectibles, especially if you have many, or large, items. Another issue to consider is what happens to your collection when you’re gone. Do you have family or friends that will want your collection or will it be a burden for them to deal with? If your family wants it, will they fight over who gets what? Don’t miss next month’s article on buying collectibles. ■
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20 HOME & GARDEN
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Putting the garden to bed By Lori Pelkowski
September is a great month to plant with Hardy Colorado Grown: • Beautiful Potted Plants • Trees & Shrubs • Evergreen Trees & Shrubs • Perennials • Roses & Vines • Grasses & Herbs • Gift Certificates
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A
s the leaves start to fall, it’s time to bring some plants indoors, and put others to bed for the winter. The easiest plants to store indoors over the winter are the bulbs and tubers that are not frost hardy, such as cannas, caladiums, elephant’s ears, gladiolas and dahlias. Dig the tubers up after frost has killed the foliage. Cut off the stems and leaves and let the tubers rest and dry for several days in a cool place, like a shelf in the garage or shed. Store the tubers in labeled mesh bags filled with damp peat moss. Check the peat moss occasionally to make sure it’s still damp. Remove any tubers that have visibly rotted as soon as you see them to prevent the others from rotting as well. In the autumn, it’s a good idea to clear any debris out of garden beds. Leaf removal at this time of year is important to the garden’s health, as whole leaves can be a breeding ground for insects and disease. In perennial beds, remove the fallen leaves and any brown or rotten plant stems. Trim spent flower stalks down to where they came out of the plant. Cut plants like garden phlox, peonies and baptisia down to the ground. Some spring-blooming perennials like sundrops may have formed fresh green rosettes of foliage. Clean them up and leave them in the bed. Leave some seed heads up for birds or winter interest from plants like black-eyed Susans, sedums or ornamental grasses. Clean as much debris as possible from under and around trees and shrubs. Do not prune spring flowering shrubs like azaleas or rhododendrons in the fall, as that will prune away next spring’s flowers. Wait until after the blooms fade in the spring to prune or shape them. If new shrubs were planted over the growing season, mulch around their bases right around first frost, as with the perennials.
Remove summer annuals, roots and all. If they have gone to seed, save some for next year, and compost the rest of the plant. Do the same with vegetable plants. Pull up and throw away all parts of tomato plants to prevent disease in the compost pile. Peas and beans can be cut down at ground level, as their roots will fix nitrogen into the soil, a natural bonus. At the time of first frost, once most of the leaves have finished falling from the trees, cover the entire perennial bed with at least two inches of mulch as a winter blanket. There are many choices for garden mulch. Hardwood mulch is sold in bags. Seedless straw or hay may be available at local farms, or use shredded (not whole) leaves. Evergreen boughs also make good mulch. Garden mums give us all the colors of fall—the oranges and yellows that signal the autumn months. When the mums finish flowering, cut the entire plant down to four inches from the ground. They are more likely to return next spring if a small amount of stalk is left over the winter. As the autumn comes into full swing, it is time to think spring. Fall is the perfect time to plant garlic and spring-blooming bulbs. Remember that 10 bulbs in a bunch are more dramatic than 10 bulbs in a row. Go out and pick a package of tulip bulbs, grab a bag of crocus, or try a drift of daffodils. The reward is worth the effort. While putting the garden to bed for the winter, enjoy the beauty that is autumn. ■
SEPTEMBER 2015
HOME & GARDEN 21
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Prepare for fall planting and fertilizing
Garden Smarts, By Kathy Kimbrough Q. How do I get started incorpo-
rating companion planting in my vegetable garden and landscape next year? Companion planting can mean different things. It can mean combining plants that mutually benefit each other by balancing the pests and predators, visually improving the landscape, or increasing yields in a vegetable garden. For example, marigolds planted in the vegetable garden wards off insect pests. A three sisters garden is where the corn becomes a trellis for beans, the beans provide nitrogen for the corn and the squash’s large leaves are used to shade out weeds. In the landscape, planting a ground cover under trees and shrubs conserves water, restricts weed growth and shades roots. While there is no scientific evidence to support many of the plant associations,
there are still many benefits to these combinations. Research different ways to use companion planting to your advantage. Keep good records and a close eye on what works and what doesn’t.
Q. How late can I apply fertilizer
to my lawn, landscape trees and shrubs? Fertilizing your lawn in the fall is one of the best things you can do for it. In Colorado, timing of fertilization applications is crucial. For deciduous trees and shrubs, apply a complete fertilizer that has the approximate ratio of three parts nitrogen, one part phosphorous and one part potassium after the leaves have dropped off so the plant is able to harden off properly. Evergreens such as pines, spruces and firs could also benefit from fertilization. Late season fertilization should be done when the
grass is still green and growing, which is usually until mid-November. To avoid burning the lawn, you must water right after applying the fertilizer. Do not use a slow release fertilizer for the fall application. Cooling soil temperatures slow microbial activity and limit the availability of such fertilizers to the grass. Urea, IBDU, sulfur coated urea and ammonium sulfate are good sources of nitrogen for late-season fertilizer applications.
Q. Is there a local USDA hardiness zone map that can give me some guidance when buying plants for my garden? I have heard from long-time gardeners that USDA hardiness zones mean very little in Colorado because of our elevation changes and microclimates throughout the state. But for those who need a bit more guidance for planting, Colorado State University Extension has created a local hardiness zone map to show the temperature differences at different altitudes. The Grand Valley is in USDA Zone 7A and the surrounding areas in Mesa County are from 6A to 6B. The higher in
elevation, the lower the zone. Keep in mind these are only guidelines for winter hardiness and temperatures vary from year to year. I would not count on 7A plants to do well in Grand Junction in the long term. My advice is to use the zone maps for guidance and talk to your local extension office or garden center staff to find out which plants are truly hardy in your area. ■
GARDEN CHECKLIST: Buy and plant spring-
blooming bulbs
It’s still a great time to plant.
Air temps have dropped but the soil temps are still warm for root development.
Seed or sod new Kentucky
blue grass or tall fescue lawns. Reseed sparse grass now, too.
Plant garlic for next summer’s
harvest.
Maximilian Sunflower—Helianthus maximiliani Fall is my favorite time of year, so I appreciate flowers like the Maximilian sunflower that choose this time of the year to bloom. This towering perennial requires full sun, moderate watering and good drainage, and can reach up to eight feet tall and spread four feet across. Bright yellow blossoms unfurl on the top half and the deep green foliage is attractive all season long. This sunflower puts on a show mid-September through the end of October. It looks great against a fence or wall but it can also be an effective specimen plant in the open landscape. Deer and rabbits don’t bother the sunflower but birds love the seeds, and bees and butterflies love the nectar and pollen. Cut back the stalks after blooming for a tidier appearance through the winter and early spring. Dried flower heads can be left on the ground for the birds.
Photo by High Country Gardens
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Where do you take visitors out to eat? ➤ Nancy Lancaster “I like to give them a few options. If they like Chinese food, I’ll take them to EC’s Asian Station. If their tastes are more along the lines of Italian, then Enzo’s on Horizon Driver would be my choice. I much prefer more Mom and Pop-like restaurants.”
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➤ Sylvia Morrison “My all around favorite restaurant is Boston’s Gourmet Pizza because they have a wide variety of things for everyone.”
SEPTEMBER 2015
FUN AFTER 50 23
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FUN AFTER 50
Senior Recreation Center 550 Ouray Avenue - 970 243-7408
Activities offered by GJ Parks and Recreation To register for these programs, call the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department at 254-3866 or visit www.gjparksandrec.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS
HEALTH
SEPTEMBER 11 & 12 Pork & Hops Barbecue Challenge Entry fees are $35 for amateurs and $275 for professionals. Two-day tickets to the public are $40 and are available at www.porkandhops.com or at Fisher’s Liquor Barn. Friday headliner is Pop Evil and Saturday is Montgomery Gentry.
SEPTEMBER 25 Facts and Tracks: Hydration Secrets Navigate the maze of hydration products and learn what is best for you. Then spend the next 30 minutes outside walking on the Riverfront Trail. Class is from noon to 1 p.m. at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens. Cost is $5.
SEPTEMBER 13 Dog Days at Lincoln Park Pool Man’s best friend can leap off the diving board, splash in the shallow end, and chase tennis balls on the lawn. Cost is $5 per dog or $12 for up to four dogs in the same family. SEPTEMBER 18 Movies in the Park: Cinderella Movie starts at dusk in the Lincoln Park loop area. SEPTEMBER 22 Murder Mystery Dinner Party: Honky Tonk Homicide Come dressed as your character and participate in a fun whodunnit at the Hospitality Suite. Starts at 5:30 p.m. A delicious barbecue meal will be served. Register by September 9. Cost is $29. SEPTEMBER 23 Garden Talk: Harvest & Preserve Your Bounty A Master Food Safety Advisor will teach you how to identify proper picking times, techniques for preserving, and ways to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Cost is $5. Class is at noon at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens. SEPTEMBER 25 Swimmers Appreciation Day Free community swim celebration includes entry to the Orchard Mesa Pool, waterslide and hot tub from 5 p.m.7:30 p.m. Light snacks will be served.
TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS Gentle Active Yoga This class is designed for an active beginner and above. Students must be able to get up and down from the floor unassisted. Class is 8 a.m.-9 a.m. at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $7 to drop in or $50 for a 10-punch pass. AQUA AEROBICS These aerobic classes are for novice to intermediate individuals. Class is 8:15 a.m.-9:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Orchard Mesa Pool. Cost is $4.25 to drop in or $44 for a 12-punch pass.
SPORTS SWEET 16 PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT This is an eight-game round robin format with 16 players starts at 9 a.m. at the Pineridge and Lincoln Park courts. Cost is $5. Each player gets to play six games with different partners. Each game lasts 15 minutes and points are accumulated by wins. Divisions include 3.0-, 3.5 and 4.0+.
BOCCE BALL LEAGUE Join the first ever Bocce Ball league geared for fun and friendly competition at 9 a.m. Tuesdays,
September 22-October 27 at Hawthorne Park Court. Cost is $20. Equipment will be supplied. Register by September 14.
FUN AFTER 50 SOFTBALL Open to men and women 50 and older. Call 255-6688.
DANCE THURSDAYS Senior dances with live music Dance from 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center. Cost is $3. MONDAYS (SEPT. 14-OCT. 19) Beginning Line Dance No partner needed. Dances are from 12:15 p.m.-1 p.m. at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $18. MONDAYS Intermediate Line Dance Continue with the benefits of dance and improve your skills by learning new dances with a little more difficulty. Class is from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $32 for a 10-punch pass or $4 to drop in.
ART Free public exhibits hosted by the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture. City Hall: Featuring local artists Melissa Carlson, Steve Traudt and the Veterans Art Show. Tiara Rado: Hot Air Balloon exhibit by local artists at The Rock Clubhouse Two Rivers Convention Center: Aerospace and history exhibit featuring local artists.
The Senior Recreation Center offers activities for seniors age 50 and older. The center is open Monday–Saturday from 8:00 am–4:00 pm Annual membership is $10.
Senior Recreation Center Monthly Calendar of Events MONDAY 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 12:00 pm 1:00 pm 5:30 pm
Cribbage Cards Computer Classes Gray Gourmet Lunch Card Bingo & Dominoes Singles Pinochle (1st & 3rd Monday)
TUESDAY 9:00 am Cribbage & Pool Tourney 12:00 pm Gray Gourmet Lunch 1:30 pm Bingo WEDNESDAY 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 12:00 pm 1:00 pm
Ladies Pool & Cribbage Jack & Jill Pool Tourney Free Blood Pressure Clinic (3rd Wed) Gray Gourmet Lunch Pinochle & Canasta
THURSDAY 9:00 am Cribbage & Dominoes 10:00 am Dance w/Music (1st Thursday) 10:30 am Membership Meeting 12:00 pm Pokeno (Starts at 1 p.m. on 1st Thursday) 7:30 pm Dance FRIDAY 9:00 am 12:00 pm 12:30 pm 12:45 pm 1:00 pm
Painting Class & Pool Tourney Gray Gourmet Lunch Bible Study Bridge Canasta
SATURDAY 9:00 am Bridge 1:00 pm Bingo
To make Gray Gourmet lunch reservations, call 243-9844. $3.50
24
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From left: Dan, Melanie, Jenny and Tom at Ghos
EXPLORING NEW MEXICO
the land of enchantment
By Melanie Wiseman isiting our neighboring state of New Mexico sounded intriguing when my sister, Jenny, and I were looking for a place to share a week with our husbands. Known as “The Land of Enchantment,” New Mexico lived up to its name, ensuing a magical feeling of great pleasure and delight, as we experienced Native American and western history, science, culture, national forests, sand dunes, deserts and caverns.
V
t Ranc h
SEPTEMB spirituality, Indian history, cattle rustlers, ranchers, celebrity retreat and artistic inspiration, Ghost Ranch is located on Highway 84 near Abiquiu one and a half hours northwest of Santa Fe. Georgia O’Keefe visited annually from 1929 to 1949 before making Ghost Ranch her permanent home until her death in 1986.
Today it’s a destination retreat center for workshop such as pottery, creative writing, fitness and wellness, astronomy, painting and photography. We enjoyed a free guided tour, which included exciting stories of yesteryears.
Road trip Our memorable trip began as we headed south toward Red Mountain Pass with my husband Dan and brother-in-law Tom towing our trailer, and Jenny and I following in the car. All four of us were ready for our eight-day adventure. “When you fly, you miss the beauty, the people and the interesting places in between,” Jenny said. “Sometimes you think you have to travel far and wide to see the wonders of God’s creations, when you can see it right next door.” A road trip allowed us to stop in small towns for ice cream, drive the roads less traveled, witness divine landscapes up close, and use all of our senses to enhance our experience.
Photos by Melanie Wiseman
Ghost Ranch Known for its stunning beauty and
Bandelier National Monument A hidden gem, Bandelier National Monument is rich in culture and history. You can enjoy easy hikes and learn about the fascinating lives of the Pueblo people who lived there beginning in the mid 1200s. Their homes were individual cave-type dwellings in unique canyon walls and villages, some exceeding 600 rooms. Spending the
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night at the Juniper campground was outstanding. “The stars at night were glorious,” Tom said.
Palace, the International Folk Art Museum and the galleries on Canyon Road. Don’t leave town before dining at Tomasitas off the beaten path.
Los Alamos
The Turquoise Trail
Los Alamos is best known for the secret aggregation of the best nuclear scientists from across the country and the Manhattan Project from 19421945. Science, art and nature converge on the four scenic mesas Los Alamos is built on. The Bradbury Science Museum is free and open daily, providing a window into Los Alamos National Laboratory, its history, mission and research happening today.
Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway Rising up to the east of Los Alamos is the Santa Fe National Forest and the Jemez (Hay-mez) Mountain National Scenic Byway. Valles Caldera National Preserve, just 18 miles into the drive, protects what was once an 89,000acre ranch nestled inside a volcanic caldera. It hosts the second largest elk population in the state. It also sports many other wildlife species, fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Enjoy hiking the East Jemez Trail to Jemez Falls, the Soda Dam where water from underground hot springs has flowed for centuries, and soaking your feet at Fenton Lake State Park.
Santa Fe Santa Fe is the epicenter of New Mexico’s history, culture and art. It would be easy to spend days or weeks at this single location exploring its hundreds of museums and galleries. I recommend visiting Central Plaza, Georgia O’Keefe Museum, Loretta Chapel and St. Francis Cathedral, the Governor’s
Traveling south out of Santa Fe we traveled scenic Highway 14—the Turquoise Trail. A nice change of pace from traffic and tourists, this route led us through a unique oasis with attitude. Coming out of nowhere, the small art community of Madrid has a lively carnival personality and gave us a refreshing break. Be sure and stop at Maggie’s, a diner known for scenes from “Wild Hogs,” starring Tim Allen and John Travolta.
Ruidoso On the way to Ruidoso, blink and you might miss San Antonio at the intersection of I-25 and 380. We ate at the Owl Bar & Cafe and had their famous green chili burgers. Yum! Blanketing the mountains surrounding Ruidoso is the gorgeous Lincoln National Forest. We took advantage of spending two nights in this ponderosa wonderland. After a creekside hike, it was off to the races. Ruidoso Downs hosts quarter-horse racing Friday through Monday at 1 p.m.
White Sands National Monument White Sands National Monument appears to be a mirage rising up from the flat, stark southern New Mexico desert. Our child-like spirits emerged as we rented saucer sleds to glide down the pure white dunes. The powdery gypsum sand felt luxurious as we hiked barefoot. Be
sure to go early in the day because it can get hot.
Carlsbad Caverns I have been in many caves around the U.S., but never in “the mother of all caves”— Carlsbad Caverns. Turning every corner brought sights more spectacular than the last. I can’t remember ever saying “Wow!” so many times in my life. Ninety percent of the caverns can be explored on a free self-guided tour, which takes approximately a little over three hours. To see the other 10 percent, guided tours of a more challenging nature are offered. Tight squeezes on the guided tours may keep those prone to claustrophobia at bay. Bats top my list of icky, scary creatures, followed by snakes. Knowing that 300,000400,000 Mexican freetailed bats make Carlsbad Caverns their seasonal home did not rest easy with me, especially since we were “lucky” enough to be there during their on-season. During the day, the bats crowd together on the ceiling of Bat Cave, where no tour ventures. As the sun sets, however, they make a dramatic display, exiting the natural entrance to feed, and silhouetting against the night sky like a swiftmoving cloud. An entertaining ranger leads a talk prior to the bats emerging, dispelling myths associated with bats and promoting their
benefits. Sorry, Miss Ranger, but I’m still not a fan.
Home Again We parted ways at Carlsbad, with Jenny and Tom heading back to Wisconsin via historic Route 66. Dan and I enjoyed stops at Rio Grande del Norte National Monument north of Taos, and Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa as we completed the loop back to Grand Junction. It’s always good to sleep in your own bed again after being on the road, but I wouldn’t trade the new memories we created while experiencing New Mexico for anything. ■
26 FINANCE
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NEED GLASS REPAIR? No Job Too Small New Windows • Window Repairs • Window Glass Mirrors • Table Tops • Insulated Glass Shower & Tub Enclosures • Rescreens & New Screens
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Grand Junction, CO 81506 • 434-6494
SEPTEMBER 2015
Starting Roth IRAs for your grandkids By Jason Alderman
M
any grandparents go above and beyond to offer financial help to adult children and grandchildren. If you’re seeking to contribute to your grandkids’ financial futures, one option might involve opening a custodial Roth IRA on your grandchild’s behalf as soon as he or she starts reporting earned income. While grandparents often find 529 college savings plans advantageous for their personal estate planning as well as supporting their grandchild’s educational future, custodial Roth IRAs may allow for more flexibility depending on the child’s future needs. For example, a young adult may use tax-free Roth IRA proceeds to fund education expenses not covered by savings or a down payment on a first home. Roth IRAs may also be a useful and collaborative savings tool for important expenses young adults have, such as continuing education or a down payment on a first home. Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars. That means the account holder doesn’t get a tax break at the time of initial or successive deposits, but the money grows tax free and can be withdrawn tax free, a benefit for a grandchild who may need a substantial sum in the years to come. Here’s an example of how much an initial $2,000 deposit in a Roth custodial IRA can grow. For an account opened at the time the child is 16, the $2,000 opening deposit, without any more money added to the account, could be worth roughly $55,000 at the time the child reaches age 65 assuming a 7 percent expected rate of return. What if the child needs to make a tax-free withdrawal sooner, such as at age 35, for example? Based on the same earnings calculation
as above, he or she would receive a less impressive sum of roughly $7,200. In 2015, the annual contribution limit for all IRAs is $5,500. It is possible, though not that easy, for a minor to open a Roth IRA on his or her own, which is why it’s good for grandparents or any qualifying friend or relative to shop for custodial accounts with low fees and low investment minimums to start. This is compounded annually. As you evaluate a decision to open a custodial Roth IRA, check with the broker and the account administrator on any institutional or state rules on custodial accounts and what information you’ll need to open one. Depending on those rules, there’s a chance that grandparents may not be able to open the custodial account directly and you will have to work through the childrens’ parents or legal guardian to get started. Also, consider the following: Make sure you’re financially secure. The MetLife study notes that many grandparents tend to overextend their financial support when it comes to family members in need. Seek advice from financial, tax and estate professionals on how much you can reasonably afford to give and the best means to do so. Coordinate with your grandchild’s parents or guardian. It is important for family members to remain open about money issues. Discuss what provisions the parents have made for the child and whether your idea complements financial strategies already in place. If not, keep discussing other ways you can help. Consider your grandchild’s potential handling of the account. When your grandchildren reach legal age or meet other key requirements of the account, they can take control of the money. Will they be ready? If not, evaluate other investment vehicles that better meet your objectives. ■
SEPTEMBER 2015
Putting out the fire By Barbara Newell
A
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s seniors, we prepare for emergency medical situations with phone lists of doctors and family members. We have our list of medications, transportation choices and so on. But are you equipped and prepared for fire safety? A residential fire extinguisher is a life- and property-saving tool. You should be trained in the use of the extinguisher and keep up regular maintenance on the unit. A Class A fire extinguisher is used for fire of ordinary combustible materials such as cloth, paper, wood, rubber and plastics. Class B is used for fire of flammable liquids such as grease, oil (including oil-based paint) and gasoline. Class C is used for fires of appliances, tools and any electrically operated items. Class D is used for fires of metals commonly found in industry. Class K is used for fire from vegetable oils and animal fats or fats in cooking appliances in commercial facilities. There are also combinations of the classes of extinguishers: A-B and A-B-C classed fire extinguishers can be used on several types of fires. You will also find a number on the fire extinguisher right before the letter. The reference to this number tells you the effectiveness of that unit for combating the fire. The higher the number, the more effective the unit will be. There are symbols used on the label to indicate the class of fire that will be extinguished with that particular unit. Be sure to hold the extinguisher before you purchase it to determine if it will be too heavy for you. You must be able to effectively hold and operate the unit. Once you determine which extinguisher you are able to handle
easily, the next step is to decide if you want a disposable or rechargeable unit. The rechargeable units have metal valves compared to the disposable type, which have plastic valves. The rechargeable is more expensive to purchase, but in the long run, it will be less costly, even when the fee to recharge the unit is figured in. Your fire extinguisher should be placed in an easily accessible area, such as by an exit. This way as you fight the fire, you will be between the fire and the exit and can easily escape. In case of fire, persons should exit the home immediately and the fire department should be called. When the flames are small, the extinguisher can be used. If the fire is large, exit the home and leave the firefighting up to the professionals. PASS is an easy way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher. Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. PULL the pin, AIM at the heart of the fire, SQUEEZE the trigger while holding the unit upright and SWEEP the extinguisher contents over the fire. Do this until the unit is emptied. Once the fire extinguisher is used, replace it or refill it, depending on the type of unit you have. There are periodic maintenance tasks you will have to do to ensure your extinguisher will operate for you in your time of need. * Look at the pressure gauge to see if the pressure is sufficient. * Check for any signs of rust or damage. * The hose and valve should not be loose, torn or damaged. The unit itself should be clean and * ready to use. Every home should have a fire extinguisher. You should be familiar on the use of the extinguisher and have a safety plan. Check with your fire department for fire safety booklets. Take a class if they offer one. ■
The
Your guide to aging well in Mesa County
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Unitarian Universalists dedicate permanent home downtown By Sandra Dorr
A
fter 50 years of meeting in others’ spaces, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley has found its groove with a new church and a new settled minister. The congregation recently dedicated their new downtown Grand Junction church at 536 Ouray Ave. and their new minister Rev. Wendy Jones at the end of August with a ceremony and visit by Nancy Bowen, the regional head of the Pacific Western Unitarian Universalist Association. The small, progressive UUCGV, with many longtime senior members, won an award to help build the church, but it was due to a timely building purchase from the Mesa County Public Library, a loan from one of the members, the vision of a green builder member who spearheaded the project, and over 3,500 volunteer hours from the congregation over the last two years that brought about the newest church in the valley. “It’s like we’ve been wandering in the desert for 40 years and finally found an oasis—our home,” Shari Daly-Miller said. It’s a congregation of over 100, with many seniors and families. Choir director Peg Oswald directs four UU choirs and the “Spirituality Through Music” concert series. She and her husband Lance are among the oldest UUCGV members. “We joined the UU Fellowship in 1974,” Lance said. “We’ve met in 16 different buildings and settings.” Peg added that the congregation has always had a great community of people no matter where they were housed, “but having our own place is like the icing on the cake.” Rev. Jones said the building reflects changes in adult spirituality and the new UU church has been
designed around this shift. Having established partnerships with organizations such as Catholic Outreach and Grand Valley Peace & Justice, Jones said she thinks of the programs as energy centers. “We’re booked with concerts, yoga, improv theatre, a women’s group, a men’s cooking group, four choirs, our soup kitchen and homeless outreach, a domestic violence action team, a writing class, a class I teach on religious history and others,” she said. The UUs have no one set of beliefs. “We have, in our congregation, humanists, pagans, Christians, Jews, atheists and Buddhists,” Board President MaryAnne Winniford said. “We encourage people to seek their own religious truth, and I like that it’s an intelligent, inquiring conversation about spirituality.” Unitarian roots date back to the 16th century in Eastern Europe as part of the Protestant Reformation. The term “Unitarian” was used historically to differentiate from “Trinitarians.” Unitarians migrated to England during the Enlightenment of the 1700s, then to New England. Because the Unitarians draw on many sources, the UUs teach principles, but not a creed. Christ is studied, but not worshiped, along with other great spiritual leaders of the world. The Universalists were a more passionate Christian church of the 19th century in the southern U.S., believing in universal salvation without original sin or damnation. In 1961, the two churches merged. Unitarians were active in the anti-slavery movement and UUs were also active in the civil rights movement. Currently UUs are active in immigration reform and GLBT equality movements. ■
SEPTEMBER 2015
Refuse to be a victim By Cameron Jones
H
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ave you ever asked yourself how you could live with less fear? Would just like to feel safer in your home or in situations where you have felt vulnerable? The Refuse to Be a Victim course (RTBAV) helps answer these questions and offers advice about personal safety at home, safety while traveling, how to protect children and more. Instructor Guy Masterson said the course is designed to be a non-violent approach to personal safety, teaching students to develop a healthy defensive mindset by becoming more confident in their ability to be safe and deter criminal activity. “Everyone can do something, but the best situation is the one you have avoided,” Masterson said. Students learn to gauge a situation by noticing what people are doing and by identifying potential threats. Students learn to trust their instincts when their gut tells them danger in near. Masterson and his wife, Suzanne, have been teaching the course in the Grand Valley for six years. This course was originally developed in 1993 by women of the NRA (National Rifle Association) after they kept receiving calls from women asking what they could do to feel safer. For years the course was just for women, but more and more men started showing interest in the course, so it became co-ed. Anyone can benefit from the RTBAV course. Even those experienced in security and personal safety measures are enlightened with new information. While there are a lot of personal security options available besides firearms, one of the most important things a person can have is “a prevailing attitude, characterized by the strong determination to
win when facing a conflict with a criminal,” Suzanne said, adding that the course helps students gain this type of attitude because knowledge removes fear. For example, a conflict could be avoided by something as simple as moving away from someone who gets too close, or by calling attention to alert that someone is trying to rob and/or harm you. This course teaches mental conditioning, getting students to think about possible scenarios they might find themselves in, and then considering how they will react i n such scenarios. According to the RTBAV student handbook, seniors are especially vulnerable because they are seen as easy targets, especially those with a disability. The perpetrator could be a stranger, but in many cases, they are close relatives, friends or even caregivers. Masterson said to never let a stranger take control of walking devices, such as a wheelchair, walker or cane. In doing so, you have made yourself vulnerable to them. Other topics covered include Internet security, how to strategically place items so they are easily accessible and will prevent falls, and running errands with others because there is safety in numbers. The RBTAV course is three hours long and is held once a month. Each student receives a handbook and a certificate upon completion of the course. So much information is covered in the course that many people take it more than once to make sure they don’t miss anything.
Upcoming Classes: September 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m. October 3, 8:00-11:00 a.m. Classes meet at Sky Adventures, 817 Falcon Way. To sign up, email suzanne@gracefulguns.com or call 270-3203. ■
Come join us for the 4th annual
November 4-7, 2015 Ages 50 and over
New Sport this Year! Line Dancing
Register Now!
www.moabseniorgames.com
Call 435.260.0161 for more information Your Local Advantage
All light & dark wood mulch on sale September 8-19, 2015 Only $10.00 per yard Open Tuesday- Saturday 8:00am-4:30pm 970
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Organic Materials Composting Facility 3071 Highway 50, Grand Junction www.mesacounty.us/swm
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Home Care Beyond the Expected
Caregiver’s guide for stain care and skin care By Barbara Newell
R
emoving stains and odors in the residence may be one of the more overwhelming tasks of a caregiver, along with selecting the best laundry care for sensitive skin. How about a simple, handy list of stain removal and laundry care techniques for sensitive skin? See below.
Blood Fresh stains: Soak in cold water (do not use hot water as it will set stains). Launder. Dried stains: Pretreat or soak in warm water with a product containing enzymes. Launder. If stain remains, rewash using a bleach safe for fabric. Bodily fluids 1. Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes. 2. Launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach. Tobacco 1. Dampen stain and rub with bar soap; rinse. 2. Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes. 3. Launder. If stain remains, launder again using a bleach safe for fabric.
Hilltop - the name you trust At Hilltop Home Care we know remaining safe, secure and independent in your own home can be a primary worry as you age. Aging well in your home may require a wide-range of personalized services to help you achieve your optimal independence. At Hilltop Home Care we offer: n Post-hospitalization and surgery care n IV therapy, medication management and injections n Physical, occupational and speech therapists
SEPTEMBER 2015
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n Chronic disease management n Personal care n Companionship n Housekeeping, pet care and handyman services
n Transportation and errands n Meal preparation n Emergency Response Monitors n All caregivers screened and insured
Ask about our Geriatric Care Managers and how they can help you navigate the complex issues of aging at home
(970) 208-1345 • HilltopHomeCareGJ.org
Mildew Badly mildewed fabrics may be damaged beyond repair. Launder stained items using a bleach safe for fabric and hottest water recommended for fabric. Food-based stains Gently rub baking soda into stain and then rinse with white vinegar. Repeat process. Protecting skin Laundering clothes, bed sheets and towels for those with sensitive skin may be slightly bewildering. Here are some recommendations. At times, the detergents and softeners you regularly use may become a problem for skin. When laundered items feel scratchy, they will render the skin itchy and it will become sore. Changing the detergent and/or softener to ones made for sensitive skin that excludes many of the enzymes and fragrant perfumes will help. Double rinsing the laundered items is another way to help prevent a skin problem. Always pre-wash bed linens, towels and clothing before they are used. This will remove the sizing that is contained in new items and make them so much softer and easier on the skin. ■
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SCAM ALERT: Knock, Knock… I’m here from the fire department By Teresa Ambord
A
recent scam has been making its way around some retirement communities in California, and a surprising number of intelligent people have fallen for it. It’s low tech, and so far isn’t widespread, but you can bet, if it works, others will jump onboard.
Here’s how it has been used: A man, dressed in a firefighter uniform knocks on the door and informs the occupant that he is there to inspect fire alarms. After the homeowners allow him access and show him the fire alarms, he asks if he can use the bathroom. Some homeowners report that they could hear the “firefighter” rifling through cabinets, particularly the medicine cabinet. All homeowners interviewed said they didn’t think
DOES YOUR
HOME Need
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any drugs were taken, so presumably they didn’t have what he was looking for. When the police and fire departments were alerted, the homeowners were told it was most likely someone seeking drugs.
Their advice? Homeowners should know that if the fire department sends out staff to visit homes, they will arrive in marked vehicles (this man was in an unmarked truck). Generally when the fire department does send out representatives, they are sent in pairs, not alone, as this man was. If someone approaches you claiming to be from the fire or police department, tell him or her to wait outside. Then call the appropriate department, using the phone number in the phone book, not a number provided by that person. ■ The Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program could help YOU stay in YOUR HOME longer. Call to see how we can help you age in place. Eligible homeowners now have access to low interest-rate loans. Payments are customized for the homeowner through the non-profit, Housing Resources, and are based upon the clients ability to pay. • Our staff secures the bids.
• Coordinates with contractors. • Helps with inspections.
Before
SENIOR SCAMS 31
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After
Contact: 970-241-2871 Ext. 101
524 30 Road, Suite 3, Grand Junction, CO 81504
www.housingresourceswc.org
• Assists with necessary paperwork to complete the project securely and safely.
The program is designed to finance essential repairs to improve health, safety, energy conservation, structural deficiencies, and modifications such as:
• Accessibility Modifications • Electrical • Plumbing • Heating • Foundations • Windows • Roofs
You’d have to be crazy to not be concerned about Identity Theft. Come to a FREE seminar and learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
205 N. 4th St.
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(Free Coffee & Donuts) Call Kathy Sheagley to RSVP at 216-6922
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SEPTEMBER 2015
New archaeology club takes off By Jan Weeks
R
10th Annual Two Rivers Chautauqua
Rascals and Rogues September 18 & 19
Cross Orchards Historic Site 3073 F Road, Grand Junction Daily Admission at the Door: $8/Person ï $20/Family Online Only Weekend Pass: $14/Person ï $30/Family Two Rivers Chautauqua
50th
1965 - 2015
Celebrating 50 Years 1965 - 2015
www.TwoRiversChautauqua.com Ed and Lois Gardner
Sig and Bobbi Alpha
September 18: Frank X. Mullen as BENEDICT ARNOLD ï Karen Vuranch as BELLE STARR September 19: Doris Dwyer as AIMEE SEMPLE MCPHERSON ï Chuck Chalberg as HUEY LONG Also featuring Young Chautauquans from Local Schools
oughly two million years ago, homo habilis picked up a fistsized rock and whacked something with it, thus inventing the hammer. Then he whacked one rock with another and the art of flint knapping, creating stone tools, toddled out of prehistoric mists but wouldn’t learn to walk confidently for another million or so years. Then homo neanderthalis realized that tools were good things and began smacking rocks together with deeper purpose. Homo sapiens (that’s us, folks) arrived on the scene and with his larger brain could visualize shapes inside the rocks and began to work them down to create scrapers, spear points, and other useful things. Jesse Clark, an archaeologist with Metcalf Archaeological, spoke at a recent meeting of the newly formed Grand Junction chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society and showed members and guests how to smack rocks together to make a projectile point in just a few minutes. Amazing, to say the least. As flakes and chips made their way around the gathering, sounds of wonder filled the space. How could such simple objects create something so useful and exquisite? As he worked, Clark explained what types of rocks, mainly chert and obsidian make good tools. One must look for a fine-grained stone with few flaws to ensure predictable flaking. “Obsidian is sharper and holds a better edge than a surgeon’s knife,” he added. In fact, obsidian knives were used for millennia to perform surgery on prehistoric and later patients. The Grand Junction chapter held its organizational meeting in March 2015 and by April became the newest full-fledged chapter of 11 that
form the CAS. According to Doug Van Etten, the interim president, the purpose of the group is to inform, educate and promote ethics, and to be a place where people can share their interests in all types of archaeology, from the coal mines in the Bookcliffs and uranium mines on the Uncompahgre Plateau to the hundreds of thousands of years old Indian rock art on canyon and cliff walls in southwestern Colorado and adjacent Utah. Van Etten is not an archaeologist and has never taken a class in archaeology. Yet when he and his wife moved here from Anchorage, Alaska he began to develop an interest in Native American rock art and ruins. He searched online for a local archaeology group, only to find that the last time there was a CAS chapter locally was in 2001. Wanting an organization to learn from, share experiences with and to serve as a draw for quality speakers, he set the wheels in motion, aided by local outdoor and archaeology enthusiast Janice Shepherd and CMU archaeology professor John Seebach. Montrose CAS club members Bill Harris and Dennis DeVore served as information sources and sounding boards for the new chapter. Harris will speak at the September meeting on “Citizen Science on the Colorado Plateau.” “You don’t have to be a professional to join or participate in activities,” Van Etten said. “We have novice, avocational and professional people all involved with the group to varying degrees.” He also clears up a common misconception. “Archaeology is the study of old human activity,” he said. “Paleontology is the study of dinosaurs. Since we have so much interest in each in this area, it’s an easy mistake to make.”
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Left: Members of CAS-GJ listen as George Decker, center, shares the history of an historic site on a recent outing. Photo by Sally Converse Below: flint pieces. Photo by Mary Hertert
Ike Rakiecki serves on the interim board of the GJCAS and is also a reference librarian at the Mesa County Library. He has a passion for old structures and mines. He recently led fellow aficionados on a field trip to the ghost town of Carpenter, north of town. “The town is mostly ruins now,” Rakiecki said, “but at one time coal trains ran from the old Bookcliff mine near there into Grand Junction.” He also takes people to the Uncompahgre Plateau to explore the remains of over 100 uranium mining camps that were active from the late 1890s. “Calamity Camp was built in the 1920s,” he said. “I enjoy the opportunity to show others the sites and explain the fascinating history of the area.” He cautions that sightseers should never enter old structures, as they can collapse without warning, and to never take away artifacts for souvenirs. Laney Heath’s interest lies in archaeoastronomy, the way that rock art interacts with sun and shadow. It’s also the study of ancient structures, such as Stonehenge, that were sited to capture the sun’s movement through the year. Moki John has a degree in archaeology and has worked for the Bureau of Reclamation on sites such as the Delores Archaeological Project, when he conducted a cultural resource inventory before the McPhee Reservoir was built. His main interest is in the Anasazi and has spent a lot of time working around Cortez
CAS-GJ member Katherine Lopez photographs petroglyphs in Nine Mile Canyon, Utah, one of the largest concentrations of rock art in North America. Photo by Pete Langford and Mesa Verde. He has also worked around uranium clean-up sites. George Decker is an avid amateur archaeologist who grew up on a cattle ranch 60 miles east of Glenwood Springs. After finishing his college education, he spent 24 years as manager of the Gay Johnson’s truck stop at Cameo in DeBeque Canyon. “A kid told me about steps that were carved by Indians in Bangs Canyon, so we went out several times but didn’t find them,” he said. “Then as we were walking out one day, I happened to glance over my shoulder and saw an amazing panel of petroglyphs.” He took a few pictures before they left. Several years later, he took some friends to see them and was horrified to find the petroglyphs had eroded to the point of being almost gone. Over the years he has photographed thousands of petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (paintings on rocks). His mission is to memorialize them before they vanish forever. “I’ve taken folks to Utah where 60-mile-long Nine Mile, a canyon north of Green River, has over 30 miles of petroglyphs,” he said. He also documents the remains of wickiups left by the Utes. He found his first one when he was just a kid. “I take pictures and some people think that the remnants are just old
branches leaning up against a tree, but they actually are what’s left of the original shelters,” he said. Dues are $32 a year for individuals and $40 a year for families. Meetings, held on the third Tuesday of each month, are free and open to everyone. For a calendar of meetings and events, and more informa-
tion, visit www.cas-gj.org or call Van Etten at 433-4312.
Upcoming event - September 15 Citizen Science on the Colorado Plateau Don’t miss this lecture from 7–9 p.m. by Bill Harris at the City Council Chambers, Fifth Street ande Rood Avenue. ■
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Bella Balsamic chases the crush for quality By Melanie Wiseman
I
f “chasing the crush” isn’t currently part of your vocabulary, Jeremy and Rebecca Berlin are ready to give you a crash course on how it will change your life. The Berlins opened Bella Balsamic and The Pressed Olive, a specialty store located at 555 Main St. in Grand Junction, in September 2014. “Ninety-five percent of people
who walk through the door have no idea what we’re doing here,” Jeremy said. “So we educate them, and the more they learn about how good our products are, they leave with a bottle and become return customers.” Having traveled Europe extensively, Jeremy knows what good balsamic vinegars and extra virgin olive oils tasted like, but couldn’t find them in the U.S. While visiting a friend, the Berlins checked out a great little oil and vinegar shop in Prescott, Arizona and were hooked. They became a distributor franchise for Veronica Foods, also known as Jeremy and Rebecca Berlin enjoy educating customers on the health benefits of vinegars and olive oils.
Delizia Olive Oil, one of the first importers of extra virgin olive oil into America. The Berlins opened their first store in Punta Gorda, Florida four years ago. With its success, they decided to open a second store. Downtown Grand Junction had the perfect appeal, in part, because Jeremy has family here.
Olive oil fraud “There has been a lot of publicity about the olive oil fraud in America because there are no FDA regulations,” Rebecca said. “A lot of what you get in the grocery store is really soy, canola or other mixes with just a tiny bit of extra virgin added, yet they label it extra virgin. The California Olive Oil Council out of Davis University found 85 percent of extra virgin olive oils carried in supermarkets were not extra virgin olive oil or even olive oil at all.”
SEPTEMBER 2015
Years ago Jeremy bought olive oil from Sam’s Club by the gallon. “Everyone said it was so good for you but my cholesterol shot up to 320,” he said. “Then we got into this business and it dropped 100 points.” According to the Berlins, their olive oils are all natural with the highest health benefits. “True balsamic vinegar is aged in wood barrels from four to 18 years and it’s going to be a live food with pre- and pro-biotic digestive enzymes,” Rebecca said. The Berlins recommend reading “Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil” by Tom Mueller. “There’s a whole olive oil mafia, olive oil ‘drug trade,’ money and murders and all kinds of intrigue and craziness,” Rebecca said. “Mueller actually followed ships that would leave port loaded with soybean oil and their manifest would say extra virgin olive oil.”
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To ensure authenticity and quality, the Berlins parent company requires farmers own the land and trees, and olives are picked green and cold pressed within four to six hours for the highest nutritional value. Extensive taste test and chemistry analyses follow, and the entire oil batch is purchased only if it gets a good report. “We can take any of our products and have the ability to find out the specific farm they were raised on,” Jeremy said. “Ours is a single source product: one olive oil, one farmer, one press. Once you try our products and see what a difference they make in your health and how you feel, you will never go back to grocery store products again.”
Chasing the crush Northern and southern hemisphere groves allow for fresh pressings twice a year. In the past, olives were pressed in Europe just once a year. Then olive trees were taken to places like Spain, Australia, Argentina and California about 75 years ago, in order to get two crushings a year. “We chase the crush,” Jeremy said. “Where the freshest olives are, that’s where we go.” To the Berlins, freshness trumps origin. “Following the crush from hemisphere to hemisphere allows us to offer you the freshest, healthiest, highest quality product year round,” Rebecca said. “Every one of our bottles has the crushed date on it.”
The health benefits Extra virgin olive oil has become a legendary culinary oil with health benefits that are hard to match. “Real extra virgin olive oil actually takes the plaque right out of your arteries,” Jeremy said. “The more robust and flavorful the oil, the better it is for you.” See for yourself and learn more by stopping by Bella Balsamic & The Pressed Olive in downtown Grand Junction or call 581-6703. ■
Health benefits of extravirgin olive oil include: • Nine
different categories of polyphenols (antioxidants) and more than two dozen antiinflammatory nutrients. • Decreases total blood cholesterol • Decreases blood pressure • Decrease oxidative stress in the blood • Decreases blood platelet clumping • Decreases LDL • Increases bone formation • Increases cognitive benefits • Increases fat loss • Contains cancer fighting benefits
Bella Balsamic vinegar health benefits include: • Contains
pre- and probiotics that aid digestion • Helps cure heartburn and chronic reflux • High in cancer-fighting antioxidants • A natural appetite suppressant • Reduces cholesterol • Helps retard osteoporosis • Amino acids slow the effects of aging • Reduces the severity and frequency of headaches and migraines • Soothes bug bites • Helps relieve asthma, allergies, sinus pressure and infection • Reduces inflammation and relieves arthritis
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SEPTEMBER 2015
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Community Hospital receives highest marks in Medicare patient readmission report
C
enters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the results of Medicare readmission penalties for hospitals across the country. Community Hospital received a 0.00 percent penalty for fiscal year 2015 and 2016. Community Hospital is the only hospital in Mesa County listed on the report to receive 0.00 percent penalties for these report dates. Medicare began applying the readmission penalty to reimbursements beginning October 1, 2012. The CMS Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program is part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The program cuts hospitals’ Medicare payments up to 3 percent for higher-than-expected 30-day readmission rates for heart attack, heart failure, chronic lung problems (COPD), elective hip and knee replacements and pneumonia patients,
according to a Kaiser Health News report. “This report measures our readmission performance compared to hospitals in and around our region as well as the national average,” Community Hospital President and CEO Chris Thomas said. “The results of this report reaffirm Community Hospital’s unwavering commitment to patient safety and satisfaction.” This is the third year of the readmission program. Penalties ranged from 0.01 percent to the maximum 3 percent of base Medicare reimbursements. Starting in October 2013, the maximum penalty increased from 1 percent to 2 percent of base Medicare reimbursements, and was capped at 3 percent in October 2014. For more information or to view the full report, please visit www.cms.gov. ■
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Mesa County Calendar SEPTEMBER 2 Medicare 101 Are you new to Medicare? Come to this free educational seminar from 10 a.m. to noon at RSVP, 422 White Ave., in the lower level of the US Bank Building. This seminar is designed to help new Medicare beneficiaries understand their health options. Seating is limited. Call 243-9839 to reserve your spot. SEPTEMBER 5 Anthology presentation by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Mario Acevedo, the new Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer anthology editor, will present a talk about the anthology, its history, this year’s theme, and why contributing to the anthology will add to an author’s experience as a writer. Presentation takes place from 9:15 a.m.12:30 p.m. at the Business Incubator, 2591 Legacy Way. A light breakfast will be available. RSVP by emailing tbenson@gjincubator.org. SEPTEMBER 7 End of Summer Bash Are you a resident or a family member of a resident at La Villa Grande Care Center? Don’t miss this fun event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the care center. Bring the kids for face painting, balloon art, and more. Each family member will
receive two tickets. Additional tickets are $3 each, which includes a meal and one raffle entry for door prizes. For details, call 245-1211.
SEPTEMBER 8 Documentary screening: “Crisis Hotline: Veterans, Press One.” This HBO documentary will screen at 6:30 p.m. at the Mesa County Central Library. Following the film, there will be a Q&A session with VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator Sonja Encke. For details, call 683-2437. SEPTEMBER 10-12 Catholic Daughters Fundraiser Sale To find unique and unusual treasures, come to the Catholic Daughters Fundraiser from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. New items arrive daily. There will also be household items, electronics, tools, jewelry, and more. For more information, call 255-9152 or 640-4942. SEPTEMBER 13 Sons of Norway event: Norwegian Fjord horses Do you like horses? This is your chance to see the new additions to Brandy and Elmer Ferganchick’s Norwegian Fjord Horse herd. This free event begins at 2 p.m. at All Saint’s Lutheran Church, 20101 Deer Creek Road in Austin.
SEPTEMBER 2015
Watch for the Norwegian flag in the parking lot. For more information or to carpool, call 245-5649 or visit www. vestfjelllodge.org.
SEPTEMBER 16 Sister Cities Celebration Come celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the sister city relationship between the city of Grand Junction and the community of El Espino, Cuscatlan, El Salvador at Grand Junction’s first annual Sister Cities Celebration and Proclamation, complete with Salvadoran BBQ from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in front of City Hall. For details, visit www.fce elsalvador.org or call 433-2897. SEPTEMBER 17 Montrose-Delta BeaconFest The BEACON Senior Newspaper is having a party and you’re invited. The Montrose-Delta BeaconFest Boomer & Senior Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive in Montrose. This year’s BeaconFest features an exciting lineup of entertainment, free food, lively seminars and informational booths from 50 senior-related agencies and businesses. BeaconFest is free to attend. For more information, call 243-8829. SEPTEMBER 18 Help Hospitalized Veterans Anniversary Come celebrate Help Hospitalized Veterans’ second anniversary. Door prizes
SEPTEMBER 2015
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available to the first 50 people who come to this free event, from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Community Based Arts and Crafts Center, 1670 North Ave. Build your own ice cream sundae and participate in games and contests. Live mandolin music will be provided by Misti. For more information on HHV products and services, visit www. hhv.org. For more information on this event, call 424-0499.
SEPTEMBER 26 Fruita Lions Pancake Breakfast Come to Circle Park for breakfast from 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. during the Fruita Fall Festival. Breakfast includes pancakes, ham, fruit cups, coffee and juice. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children age 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. Proceeds benefit Fruita FFA. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase.
SEPTEMBER 19-20 Western Colorado Congress annual conference Join Western Colorado Congress on the Grand Mesa for presentations on current issues, workshops and trainings. There will also be food, dancing, a campfire and more. Non-members welcome and scholarships are available. For complete details and schedule, call 256-7650 or visit wccongress.org.
SEPTEMBER 26 OI Mystery Dinner Operation Interdependence hosts its sixth annual mystery dinner at 6 p.m. at Randy’s Southside Diner in Clifton. Cost is $25, and includes dinner, gift bag, door prize entries and participating in the whodunit mystery. Proceeds help send packages to our deployed military. Seating is limited. Reservations and prepay required by September 15. For more information or to make reservations, call 523-4217.
SEPTEMBER 26 English Country Dance Come with or without a partner to La Puerta Ballroom, 523 1/2 Main St. in Grand Junction (upstairs in the Margery Building). Cost is $10 per adult. All ages are welcome. Band is Fifth Reel. Workshop is 4 p.m.-6 p.m. and the dance takes place from 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. For details, call 260-5852.
SEPTEMBER 27 Color Sunday Arts and Crafts Fair This event will be 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Mesa Community Center. The Plateau Valley 4H turkey dinner will also be served. Cost is $8 for seniors 60 and over and $10 for adults 18-59, $8 for youth 5-17, and children 4 years and under are free. If you are interested in booth space, call 447-0014. ■
MESA COUNTY 39
Buying for CASH! • Coins & Coin Collections • Gold & Silver Coins • Old Currency • Foreign Coins & Currency • Pocket Watches • Sterling silver • Gold & Silver Jewelry • Antiques • Guns and Ammunition • Military Items • Cowboy Spurs • Native American Items
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970-261-8368 SEPTEMBER 2015 Activity Schedule
“Young-at-heart adults getting together for fun and friendship!” Calling all singles over 55!
Come meet new friends and join us at 5 p.m. Fridays at the Travelodge on Horizon Drive. You’re sure to find people who are young at heart with like interests. On September 25, our FAC meeting will take place at 405 W. First St. in Palisade. There will be pizza, wine, cards and outside fire pit. For details, call Joan at 778-2057. Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. - Early Start Breakfast at Denny’s on Horizon Drive. Visitors welcome. Call Debbie at 245-4995 for details. Wednesdays at 5 p.m. - Dine out at the following locations every week. Visitors welcome. Call Debbie at 245-4995 for details. • September 2 – Red Lobster • September 9 – Dos Hombres (Redlands) • September 16 – Rib City Grill (Grand Junction) • September 23 – Rockslide • September 30 – Citrola’s Sundays at 12:30 p.m. - Bowling Sunday and card games at Orchard Mesa Lanes, 295 27 Road. RSVP to Bob at 263-8462. Wednesday, September 2 at 5:30 p.m - Camp at James M. Robb Colorado River State Park in Fruita (space no. 6). RSVP to Kenny at 216-8271.
2015
Saturday, September 5 at noon - Enjoy billiards, games of pool and lunch at Bank 8 Billiards, 2460 Patterson Road. Call Mary at 255-7370. Friday, September 11 at 11:30 a.m.–The Fun Lunch Bunch meets for lunch at Texas Roadhouse. RSVP to Penny at 712-2588. Saturday, September 12 at 8 a.m. - Meet at Murdoch’s to head to the Meeker Sheep Dog Trials. RSVP to Ed at 243-1609. Thursday, September 17 at 5 p.m. –Restaurant Rove to WW Peppers. RSVP to Jim at 464-0578. Saturday, September 19 at 8 p.m. – Meet at the DoubleTree Hotel to head to the watermelon festival in Green River, Utah. RSVP to Ed at 243-1609.
40 MESA COUNTY
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Mesa County Beacon Bits Golden Age Games Team brings home the bacon Members of the Veterans Golden Age Games Team brought home several medals and ribbons from the recent national Veterans Golden Age Games in Omaha, Nebraska. The Grand Junction team members won nine medals and five ribbons. • Tiger Adams won gold in 25-meter freestyle swim, gold in 50-meter freestyle swim, silver in 25-meter backstroke, bronze in bowling, and fourth place in javelin toss. • Alma Kenney won gold for 25-meter freestyle swim, fifth place ribbon for cycling, fifth place ribbon for power walk and a fourth place ribbon for javelin. • Chuck Ackerman won silver for 200-meter sprint, silver for 400-meter sprint, bronze for shuffleboard and a fifth place ribbon for air rifle. • Maverick Collins won silver medal for dominoes.
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Fruita Fall Speaker Series Fruita Community Center and Family Health West offers this free speaker series from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays, September 15 through December 15 at the Fruita Community Center. There will be Q&A opportunities. Preregister by calling 858-0360. • September 15: “Pins and needles: an informal, personal discussion about acupuncture and Chinese herbs” by Michelle Clark • September 22: “Is yoga for me? Short answer: Yoga is for everyone!” by Ellen Robinson • September 29 (at 6:15 p.m.): “The MELT Method (a self-treatment system to combat chronic pain and erase the effects of aging and active living)” by Karin Denny • October 6: “Fantastic fermented foods and gut health” by Paula Roelands • October 13: “Reflexology for fun and relaxation” by Carolyn Lampshire
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• October 20: “Dry needling by physical therapists: How to get relief from neuromuscular conditions” by Ellen Mead Local artist’s work on display Local artist Piera Kllanxhja’s work will be on display at Barnes & Noble September 1-30. She will be present at the public opening from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. September 8. Her art is crystal glazed pottery and photography, monotypes and paintings, inspired by the land in Grand Junction. For more information, call 234-0214 or visit www.PieraDesigns.com Explorer’s Bible Study This group of women will meet from 9:30 a.m.-11:15 p.m. every Wednesday at Redlands Community Church, 2327 Broadway in Grand Junction. Explorer’s is open to all women. Childcare is provided. For more information, call 257-7726. Local AAA Director receives governor appointment David Norman, director of the Area
SEPTEMBER 2015
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Agency on Aging, was appointed by Gov. Hickenlooper to serve a twoyear appointment on the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging, which studies and produces a comprehensive strategic action plan on aging in Colorado through the year 2030. The planning group examines the impact, both positive and negative, of the aging demographic shift on the economy, workforce, businesses, market-based products and services; Medicaid and other safety net programs. Norman, a 41-year employee of Mesa County, represents local nonprofit organizations that provide services to the aging population in Mesa County. For more information, call 256-2453. Support groups • Mending Hearts Support Group is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Grand Junction group meets from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest. Fruita group meets at the Fruita Civic Center. Call 248-8844. • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups for family members of adults who have a serious mental illness and for adults who have a mental illness diagnosis. Groups meet at various times in Mesa County. Call 462-3989. • The Fruita Group is for family members and meets monthly from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on the first Tues-
days at Family Health West Nursing Home, 228 N. Cherry St. • Western Slope Visionaries, a low-vision support group, meets from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 241-0315. • Compassionate Friends offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. The group meets monthly at 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on the first Tuesdays at Unity Church, 3205 N. 12th St. Call 434-3822. • MS and Men, a support group for men living with MS, meets monthly on the third Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon at the Artful Cup. Call 2418975. • MS Breakfast Group meets monthly at 9 a.m. on the first Wednesdays at The Egg & I. Call 2418975. Volunteer opportunities • RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of our member agencies. For a list of volunteer opportunities and to register, call 243-9839. • Mesa County SOS needs volunteer drivers to give seniors rides to grocery shopping, pharmacy and medical visits once a week. SOS will reimburse for mileage. Call 248-2746. • HopeWest seeks volunteers for a variety of positions. Volunteering can be as simple as one hour a month. Call 623-8816 for details. ■
WESTERN SLOPE DENTAL CENTER BRANDON S. BERGUIN D.D.S. AND ASSOCIATES 514 28 Road • Grand Junction, CO 81501
241-3483
GENERAL & COSMETIC DENTISTRY
DENTURES, CROWNS, VENEERS, BRIDGES, FILLINGS, ROOT CANALS, EXTRACTIONS, IMPLANTS • • • • •
Brandon S. Berguin D.D.S. SENIOR DISCOUNTS
ALL FEES QUOTED BEFORE TREATMENT INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED DENTURE REPAIRS & RELINES EMERGENCIES WELCOME NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLANS
Mastectomy Products
The Hands that Tell Life’s Stories in Stone
42 MESA COUNTY
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Mesa County Club Activities Compiled by Liesl Greathouse
We believe that a memorial should be a reflection of a life lived. This is why Dan Carlson, artist and owner, has been customizing memorials since 1976. Every memorial is designed, engraved and installed by our craftsmen to insure the highest quality from start to completion. It is our commitment to assist you and your family during this difficult time and hope to ease the experience with kind, compassionate professionalism. We are honored to help you select the appropriate memorialization that will last through the ages for someone special. Your memorial will serve as a source of historical record for future generations.
hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00 to 5:00 For your convenience, Evening and Weekend Appointments Ouray Ave
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Colorado Ave
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CARLSON MEMORIALS, INC. 237 South Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501
• Friendship Force meets monthly at 6:15 p.m. on the second Thursday at Community Hospital’s lower conference room. Call 260-4653 or visit www.thefriendshipforce.org. • Western Slope Coin Club meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday at the VFW Post #1247. Get a free coin/currency evaluation at 5:30 p.m. Call 241-1770 or visit www. gjcoinshow.com. • Two River Sams, Good Sam RV Club, meets at noon on September 19. For location, call 523-5625. • Mesa County Genealogical Society meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday at The Commons of Hilltop and at noon on the fourth Wednesday at the Museum of Western Colorado. Help sessions are at 1 p.m. on the first Friday at a library branch. Call 640-2388. • Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays at the Masonic Center. Call 261-1670. • Happy Feet Rounds offers basic choreographed ballroom dancing at 5 p.m. (beginners) and 6:30 p.m. (intermediate) Sundays at the Masonic Center, and 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Mondays (phase 3 and 4 dancers). Call 2435858. • Grand Valley Woodcarvers meets monthly at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays and at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays at Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 523-5965. • Grand Valley Woodturners meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesdays at Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 856-3632. • Mesa Fiber Arts Guild meets monthly at 6 p.m. the first Thursdays at Color Creek Fiber Art, 1150 N. 25th St. Unit B in Grand Junction. Call 243-3598 or visit www.mesafiberartsguild.org.
Pitkin Ave
5th St
237 South Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 East of Amtrak Station Downtown Grand Junction Phone: 970.242.7264 Fax: 970.256.1667 engraving@carlsonmemorials.com www.carlsonmemorials.com
SEPTEMBER 2015
• Blue Lodge Masons meets monthly at 10 a.m. the first Saturday at the Masonic Center. Call 245-5312. • Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at 2923 North Ave. Call 243-7874. • Western Colorado Decorative Artists meets monthly at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday at First Congregational Church. Call 640-2751.
• Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 244 meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesdays at the VFW Post #3981. All former, retired and active sea service, U.S. Navy, Marines or Coast Guard welcome. Call 434-0868. • Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at 7:10 a.m. Tuesdays at St. Mary’s Life Center. Call 242-4863. • Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets at noon Thursdays at the Business Incubator Center. Call 250-3969. • Western Slope Rovers RV Club meets monthly at the Egg and I for breakfast on the first Thursdays. Call 858-3907 for time and details. • High Desert Diamonds is a plus-level square dance club that dances from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month at the Masonic Center. Call 241-7457. • Cribbage Lite meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at IHOP. Call 270-2433. • Vestafjell Lodge, Sons of Norway, will meet at 2 p.m. September 13 at All Saint’s Lutheran Church, 20101 Deer Creek Road in Austin, Colorado. See the new additions to Brandy and Elmer Ferganchick’s Norwegian Fjord Horse herd. Please bring a dish to share for the Koldtbord lunch. Call 245-5649. • Great Old Broads for Wilderness will meet from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on September 28 at the Universal Unitarian Church, 536 Ouray. Call 255-9900. ■
SEPTEMBER 2015
CROSSWORD PUZZLE 43
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Crossword Puzzle
Across 1 Drop Alka-Seltzer-in-water 5 Rather suggestive 9 Like cheese 13 Brave legend 15 Feverish fit 16 Moore of movies 17 Certain outtakes 19 Auditory 20 Owns things 21 Disliked 22 Spout off 23 ___ la-la 24 Pour down 25 Certain crash 31 ”C”est ___! 32 Place for regulars 33 By way of 35 ”___ a Song Go Out of My Heart” 36 Math term 37 Proceed 38 “Aye, aye ___!” 39 Cereal taste 40 It’s unmetered 41 Stage muff? 44 Midwest Indian 45 Pin place 46 Playact 48 Cooking style 51 Heavenly neighbor of Scorpius 54 “I ___ Ike” 55 Printer jam, for example 57 Sly smile 58 Atlas datum 59 Kid a kid 60 Stops a bout 61 Tabula ___ (clean slate) 62 “Jacques ___ Is Alive” Down 1 It may be beaten or blocked 2 It goes with the flow 3 Globes 4 Campaign vet 5 Gripped 6 “Permit Me Voyage” author 7 Dairy product 8 “Certainly!” 9 Fan-club member? 10 Pick up the pace 11 Give off 12 Casino bones 14 Pessimists offer it 18 Diamond Head locale 22 Natty 23 Fail to include
00 25 off any service over
$
$120.00
24 “A ___”clock scholar” 25 Death Valley loc. 26 Slighted 27 “___ May Live” (1937 Lon Chaney Jr. flick) 28 Put away 29 Feeling regret 30 Salon product 31 Fleur-de-___ 34 Citric cooler 36 “Hurlyburly” playwright 37 Judicial order 39 Orchestra instrument 40 ___ Hollywood 42 Divulges 43 Eastern nanny 46 Allure rival 47 Demeanor 48 Ethnic round dance 49 Certain athletes in Utah 50 Amateur sports org. 51 Partly open 52 Baseball’s Charlie Hustle 53 Eve’s second-born 55 Place for a draft 56 Society girl
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HOME SERVICES
Free Meditation Class Introduction to KRIYA Meditation – Ancient teaching from KRIYA traditions. Tuesday nights. 7 p.m., YOGA West, 1025 Main St. Call 523-5685.
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL CLEANING BY KayDee the Cleaning Lady. Dependable, Efficient & Insured. Please call for References! KayDee at 970-6234722 (cell) or 970-241-1270 (office). PO Box 394, Grand Junction, CO 81502.
HELP WANTED WENDY’S NOW HIRING! Shift supervisors and crew members. We are looking for smiling faces and positive attitudes. We offer competitive pay, discounts and a great working environment. Full-time and part-time employment available. Please apply at your nearest location in Grand Junction. JANITORIAL Experienced supervisor, commercial cleaning. Individuals, teams, husbands and wives, retirees, seniors. Evenings and weekends. Part-time. Please call 255-0525, M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grand Junction residents only please.
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SEPTEMBER 2015
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HOME CARE PASCO/SW, INC.
Skilled and unskilled homemaking and/or personal care. Skilled nursing, specialize in wound care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, CNA, social work, pre-op, post-op services. PASCO/SW carriers certification for Mi, children’s hospice and Tbi waivers. Please call for courtesy evaluation of your home care needs. Serving: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel Cortez (970)565-6833; Durango (970) 247-1211; Montrose (970) 240-1771; Toll Free (877) 685-6833
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FULL SERVICE LAWN MOWING AND TRIMMING weed control, trim trees/bushes. Low rates for elderly and fixed incomes. Excellent references. DB Lawn & Garden, LLC, 970-314-7671. HOUSE CLEANING & MORE! Safe and secure small animal pet sitting. Your home – Grand Junction/Clifton area. Call for current openings. References available. Discounts for seniors. Call Benni at 241-2611. SCENE CLEARLY, LLC Window cleaners specializing in making your day a little brighter! Grand Junction area. Call Frank Cordova at 242-1264. PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE Professional Cleaning Service in Fruita. Licensed, insured and local reference available. Fast, efficient and reliable. $25 an hour. Call Donna at 518-728-7410 at Practical Magic Cleaning. RELIABLE ESTATE SALES Are you in the midst of a stressful relocation or passing of a loved one? Let us handle the burden of personal property liquidation from start to finish. Contact Mark Bluhm at 260-2327, cash4@bresnan.net or www.reliableestatesales.net. ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES Up to two FREE Grab bars with purchase of Walk-in Tub or Showers. Licensed plumber/handyman. Serving Western Colorado since 1989. Free estimates. Compare and save! 985-1403.
SEPTEMBER 2015
CLASSIFIEDS 45
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ANTIQUES, APPRAISALS, ESTATE SALES With over 40 years in the antique, appraisal and estate sale business, Great American Estate Sales is the valley’s leader in appraisals and estate liquidation. Settling an estate, moving into a smaller home or just simplifying your lifestyle? Great American Estate Sales can provide a worry-free and quick solution. Free consultation. 216-0048 TREE SERVICE Get ready for fall – Tree trimming, tree removal, stump grinding. FREE hauling, boom truck to 85 feet, FREE estimates. Licensed and insured. Chris 260-0222. SKILLED HANDYMAN SERVICES Fast, reliable handyman services available. No job too big or too small. We are licensed and insured and have over 35 years’ experience. We are ADA (Special Needs), CAPS (Aging in Place) and NHBA (National Home Builders Association) certified to meet your individual needs. All services include carpentry, plumbing, electrical and misc. services. Western Interior Builders, LLC. Call 241-2029 for appointment.
WANTED TO BUY CASH Paid for Old Stuff Wind-up men’s wrist/pocket watches, gold and silver jewelry, pocket/ hunting knives, antique firearms, fishing gear, toys, BB guns, old Colorado bottles, old motorcycles, radios and amps, railroad, military, mining items. www.cash4oldstuff. net. Mark 260-2327. USED BOOKS BUY, SELL OR TRADE Gently used books on hundreds of subjects. Westerns, Romance, Mysteries, Suspense, Kids, Young Adult, Inspirational, and many others. Large print. Special orders. 242-3911. Twice Upon a Time Bookshop, 2885 North Ave., Ste. B. Located in front of North Ave. Walmart and next to Subway. 10-6 Mon-Sat, 11-4 Sunday. **Bring this ad in for $10 Trade Credit**
FOR SALE HOSPITAL BED for Sale. Excellent Condition. Half Price $1500. 424-2545 or 464-0578.
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NATIONAL CLASSIFIEDS SEPTEMBER 2015 AUTO SALES OR AUTO DONATIONS Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-656-1632 AUTO’S WANTED CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top $$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Years, Makes, Models. Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week. Call Toll Free: 1-888-416-2330 GET CASH TODAY for any car/truck. I will buy your car today. Any Condition. Call 1-800-864-5796 or www. carbuyguy.com EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Train at home to process Medical Billing & Insurance! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online training at Bryan University! HS Diploma/GED & Computer/Internet needed. 1-888-734-6711 HEALTH **SUMMER SPECIAL** VIAGRA 40x (100 mg) +16 “Double Bonus” PILLS for ONLY $119.00. NO PRESCRIPTION Needed! VISA payment required. 1-888-386-8074 www.newhealthyman.com Satisfaction Guaranteed!! HEALTH & FITNESS VIAGRA 100MG and CIALIS 20mg! 40 Pills + 10 FREE. SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. FREE Shipping! 24/7 CALL NOW! 1-888-223-8818 HEALTH/MEDICAL VIAGRA Trust The Original Little Blue Pill 100mg/20 mg 40 Pills +4/FREE, Save! No Prescription Needed! Call Today ! 1-800-213-6202 MEDICAL VIAGRA & CIALIS! 50 pills for $95. 100 pills for $150 FREE shipping. NO prescriptions needed. Money back guaranteed! 1-877-743-5419 MISCELLANEOUS CASH FOR CARS: All Cars/Trucks Wanted. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Any Make/Model. Call For Instant Offer: 1-800-864-5960 CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! 1 DAY PAYMENT & PREPAID shipping. HIGHEST PRICES! Call 1-888-776-7771. www.Cash4DiabeticSupplies.com DIRECTV Starting at $19.99/mo. FREE Installation. FREE 3 months of HBO SHOWTIME CINEMAX starz. FREE HD/ DVR Upgrade! 2015 NFL Sunday Ticket Included (Select Packages) Dish Network. Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) PLUS Bundle & SAVE (Fast Internet for $15 more/ month.) CALL 1-800-240-0859
Got Knee Pain? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace -little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1- 800-491-6053 LEARNING TO READ can be both fun and educational. Learn more about this wholesome farm book, Richard the Donkey and His LOUD, LOUD Voice at www.RichardTheDonkey.com Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call NOW: Call 1-877-737-9447 18+ No Prescription Needed! VIAGRA 100mg, CIALIS 20mg. 40 Pills + 4 FREE for only $99! Call Little Blue Pill Now! 1-888-796-8870 Safe Step Walk-In Tub Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call 800-980-6076 for $750 Off. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1-800290-8321 to start your application today! Struggling with DRUGS, ALCOHOL, PILLS? Talk to someone who cares. Call ADDICTION HOPE & HELP LINE for a free assessment. 800-768-9180 MISCELLANEOUS/CAREER TRAINING AIRLINE CAREERS. Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call AIM 888-686-1704 MISCELLANEOUS OR WANTED TO BUY Want To Purchase Minerals And Other Oil/Gas Interests. Send Details To: PO Box 13557, Denver CO 80201. MONEY TO LEND/LOANS OR MISCELLANEOUS ACCESS YOUR LAWSUIT CASH! In an Injury Lawsuit? Need Cash Now? Low Rates. No Credit Checks/Monthly Payments. Call Now 1-800-568-8321. REAL ESTATE FOR SALE 20 to 40 Acres, $0 Down From $128/mo. Owner Financing. Money Back Guarantee Near El Paso, TX Beautiful Mountain Views FREE Color Brochure Call Now 1-800-939-2654 WANTED TO BUY Cash for unexpired DIABETIC TEST STRIPS or STOP SMOKING PRODUCTS! Free Shipping, Best Prices & 24 hr payment! Call 1-855-440-4001 www.TestStripSearch.com
46 REAL ESTATE
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A Great Place to Call Home!
SEPTEMBER 2015
REAL ESTATE FOR RENT
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
senior living in a parklike setting
NORTH
Friendly Affordable Safe Convenient Comfortable
2488 Fountainhead Blvd. Custom home shows attention to detail. • 3 bd/3 bath, over 3000 sq.ft. Several decks. • 3 car detached garage, plenty of RV parking. • On 8/10 of an acre, No HOA! Room for shop. •
Quiet 55+ Adult Community New & Pre-Owned Homes Free RV Storage On-Site Manager Resident Club House
Come tour our
5-star manufactured home community. Peaceful walk paths, beautiful views, community garden and lots of amenities. This land leased community is very affordable and has all you need. Your choice of home sites and various floor plans available or relocate your existing home to our community. Relocation incentives offered. All homes are owner occupied. Families welcome. Homes starting in the $40ks. Pet friendly.
nellie Bechtel senior apartments 245-1712 • 3032 North 15th Street
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RIO VISTA MOBILE HOME PARK BEAUTIFULLY SHADED lot available in Palisade’s premium 55+ mobile home community. Ideal for a singlewide modular home. Ph: 464-7798 for details.
Are you looking to attract senior BUYERS or SELLERS in Mesa County? ADVERTISE YOUR LISTING HERE!
(970) 434-8193 435 32 Rd. Grand Junction Open: Mon.-Sat. 8:30-5:00 www.midlandsvillage.com
$399,900 Heath & Company Realtors/Metro Brokers
Beacon@pendantpublishing.com www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
Mention
The
N BEA1C0%OOFF & GET VICE ANY SER
SEPTEMBER 2015
KUDOS & KVETCH 47
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kudos \ ku·dos
“I just wanted to let you know what a great job Jan Weeks did on the story on Dave Haynes and Molly [in August’s BEACON]. It is one of the best locally written articles I have read in a long time. Talking dogs, the mountains and a great guy with a great story are a winning combination! Thanks and keep up the good work!” - Rick Thurtle, Grand Junction
“[To the author] Good grief. I’ve never been on the front of a publication before as far as I can remember. Kind of a shock but it was a cheerful looking picture and I liked that. You have done so much for the cause of therapy dogs! What a great article. And many people will read it and think about what they could do with their own dogs. The great thing is when I’m a little older and in some kind of facility you’ve made it likely that there will be dogs around for comfort and to play with the grandchildren. Thank you.” - Maggie Robb, Grand Junction
kvetch \ kfech
“I am sick and tired of people complaining about the guns that kill. It is not the guns, it is the morons operating the guns. We really need mental hospitals or housing and care for these people. These people will find some way to kill. Even without guns.” - Wanda L., Kingman, AZ
“I don’t like people bringing their pets on the bus. Some of the other riders smell bad enough already and I’m allergic, especially to cats.” - Virginia G., Grand Junction
Wanna give a shout out? Pass out a compliment? Write us at:
Beacon@PendantPublishing.com.
Paying for the poor health PARTING habits of others SHOTS By Jeff Davidson
A
s the Supreme Court prepares to address certain aspects of the “Affordable” Care Act (ACA), the appropriateness of having some people pay for others is a concept missing from public debate. Essentially, this is how insurance works, but applying this technique to health care is problematic. In the auto insurance industry, all customers of a particular carrier pay into a large pool. Good drivers can maintain low rates for the duration of their driving lives, but even good drivers still pay a bit more than they would otherwise because of their proximity to poor drivers. ACA makes everyone pay, in part, for the poor health habits of others. Granted, millions of overweight and obese people, smokers and heavy drinkers were already insured prior to the ACA, but who knows what proportion of new entrants to the health insurance pool have unhealthy habits? Suppose I spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on my health. I watch what I eat. I exercise regularly and visit the doctor for periodic checkups. I spend good money on preventive care measures. Now drop me into a pool with masses of sedentary people who have no regimen for maintaining their health. They might smoke, drink, take drugs or participate in hazardous activities. They populate hospital emergency rooms in dominating numbers. They are predisposed to pop pills for whatever ails them. They see doctors when something has gone wrong, and when given medical advice sometimes ignore it. With the lesser volume of claims that I submit over the course of a lifetime, is it fair that the premiums
I pay partially cover the artificially lower premiums paid by others? Should I, or you, be penalized because of those who repeatedly demonstrate they do not take responsibility for their own health? At some point, those with unhealthy habits will have their premiums raised because they are “bad investments” for the insurance companies. While some portion of your premium subsidizes people with unhealthy habits, eventually those people will bear more, but never all, of the cost of their illnesses through higher premiums. Rising premiums likely indicate that unhealthy, previously uninsured people have overwhelmed the system. It’s also likely that many people covered under ACA previously could not afford health insurance, irrespective of their health habits. Now that they have it, insurance companies might be concerned that enrollees will seek treatments they otherwise avoided when they lacked insurance. In the long run, it’s in the ACA’s best interests to enroll as many younger and relatively healthier people. Even with maladies affecting younger consumers more so than in the past, young people are still healthier, relatively speaking. So the more healthy people that sign up for ACA, the better it is for everyone. When I discuss these issues, proponents of ACA blather on about how everyone has a right to health care and about utopian ideals. They seek to steer the conversation away from the issue at hand to some grandiose vision of a republic where all its citizens, not to mention illegal aliens, are offered “affordable” health care—massive ingrained poor health habits be damned. ■
Top: Everyone had fun at the Western Colorado Senior Games sponsored by the City of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department. Here, Ellen Roberts, at 94 years young, poses with her Irish Bocce Ball partner. Right: BEACON reader Donita Burd’s Bichon Frise Angel enjoying last year’s Fruita Fall Festival.
Top: These ladies put on quite a show at the Senior Games. “Step lively now lasses!” Bottom Right: Remember, your grandchildren can always use your iPad to read the BEACON online at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com. Just be sure that they wear their reading glasses as this young man did.
If you would like to see your photos in the BEACON email them to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com
P R E M I E R
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C O M M U N I T I E S
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