June 2016 BEACON - Mesa County Edition by BEACON Senior News

JUNE 2016

Vol. 30 No. 6

Mesa County’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 28,350 Readers.

FREEE IN S ID

SEARCH & RESCUE saving lives

Photo courtesy of Mesa County Search & Rescue

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JUNE 2016

EDITORIAL

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America’s best idea By Kevin K. VanGundy

n this month’s travel insert we are celebrating what some say is America’s best idea: our national parks system. The idea, in 1872, that a country, United States of America, would set aside a portion of land, Yellowstone National Park, for the recreation of its citizens was unheard of. And while some time passed before President Woodrow Wilson established the National Park Service in 1916, that great vision of preserving and protecting our nation’s natural wonders has blossomed these past 100 years and has been emulated around the world.

A parks passport No, you don’t need an actual passport to visit the parks, but the next time you do, you may wish to pick up this official souvenir. Right now, the 2016 National Park Service Centennial Edition Passport is available for purchase. Inside are designated spots for each of the national parks to “stamp” or “cancel” your passport when you visit them. I bought my passport when I recently visited several national parks in Puerto Rico. I am excited at the prospects of filling the book as I visit each new park. There’s also a map and other relevant park information.

From pickleball to bocce ball, swimming to billiards, track to pinochle, and dance to golf, the Western Colorado Senior Games has a competitive event for you. Next month, the BEACON will publish a complete schedule of events and registration form for this growing senior event. The registration fee is nominal and it’s great fun for anyone over 50 years old. Area businesses are encouraged to help sponsor this City of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation event, and to advertise in the July BEACON’s Senior Games insert. Please show your support for our boomer and senior community and call us at 243-8829.

August is our popular pets issue Readers agree that August’s BEACON, which focuses on pets and their people, is our most popular issue of the year. This year we hope to make this issue bigger and better with more photos of you and your pets. Please send your photos to us by July 15 to Beacon@Pendant Publishing.com or P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502. ■

Send us photos of you and your pets!

Senior Law Day If you need legal advice on issues that pertain to seniors then you’ll want to attend Senior Law Day on June 17 at Two Rivers Convention Center. Spearheaded by Dave Norman with the Area Agency on Aging and Laurie Freeborn with Colorado Legal Services, this one-day event

Learn about Estate Planning at our Free Educational Workshops!

features a variety of speakers, seminars and lunch. Turn to the center spread of this month’s BEACON for more details.

Got game?

Lexi Trottier loves Sunny the Bunny

Experienced & Compassionate Estate, Trust & Tax Planning Attorneys

Why There Is No Such Thing as a Simple Will: The Basics of Estate Planning

Montrose: June 13th, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. v Delta: June 20th, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Later Time! Grand Junction: June 28th, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

At this free workshop, learn the basics about will and trust estate plans and common issues that can make what seems simple, complicated. We’ll also discuss how these documents can be used with powers of attorney to ensure your wishes are followed and your specific goals accomplished. Sign up today! SPECIAL PROGRAM!

“Communication Strategies” - (Program 2 of 3)

Grand Junction: June 23rd, 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. - This special program

presented by Tracy Waite, the administrator from Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center. At this program, Tracy will discuss non-verbal and verbal communication forms and how they occur, and their importance in dealing with someone with dementia. Don’t miss out on this series!

Registration is Required: Grand Junction workshops (our office) - 1250 E. Sherwood Dr.

Montrose - Region 10 Area Agency on Aging - 300 N. Cascade. Delta workshops 1501 E. 3rd St. in the Mesa Lakes (Oncology Center) at Delta Hospital. Sign up by calling (970) 243-8250 or on our website at: www.brownandbrownpc.com Don’t forget to look for us at Senior Law Day on June 17th! Jamie & Shauna will be speaking!

Phone: (970) 243-8250 1250 E. Sherwood Drive, Grand Junction, CO 81501 1317 Grand Ave., Suite 224B, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Baird B. Brown u Clara Brown Shaffer u Jamie J. Roth u Paul M. Smith u Shauna C. Clemmer

COVER STORY

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JUNE 2016

Mesa County Search and Rescue:

There is no “I” in Team By Melanie Wiseman

n the worst day of your life, you can count on the Mesa County Search and Rescue team to have your back. Whether you or a loved one has gone missing, is lost or injured from hiking, mountain biking, hunting, rafting, horseback riding or snowmobiling, the mission of this dedicated group of over 200 volunteers is to make a difference in the outcome of the situation. From stay-at-home moms to students, business owners, medical personnel and retirees, volunteers from all walks of life provide life saving and other vital services to Mesa County, which would otherwise be unavailable due to limited funding and staff. Over the past 15 years, Ben Lawrence was a SAR volunteer and is now a Mesa County Deputy Sheriff. “In Colorado, it is statutorily required by each sheriff’s department to have a search and rescue team. The only way that is possible is with volunteer effort,” Lawrence said. “Having that access to emergency

situations is remarkable and only due to volunteers and their investment to training. We regard them as volunteer professionals and view them as colleagues.” Lawrence added that Colorado has an ethic of selflessness, as there is no cost for the services of SAR teams.

The call to serve “Several years ago, an Alzheimer’s patient went missing on Thanksgiving Day and I wanted to go help look, but I couldn’t because I wasn’t trained,” said Crystal Carnes, 58. This was a turning point for Carnes, as her own mother had dementia. She has been a proud SAR volunteer for over two years and said she is humbled to be part of this team. “I wanted to do something worthwhile that helped somebody else, also benefited me, kept me in shape, and challenged me to learn new things,” Carnes said. “It’s not something I thought I would have ever been able to do.” With the support and encouragement of current SAR members and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Depart-

ment, Carnes persevered even through training that was outside her comfort zone. Doug Beyer, 66, and Tim Currey, 57, trained together in the prospective member class four years ago. Currey is now president of the Mesa County SAR 45-member ground team. Family, work and other volunteer responsibilities kept SAR at arms length until the timing was right for Beyer and Currey. They had the drive to be on SAR and a common love of the outdoors, but lacked the skills required. “You have to be physically able to do what we do and be able to work as a team,” Currey said. “Otherwise we teach you everything you need to know to be on SAR. We are always looking for new, good members.” According to Currey, 40 percent of the ground team’s members are 50-78 years of age, and 25 percent are women. “It’s so important to have women on the team because they add

a different perspective—a calming element—and they’re very smart and strong both mentally and physically,” Beyer said. Other SAR volunteer teams involve ATVs, snowmobiles, horse posse, swift water and helicopter rescue.

It’s all about the team “Are you willing to commit to being part of a team, and to get up at 1 a.m. to hike up Mt. Garfield when it’s five below and search as long as it takes to find the person who is lost out there?” Currey said. “They’re the volunteers that stay.” Beyer said all of the training and missions focus on the team aspect. “We’re taught that we are responsible for somebody having the worst day of their life or the last day of their life, and to attend to their needs as soon as we can,” Beyer said.

JUNE 2016

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“That’s our job as a team.” Currey said Mesa County SAR is looking for people who want to be out there for the right reason. “We’re not super heroes looking for fame,” Currey said. “Those that are, don’t last.”

Training and commitment Although SAR volunteers have supported the sheriff’s department for a long time, it has been organized in its current form for 15 years. “We are there for assessment, not treatment, other than first aid and to determine what type of support we need or to transport the person out,” Currey said. The initial three-month commitment involves training in CPR, First Aid, navigation, GPS, map reading, tying knots, tracking and more. Ongoing training continues as long as you are a member and can include repelling, water rescue and team preparedness.

“The commitment SAR expected was a bit of a surprise to me, but if there’s a child missing, I will drop everything,” Beyer said. “Some people find after the first year they just can’t do it.” For more trying circumstances, the SAR team provides peer support for each other, and support from the sheriff’s department is also available. “If we don’t get to someone in time and it’s not the outcome we want, it is necessary closure for us and their loved ones that we find that person and bring them home,” Currey said. ■ Doug Beyer rappels down a cliff during a Mesa County Search and Rescue training session.

Search dogs enhance the team The Mesa County SAR team also includes many fourlegged friends, who add a whole new meaning to the word “team.” Kate Malapanes, 53, has been on SAR for 17 years; six of those years have been with the dog team. Donna Tessier, 55, and her dogs have been members of both the Delta and Mesa County SAR teams for 13 years. “Dogs are another resource that can be used on missions,” Tessier said. “We look for a certain personality in a dog. They need to have high play drive, a no-quit attitude, be bold and independent. They have to think on their own out there.” Malapanes got Kenai as a puppy with the intention of her being a SAR dog. Two of Tessier’s three dogs were relinquished house pets. One was set to be euthanized. With a new owner, they were given new life and purpose helping others. “On average, we put in over 800 hours of training per dog, and they still might not make the certification,” Tessier said. “We expose them to riding chair lifts, snowmobiles, boats, helicopters, ATVs and rapelling in special harnesses, so they can be their best in any mission situation.”

Both ground scent and air-scent trackers are used in SAR. The handlers take the dog’s natural instinct and modify it. Tessier said that if the dogs find a certain scent, they will be rewarded.

COVER STORY

National & Regional Award-Winning Publication Publisher ..............................Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher....................... Susan Capps Edito.............................................. Cloie Sandlin Senior Graphic Designer............ Melissa Trottier Graphic Design/Photography....Katherine Lopez Graphic Design.............................. Karen Jones Social Media............................. Paige Slaughter Office Manager............................... Kim Latham Account Representative................... Sue Bowen Account Representative................ Sidney Jayne Proofreader...................................... Jan Weeks Cheerleader................................... Genevra Shal Delivery...........................................Cora Gentry Delivery ................................. Lauren VanGundy Delivery...............................................JR Milner

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 2016 • All Rights Reserved

“For our dogs it’s a highly valued toy,” she said. “SAR gives us all this fantastic training to help somebody and hopefully make their day better or provide answers for the family.” Donations for gear and training are welcome since SAR services are free and volunteers purchase their own equipment. Visit www.mcsargt.com for more information For general Mesa County SAR questions, call Tim Currey at 270-3823. For Mesa County SAR Dog Team questions, call Kate Malapanes at 640-4947.

Cover Photo: Ryan Springer practices rescue techniques on fellow Mesa County Search and Rescue member Doug Siekert during a Search & Rescue Swift Water Training Day.

FEATURE STORY

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JUNE 2016

BACKYARD FARMING: Redlands family homesteads for a healthier lifestyle

Rick and Debbie Dilbeck adapted their backyard in the Redlands to grow a healthier lifestyle, complete with raising chickens, growing vegetable gardens and housing honeybees. Photos provided by Rick and Debbie Dilbeck. By Jan Weeks

s an IT expert, Rick Dilbeck has traveled the world for more than 30 years, offering a wide array of software solutions and services for broadband, cable and satellite to the world’s largest communications, entertainment and media service providers. But when he returns to his Redlands home, wife Debbie and daughter Rebecca, he’s all about being back to the land with his family. According to Rick, their home was new when they moved in and the yard was a blank slate. They transformed the former cow pasture with grass, flowers and trees. The results were worth the time and hard work. As time passed, however, they changed the landscaping to fit their new dreams, which included living healthier and becoming backyard farmers. “Debbie had a wild idea to raise organic chickens,” Rick said. “I love eggs, so agreed it’d be a great idea.”

They got their first chicks about three years ago. Debbie housed them in a produce box from the grocery store while the Fluffy Butt Hut was being built. “Honestly, there aren’t too many animals quite as cute as baby chicks,” Rick said. It took about a week for the honeymoon to end for him. The dust and mess on his side of the garage spurred them to finish the coop and move the chicks as soon as they were old enough. Debbie and Rebecca now tend to six hens. The Dilbecks and their friends agree that nothing beats a fresh egg whose yolk is a thick-golden orange and comes fresh from the source. A healthier lifestyle includes a vegetable garden on their third of an acre. Lattice panels support squash and cucumbers, and the vines provide filtered light for crops like kale, leaf lettuce, spinach, peas and garlic that

grow below. “It’s almost like having twice the garden area.” Rick said, “and we have even more room for our favorite tomatoes.” Debbie includes raw leafy green vegetables and fruit in their morning smoothies, providing off-the-vine fresh minerals and vitamins, and the water and fiber content fill them up as well as a regular breakfast. Then there are the bees. When the Dilbecks moved from Northern California to Grand Junction, Rick read an article that stated one-third of our diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, and that honeybees are responsible for up to 80 percent of that pollination. “I also read that natural unfiltered, unrefined honey contains various antioxidants that can improve your

overall health and may lower your risk of heart disease and cancer.” That last item hit home. When Rick was 13, he lost his left arm and part of his shoulder to bone cancer, so he figured, at age 53, more honey in his diet couldn’t hurt. The family’s sweet tooth came into play, also. “Honey is an excellent alternative to replace sugar in recipes,” he said. With three hives in place, he no longer takes the little critters for granted. He doesn’t spray or pull dandelions, either, because the bees love them. Backyard farming has its challenges. For the Dilbecks, space and family time are the biggest ones. Working

JUNE 2016

FEATURE STORY

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Retirement living with the emphasis on living to keep up with livestock and crops makes it hard to enjoy time together. Rick quoted Theodore Roosevelt: “I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” So when he’s faced with a challenge, “I figure it out and do the best I can.” The rewards far outweigh the challenges. Watching and appreciating nature heads the list. Doves and hummingbirds flutter and flit around the yard as chickens roam the lawn working as natural pest controllers. Bees drone around the three hives and go about the business they’ve done for 100 million years. “I love sitting on the patio on a summer evening, drinking a cold beer and appreciating nature,” Rick said. Because the Dilbecks rely on organic feed, fertilizers and pest control, they’re not polluting their little cor-

ner of heaven on earth with harmful chemicals. Would he like to have a bigger farm? “If your readers know of a way to grow land, please let me know because I’d be very interested,” he said with a chuckle. “We’ve thought of moving where we can have more room to grow our backyard passion. But honestly, we really love it where we live now on the Redlands. Both my folks and sister all live within about a mile, and we really have great neighbors. Maybe one day our neighbor will slow down and sell us a part of his acreage. However, I’m not holding my breath. He’s over 80 but can climb a ladder, cut down a tree, chop and stack wood, or kill a beer faster than any guy half his age.” Regardless of whether the Dilbecks increase the size of their lot, their sustainable, healthy ecosystem will provide a productive, peaceful haven in the city for many years to come. ■

The Cottages of Hilltop gives you the independence and freedom to make the most of your retirement INDEPENDENT LIVING Our single-level patio homes offer

privacy and luxury. The open living plans feature two bedrooms, two baths, vaulted ceilings, contemporary kitchens, gas fireplace, covered patio and one-car garage.

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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

RECIPES

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JUNE 2016

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Our Gift to You & Your Loved Ones

Apple Tortellini Salad Servings: 6 to 8

Ingredients:

FREE Workshop... Leave Nothing to Chance! Protect Your Family and Assets: Beyond the Basics of Estate Planning

This complimentary workshop will cover different options and steps that you can take now to protect your family and assets later, and help eliminate uncertainties so your legacy lives on with your loved ones. We’ll cover the differences between will and trust estate plans as well as in-depth information about how to protect your assets, your heirs, your special needs children and even your pets, now and in the years to come, through specialized trusts. You’ll also learn how to incorporate powers of attorney into your estate plan.

Dressing:

SALAD:

3 tablespoons Tree Top Frozen Concentrate Apple Juice, thawed

9 ounces cheese-filled tortellini

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

2 cups sliced apples (approximately 2 medium apples)

2 teaspoons brown sugar

2 cups shredded salad greens

PRESENTED BY:

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

Clara Brown Shaffer Brown & Brown, P.C.

2 teaspoons garlic salt

½ cup thinly sliced celery

Ground pepper to taste

½ cup sliced scallions

HOSTED BY:

2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)

St. Mary’s Foundation D AT E / T I M E :

June 22, 2016 at 12:00-1:30pm and lunch is provided LO C AT I O N :

Instuctions:

Saccomanno Education Center Room #2, 5th floor St. Mary’s Medical Center

To prepare dressing, combine apple juice concentrate, corn syrup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic salt and pepper. Cover dressing and refrigerate.

RSVP TO:

To prepare salad, cook tortellini, drain and cool by rinsing pasta under cold water. Shake gently to drain thoroughly. In a large bowl, combine tortellini, apples, salad greens, strawberries, celery and scallions.

970-298-7569 by June 7, 2016

St. Mary’s Second Century Advisory Council will host FREE education presentations on estate planning throughout 2016; please call 970-298-7569 to receive ongoing invites.

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Toss salad gently with chilled dressing. Serve chilled. If desired, sprinkle with pine nuts. 81502-1628

JUNE 2016

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’m having trouble coping with my granddaughter and her female partner getting married. I finally coped with the fact that she was gay, and that took me awhile. The good advice from you helped! Now this. She plans to have a regular wedding and reception. I don’t want to go, but I don’t want to tell her mother (my daughter). Am I a coward or just old-fashioned? Do I have to go? Maybe I’ve lived too long! Signed, Coward Dear Coward: I understand how difficult it is to accept some of these new behaviors. Look at your options. Do you want to risk losing the love and respect of your daughter and granddaughter? How badly do you want to hang on to your cowardice? My readers may be tired of this, but again: Accept the things you cannot change. Change the things you can. Have the wisdom to know the difference between the two. OB Dear Old Bag: I got caught in a scam that I want to share with you so your readers don’t make the same mistake. I am 64 years old and retired, but was looking for a babysitting job to supplement my income. I signed up online with a reputable service, but I made one big mistake. Being the trusting person that I am, I put my phone number on my profile, so those looking for sitters could call me directly. I got a text message from a woman who was moving to my area and needed a sitter weekends only for her handicapped son. She had a very sad story about how her husband and two other children were killed in an auto accident the year before. We chatted for about three weeks, until we were about 10 days from her moving here. She sent pictures of herself and the boy. The week before she was to

move, she asked if I would receive an electric wheelchair for her, if she sent a check for it. She overnighted a check for $2,700. I took it to my bank and deposited it. When I got home I got to thinking that maybe I shouldn’t have deposited that check. What if it was a scam? I went to the Internet and found a scam identical to this. I quickly called my bank, and they said I would have to wait three days until it cleared. I then called the fraud division and told them what had happened. She said she would do what checking she could, and if she found that it was bad, she would not charge me for a returned check. I was very lucky. The bank also said that even though a check clears, it may take up to 10 days to show that it is a bad check. Tell all the trusting seniors. Signed, Scammed

Dear Scammed: You are lucky! I’m glad you had the presence of mind to have second thoughts about the validity of the transaction. I applaud your bank as well. Good advice for anyone transacting business, dating or romance online. Beware of scammers. They are coming out of the woodwork and they are especially fond of trusting seniors. Dear Old Bag: What is the proper etiquette for a guy who joined a dating site and is having coffee/lunches with several different women, but then he decides on a favorite one? Should he tell the rest that he is no longer available? I don’t want to lead them on. Signed, RJ

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 $30ks. Pet friendly.

Dear RJ: You say you don’t want to lead the others on? Then don’t. Very nicely tell them that the dating site worked for you, and you have found a special person. Wish them happy hunting! OB ■ The right community.

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

(970) 434-8193 435 32 Rd. Grand Junction Open: Mon.-Sat. 8:30-5:00 www.midlandsvillage.com

THE HEALTHY GEEZER

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JUNE 2016

Are seniors more likely to have a gambling problem than younger people? Healthy Geezer, By Fred Cicetti

bout 1 percent of U.S. adults have a serious gambling addiction. The statistics on senior gambling indicate that compulsive gambling is a greater problem among older adults than adults in general. A federal study found that the percentage of Americans over the age of 65 who recently gambled jumped from 20 percent in 1974 to 50 percent in 1998, a surge unmatched by any other age group. A study conducted by the State of Florida found that retirees make up 34 percent of casino regulars, defined as gamblers who brought their money four or more times a year. The casinos help out by sending buses to senior centers to pick up potential bettors. The American Psychiatric Association classifies compulsive gambling as an impulse-control disorder. Imbalances in the brain chemicals serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine may be factors in compulsive gambling. Many people are able to control their compulsive gambling with medications and psychotherapy, and with the aid of self-help groups. Gamblers Anonymous provides a 12step program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. GA has more than 1,200 U.S. locations and 20 international chapters. Find the closest one near you at www.gamblersanonymous.org or call 626-960-3500. GA offers the following 20 questions to help people decide if they have a compulsion to gamble and want to stop. Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling? 2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy? 3. Did gambling affect your reputation? 4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling? 5. Did you ever gamble to get money to pay debts? 6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency? 7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses? 8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more? 9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone? 10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling? 11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling? 12. Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenses? 13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or others? 14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned? 15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom, loneliness, grief or loss? 16. Have you ever committed or considered committing an illegal act to finance gambling? 17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty sleeping? 18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble? 19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate by a few hours of gambling? 20. Have you ever considered suicide as a result of your gambling? ■

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

JUNE 2016

How probiotics improve bone strength Dear Pharmacist By Suzy Cohen, RPH

HEALTH & WELLNESS 11

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

he British Medical Journal announced the results of a major study making headline news: “Dietary calcium intake is not associated with risk of fracture, and there is no clinical trial evidence that increasing calcium intake from dietary sources prevents fractures.” Calcium supplementation is a multi-billion dollar industry. Whether or not calcium helps prevent bone fractures and the onset and progression of osteoporosis is a hotly debated topic. So today I want to defend calcium, and also tell you about new research that could help you build better bones. Fact: Ninety-nine percent of calcium in our body is found in our bones and teeth. Fact: One percent of calcium is involved in blood vessel and muscle contractions and relaxation, electrolyte function and other metabolic functions. When we don’t have enough calcium, we may experience muscle cramps, hypertension, insomnia, dental caries and bone deterioration. Fact: Women are at high risk for osteopenia (early stages of osteoporosis) and osteoporosis because of our small frames, post-menopausal declines in estrogen and progesterone, and less muscle mass. It is estimated that half of women over the age of 50 experience an osteoporosis-related bone fracture in their lifetime. As for calcium, I don’t love supplementation, so I recommend you eat a calcium-rich diet. Now the new research: Your intestinal health plays a very large role in your bone health. We already know

that if we don’t have adequate stomach acid that calcium suddenly fails to get absorbed well. It requires some acid. Acid blockers are drug muggers of calcium and other minerals. There’s actually a gut flora-bone signaling pathway and in animal studies, researchers proved that beneficial probiotic strains (Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium longum) actually mitigated menopause-induced bone loss. Gut bacteria “talk” to the bone cells whose task is to remodel bone tissue. These bacteria dictate the rate of remodeling. The friendlier flora you have, the faster your bone remodels. That’s not all. Your microbiome and intestinal hormones improve the absorption of calcium and other nutrients you need for a healthy skeleton. It’s about absorbing your calcium, not just dumping a lot into yourself. You have to absorb it or it just goes through you. I take from this that high-quality probiotics are the next frontier to reduce risk for hip fractures and falls. I bet that’s weird to you. After all, we don’t associate the gut with bones right? Most people think of probiotics for constipation, so this is really new thinking. I think most of us take intestinal health for granted until reflux or food poisoning hits us. The reality is that routine ingestion of gluten, antibiotics, foods contaminated with glyphosate, GMO foods and medications increase our risk for osteoporosis by damaging the gut flora. I think that British Medical Journal headline really did people a disservice because calcium is important for bones. Apparently, so are probiotics. ■

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Call Bob McHugh for your Real Estate needs 970.683.9540

robert.mchugh@gjhomes.com

• Buyer Agent • Seller Agent • Down Sizing 2499 Highway 6 & 50 • Grand Junction, CO 81505

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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Home Care Beyond the Expected

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

n Chronic disease management n Personal care n Companionship n Housekeeping, pet care and handyman services

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f you regularly experience heartburn or a painful burning sensation in your chest and throat, there’s a good chance you could have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), aka acid reflux. It’s estimated that 20 percent of the population suffers from GERD regularly, with heartburn as its most prevalent symptom. “GERD is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the U.S.,” RefluxMD.com Medical Director and gastroenterologist Dr. William C. Dengler said. It occurs when a muscle at the end of your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach) doesn’t close properly. Consequently, stomach acid can back up into your esophagus and cause heartburn. GERD is widespread. “Men and women of any age can get it,” Dengler said. Many sufferers will start by heading to the drug store for relief. Others will get a prescription from their doctor. A class of drugs called proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been a godsend for GERD sufferers. Sold over the counter and by prescription, PPIs such as Nexium (esomeprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole) and Prevacid (lansoprazole) treat GERD by reducing the amount of acid the stomach produces. Trouble is, “there are millions of people taking life-long PPIs who don’t have GERD,” Dengler said. There are also people with GERD who are popping PPIs but aren’t getting the relief they need. How can you tell if you truly have GERD? How can you avoid taking medication you don’t need? Use this symptom guide to get the right help for your heartburn and feel better fast.

Symptom situation: You’ve never had heartburn until now—and it’s bad. Gut advice: “If you have severe heartburn that you’ve never had before, don’t assume it’s GERD,” Dengler said. “Get yourself to the emergency department or call 911.” What do GERD and a heart attack have in common? They both have heartburn as a symptom. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women. GERD accounts for over half of the eight million emergency room visits for chest pain each year in which actual heart problems were ruled out. It’s better to be safe than sorry by making sure your heartburn isn’t a heart attack in progress.

Symptom situation: You have occasional heartburn and you’re not sure why. Gut advice: “For some folks with heartburn, it’s just a nuisance kind of thing,” Dengler said. They experience heartburn just three to four times per year. If you’re a mild sufferer, it’s fine to take an OTC heartburn medication occasionally, such as Tums or Zantac (ranitidine), which neutralizes stomach acid, or an OTC PPI. But don’t stop there. Do your homework to find out what sets off your GERD attack. Do you typically get heartburn after overeating? A full tummy extends the stomach, which can make preexisting GERD worse. Certain foods and beverages can bring on GERD as well. Spicy foods have a bad rep but the biggest culprits are foods high in fat, such as marbled steaks, ribs and sausage. “Red wine also tends to be a bad one,” Dengler said. Tomato sauce is a question mark. “Some people are fine with tomato

JUNE 2016

HEALTH & WELLNESS 13

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It’s estimated that 20 percent of the population suffers from GERD regularly, with heartburn as its most prevalent symptom. sauce. Others, it kills them,” he said. Take note of when you eat as well. “You’re prone to reflux if you lie down on a full stomach,” Dengler said. He recommended eating dinner three to four hours before bedtime and avoiding late-night snacking so that your meal has time to digest. Being overweight can put you at increased risk for GERD. “Losing weight, even as little as 10 pounds, can reduce the magnitude of GERD symptoms,” he said. Keep in mind that anyone can get GERD, even active, healthy people. If you’re an avid exerciser and you’re prone to GERD, try avoiding activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as sit-ups or weight lifting moves, to see if that helps calm your stomach acid. “There’s an athletic population whose symptoms are exacerbated with exercise,” Dengler said.

Symptom situation: You have frequent heartburn but medication isn’t helping. Gut advice: If your heartburn symptoms don’t subside after taking OTC heartburn medication for several weeks and you’re doing everything you can do to prevent GERD, such as avoiding eating a big meal before bed, see your doctor. After reporting your symptoms, expect your doctor to order an upper GI endoscopy, a test in which a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end is used to look inside the upper portion of your digestive tract. Endoscopy helps rule out underlying conditions, such as esophageal cancer and stomach ulcer. But it’s not a good diagnostic test for GERD. “Even if you have significant reflux disease, there’s an 80 percent chance the endoscopy will be normal,” Dengler said. “It doesn’t answer the question you’re asking: ‘Why am I not getting better on medicine?’” With a normal endoscopy result,

some physicians will assume it’s GERD because the condition is so prevalent, and simply prescribe a PPI or other medication. A better idea? Request an additional diagnostic test if your doctor doesn’t suggest it: an ambulatory pH study. “It’s the only test that can actually detect if stomach acid is flowing back up into the esophagus,” Dengler said. For this GERD test, a sensor is placed in your lower esophagus for 48 hours while you go about your day. If an ambulatory pH study determines that you have GERD (a pH value of 1), your doctor will likely prescribe GERD medication. If the test rules out GERD (your pH is 6 or 7, meaning that stomach acid isn’t present in your esophagus), your doctor will continue investigating to determine what’s causing your symptoms. “Two thirds of the people will have reflux, but up to one third of heartburn sufferers will have something else,” Dengler said. An ambulatory pH study is typically covered by insurance. If your doctor determines that you have GERD and lifestyle strategies and prescription medication don’t help, surgery and non-surgical techniques are available that can lead to long-term relief. One of the latest non-surgical techniques, called transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), tightens the valve between the esophagus and stomach using stitches. In a recent study, 67 percent of patients who received TIF reported that their GERD symptoms improved. Don’t just learn to live with your GERD symptoms and pop OTC medication. Lingering GERD can cause serious complications, including a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which can increase the risk of esophageal cancer. “GERD is a wellness issue,” Dengler said. Be vigilant, do what you can do keep your condition in check, and get help if your heartburn continues. ■

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appy people tend to live longer and experience better health than their unhappy peers, according to more than 160 studies. The lead author of another study that reviewed these reports, University of Illinois Psychology Professor Ed Diener, summarized his findings by concluding: “The general conclusion from each type of study is that your subjective well-being—that is, feeling positive about your life, not stressed out, not depressed—contributes to both longevity and better health among healthy populations.” The cardiovascular system is our Achilles heel when it comes to health, as the leading cause of death is heart disease. Studies of artery health focus on how well the cells that line the arteries function. These cells are called endothelial cells and they control blood pressure and keep cholesterol from oxidizing and making plaque. Many cardiac studies look at endothelial function as the marker for arterial health. Japanese research in the “American Journal of Cardiology” shows that mirthful laughter increases beneficial endothelial function. Participants watching a comedy had positive markers of endothelial health while those watching a serious documentary had a decline in artery health. A study from the “Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine” called “The divergent effects of joyful and anxiety-provoking music on endothelial vasoreactivity” showed that listening to joyful music was good for artery health while anxiety-inducing music was bad for the arteries. Self-selected joyful music was associated with increased endothelial function to a magnitude previously observed with aerobic activity or statin drug therapy. Listening to joyful music might be an adjunctive lifestyle intervention for the promotion of vascular health. An interesting study called “Effects

of laughing and weeping on mood and heart rate variability” points out that laughing has strong but transient effects on the autonomic nervous system, while weeping or feeling sad has moderate but sustained effects on it. It seems that having a “heavy heart” does have physiologic significance. Laughter has been shown to benefit the immune system by increasing protective natural killer cells that help fight infection while lowering both the stress hormone cortisol and the inflammatory marker interleukin-6. Laughter will increase beneficial growth hormones, the anti-aging hormone that helps keep us young. Patients with cancer and other terminal illnesses benefit from laughter and show an improved outlook, less pain and longer survival. A study looking at the effect of humor on the well-being of nursing home residents showed that upon completion of a humor therapy program, there were significant decreases in pain and perceptions of loneliness, and significant increases in happiness and life satisfaction. The use of humor therapy appears to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention. The authors suggest that health care professionals incorporate humor in caring for their patients. As science continues to tease out the exact mechanisms of how laughter improves health, we can rest assured that it works. In the bleakest of times, with both psychological and physical stress, good humor and a positive attitude are potent tools to help us along. While happiness might not prevent or cure disease by itself, the evidence that positive emotions and enjoyment of life contribute to better health and a longer lifespan is stronger than the data linking obesity to reduced longevity. Good humor is good medicine. Get your regular dose of laughter by reading Laughing Matters every month in the BEACON. ■

Scott Rollins, MD, is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics.

JUNE 2016

HEALTH & WELLNESS 15

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80% of Americans are magnesium deficient By Wendell Fowler

n an over-fed, undernourished world, here’s a bit of tasty news: Addressing just one simple nutrient deficiency can prevent a long list of modern society’s present-day diseases while vastly improving the quality of your life. You never hear magnesium mentioned in the same breath as vitamin C, A, E, and calcium; however, magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in your body. The role of magnesium in preventing heart disease and kidney stones is most widely accepted. Individuals who die suddenly of heart attacks have been shown to have very low levels of magnesium in their bodies. Alas, due to overzealous processing of modern food and mono-crop farming, the majority of Americans are deficient in dietary magnesium, a deficiency that may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient. If you’re addicted to the traditional Western diet, this deficiency will continue unless you eat more plant food or at least take a supplement. Generally, if you are older, if you consume lots of refined white flour products, or have high blood pressure, the daily dose of magnesium should be larger. Diabetics, alcoholics, the obese and those with chronic gastrointestinal issues or heart failure, and the elderly are more likely to be low in magnesium. Sources of magnesium are all over the grocery and farmers markets. It’s just that it’s in plant sources many people don’t particularly like, such as dark leafy greens, avocado, cucumber, nuts and pumpkin seeds, whole

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grains, bran, whole wheat pasta, spirulina, shiitake, coconut meat, black tea—it’s everywhere. Untoasted sesame seed oil and tahini contain magnesium, too. Low levels of magnesium in your body increase susceptibility to, or are involved with the prevention of diabetes, heart attacks, high blood pressure, kidney stones, cancer, insomnia, menstrual cramping, blood clotting, immune cell activity, insulin sensitivity and blood sugar transport, and controlling free radical damage. Before you start popping vitamins, please do your research. Don’t guess. More is never better. In addition to our daily diet, my wife and I take 400 mg of magnesium citrate daily. Visit your local community health foods grocery, ask what dose is best for you, then purchase an inexpensive bottle of magnesium citrate and show yourself some love. Let’s learn how to eat all over again because as disease rates continue to soar, what we’re doing now is clearly not working. I love leading a horse to water because occasionally I find a grateful horse. ■

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LAUGHING MATTERS A trip to Texas Submitted by Clay Greathouse

This is on one of those rare occasions when a Coloradan takes a trip to Texas. As this guy gets tired of the barren scenery, he decides to take a break at a motel with a restaurant. The waitress comes up and asks what he would like. He says he’d like a burger. The waitress warns him to keep in mind, “Everything is big in Texas.” And she wasn’t kidding—his burger is huge. So he asks for a beer to wash it down. Once again she warns, “Everything is big in Texas” and brings him a two-gallon beer, but he manages to eat and drink his meal. After this big meal, he is in need of a restroom and asks the waitress for directions. “Just go down that hall and make a left.” So he goes staggering down the hall after drinking that big

beer and mistakenly makes a right, and he trips and falls into their swimming pool. So here is this poor Coloradan, after all he had experienced, treading water and yelling, “DON’T FLUSH! DON’T FLUSH!”

I’m a seenager Submitted by Susan Capps

I just figured it out. I am a seenager (senior teenager). I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance (pensions). I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license (so far) and my own car. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant. And I don’t have acne.

Is life great or what?

Wine tasting Submitted by Theresia O’Cleary

I recently went on a wine tour here in the Grand Valley with some of my elderly friends. At this one winery, we had the opportunity to taste a wine they called pinot grigio, one called pinot noir and one called sauvignon blanc. Then the wine maker told us that they were coming out with a special wine designed specifically for us older folks because of our late night bathroom needs. They called it “Pinot More.”

A parable to meditate on in our politically correct society Submitted by Angela

An old man, a boy and a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey, and the old man walked. As they went along, they passed some people who remarked, “What a shame, the old man is walking while the boy

Agape Food Bank (Fruita Branch) . . . . . . . . . . . 7,200 .00 Catholic Outreach Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,200 .00 Gray Gourmet (Senior Meals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,200 .00 R .S .V .P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,200 .00 Western Colorado Math & Science Center . . . . . 7,200 .00 Courtyard Care Center –Resident Activities . . . . 1,500 .00 The Oaks Assisted Living – Resident Activities . . 1,500 .00 The Willows Assisted Living-Resident Activities . . 600 .00 Lower Valley Imagination Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (this is made possible with donations) . . . . . . 8,053 .22 Relay for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500 .00 Lower Valley Fire District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,000 .00

JUNE 2016

is riding.” The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions. Later they passed some people who remarked, “What a shame, he makes that little boy walk.” So they decided they’d both walk. Soon they passed some more people who remarked, “They’re really stupid to walk when they have a decent donkey to ride.” So they both decided to ride the donkey. They passed some people who shamed them by saying, “How awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.” The boy and the man figured they were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the donkey, and the donkey fell into the river and drowned. The moral of the story: If you try to please everyone, you might as well kiss your ass goodbye.

Memorials/Hopewest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 .00 200 .00 Fruita Fall Festival- sponsor Blue Grass Band . 2,500 .00 Salvation Army – Thanksgiving Turkeys . . . . . . 1,000 .00 Salvation Army – Christmas Turkeys . . . . . . . . 1,000 .00 Fruita Thundercats Baseball Team-equipment . . . 300 .00 Fruita Community center-Senior Lunches . . . . . 1,800 .00 Fruita Little League . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 .00 FMHS Tennis Club-supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 .00 M .S . Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 .00 Living Water Baptist Power Lunches . . . . . . . . . 3,600 .00 Compassionate Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 .00 Little Sprouts Daycare-playground equipment . . . 500 .00

Lower Valley Fire District - we pledged $100,000 .00 towards building fund . We have paid $75,000 of that pledge so far . Pledge is to be completed with final pledge payment of $25,000.00 in 2017.

Total Donations in 2015 - $87,953.22 We sincerely thank all of the customers and all those who generously donated to the Thrift Shop . Without your support, we would not be able to put all of this financial help back into your community. We are always looking for new volunteers who are willing to give 4 hours or more a month to help with stocking new items and working behind the counter . If you feel you would be interested in this organization, please stop by the shop on days that we are open or speak to one of the volunteers for more information . It can be a very rewarding feeling giving back to your community .

JUNE 2016

LAUGHING MATTERS 17

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Tracker on the ground Submitted by Don Bendell

I am a seasoned citizen, a 69-year-old disabled Vietnam veteran living in the mountains of southern Colorado, and I have been privileged to acquire some skills as a tracker over the years. As a public service, I’ve gone out with my horse in the mountains sometimes to track missing hikers, fugitives or animals. In 1998, three cop-killers shot several LEO officers and fled onto the giant Navajo reservation in the Four Corners area. I ended up down there working with the Navajo Tribal Police as a tracker, and for the task force commander FBI Special Agent Dot Graham, running down many leads. One day, a Navajo Tribal Police sergeant happened upon me lying face down in the middle of the road with my ear pressed firmly against the blacktop. The officer asked me what I was doing. I began to speak. “A woman, late 30s, three kids, one barking dog in a late model, green, four-door station wagon, traveling at 65 mph.” “That’s amazing!” exclaimed the NTP sergeant. “You can tell all of that just by listening to the ground?” “No,” I said. “They just ran over me five minutes ago.”

Meow Submitted by Ralph Bickel

A mother mouse and her baby were out for a stroll when a cat appeared. The mother mouse said, “WUFF! WUFF!” and the cat ran off. The

mother mouse turned to her baby and said, “See why it pays to learn a foreign language?”

Comedian favorites “My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 now and we don’t know where the hell she is.” - Ellen DeGeneres “It’s important to live your life by a motto. I chose to live my life by the motto, ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend.’ Unfortunately, as it turns out, my enemy is his own worst enemy. So I have to invite him to barbecues.” - Richard Herring

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JUNE 2016

Joan and Abraham ditch school By Priscilla Mangnall

was a curious child. Inquisitive, yes, but I also enjoyed odd things that never entered the minds of my friends. My parents both attended Grand Junction High School. Mother graduated in 1942 and Daddy in 1943. Mother treasured her high school yearbooks and they were often found lying on the kitchen table alongside her ashtray and cup of coffee. I often perused the browning, dogeared annuals on my own. I attended Grand Junction Junior High School in the same building where my folks attended high school because a new high school had been built on Fifth Street. What I noticed when I entered junior high was that two items I had admired in Mother’s yearbook were not in residence: two life-size sculptures of Abraham Lincoln and Joan of Arc. When I had seen them in the yearbook, I thought they were beautiful and appeared to be of museum quality to my naïve eyes. They may have been plaster, painted white. Where did Abe and Joan come from? Were they a gift to the school? A page in the 1942 GJHS Yearbook says that the two esteemed statues had been with the school for 12 years. I’ve wondered about those statues ever since. Who had them?

When the new Grand Junction High School was built in 1956, did they just not make the move? Where are they now? I hope someone who was around in 1956 might have a recollection. Maybe you have a memory about these statues or you’ve heard a tale passed down through the years. If so, please let me know. You can call me at 260-5226 or email at Priscilla.Mangnall@gmail.com. ■

JUNE 2016

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Auto vehicle technology could help the blind By Bill Siuru

early every major auto manufacturer and many of their suppliers are developing automobiles that drive themselves. Like so many other technologies, autonomous vehicle technologies and hardware could be used for other applications. For instance, it could assist the blind and visually impaired. Of course, self-driving cars themselves would accomplish this for longer trips; however, Toyota believes the technology and hardware could also be used when the person is walking. Toyota’s Project Blaid is developing a device that looks a bit like a small toilet seat that is worn around the neck. Like autonomous vehicles, the Blaid device contains embedded cameras to detect and recognize its surroundings and common indoor features, such as restrooms, signs, escalators, stairs and doors. Since the Blaid users can’t see, visual displays are not usable like those in vehicles, so images have to be converted to audio and vibration cues. Incidentally, both audio warnings and vibration, like vibrating steering wheels, are already found in vehicles. Users could request the location of specific features using buttons on the device or via voice control. A Blaid device would augment, not replace, canes, guide dogs and basic GPS devices used to provide more information about surroundings. Toyota plans to start testing the Blaid in the near future. It also plans to expand the device to include mapping, object identification and facial recognition capabilities. Unlike the prototype of systems to aid the sight-impaired developed by Microsoft and the Royal Society

for Blind People in Britain a couple of years ago, Toyota’s Blaid would be completely self-contained. The Microsoft system used GPS, annotated maps and a compressive network of wireless beacons; the latter required a substantial investment to install the infrastructure. The British system used beacons to help blind or visually impaired people navigate London’s subway system. Both systems relayed guidance via headsets featuring bone-conducting audio so sound is conducted through the jawbone directly into the inner ear. Thus, wearers can still hear what’s going on around them. Speaking of face recognition for the blind, students at Birmingham City University in Britain are developing Xplor, a “smart” cane that helps the visually impaired easily identify family and friends at up to 33 feet away. It compares images against images stored on an SD card using a smartphone’s face recognition app as well as GPS and Bluetooth apps. If the Xplor recognizes someone, it sends a vibrating signal to the person and guides them via an ear piece. Researchers at the University of Nevada-Reno and University of Arkansas-Little Rock are aimed at the development of a robotic lightweight, form-fitting device that attaches to the hand that enables the visually impaired to “see” what they are reaching for. It will be simpler and less obtrusive than a glove, while containing sensors, high-resolution cameras and miniaturized microphones to sense items around it. The item’s location, size and shape is then relayed to the user via touch and audio feedback systems. ■

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JUNE 2016

8 tips for organic weed control By Lori Pelkowski

ontrolling weeds organically takes persistence. Sometimes we have to go out in bitter cold or extreme heat to keep the weeds at bay. The bigger the weeds get, the harder they are to control. Make it a habit to tend to weeds once a week or more throughout the growing season and beyond. Use these easy tips to help make weeding an easy task instead of a dreaded chore.

u Use mulch. Mulch is a gardener’s

friend and a weed’s nemesis. Mulch prevents light from reaching weeds. Without adequate light, plants don’t produce enough chlorophyll to continue growing. Organic mulches such as straw, shredded leaves or shredded bark nourish the soil as they decompose and are effective weed barriers. When the garden has been weeded thoroughly, choose a mulch and lay it 2-3 inches thick around garden plants to prevent weeds from seeing the light.

v Cut weed stems just below the

soil surface. Skim the sharp side of a hoe or hand-held blade through the top inch of the soil to cut weeds down. Weeds with thick, juicy leaves like dandelion or thistle can re-sprout from even a small piece of root left in the ground. The best way to get rid of these and other perennial or tenacious annual weeds is to pull them out of the ground, roots and all. Use a hand weeding tool for these kinds of weeds, and be sure to dig deeply to get as much of the root as possible.

w Corn gluten is a great way to

stifle weed seeds before they sprout, and works best early in the season in established garden beds. It will harm any seed it comes in contact with, whether it is a weed seed, vegetable seed or flower seed, so use caution. Corn gluten will not harm seedlings that have broken the soil surface and already have their true leaves, nor will it harm existing plants. To use

corn gluten, sprinkle it on the soil according to the package directions on a day with no wind.

x Kill weeds with thin leaves,

stems and roots by pouring boiling water on them. A solution of a quart of vinegar, two tablespoons of salt and a teaspoon of dish soap sprayed onto thin weeds will kill them within a few days. Both these solutions will harm any plant they touch, and can make the surrounding soil toxic, so use them only in extreme situations, or on weeds growing in between pavers or through decorative gravel.

yWeed flamers are also effective

on weeds with thin leaves, stems and roots and the effect is immediate. Use a weed flamer on a day with no wind when plants are dry, and keep the setting as low as possible to prevent burning mulch and desirable plants.

z Large areas can be weeded by

smothering. Start by removing as many weeds as possible, then moisten the soil and cover it with plastic sheeting. Bury or weigh down the edges of the plastic, and leave it in place for a few weeks. Remove the plastic, rake off any debris, add some compost, and then put in new plants. Surround them with a thick layer of mulch to keep any new weeds down.

{ If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em. For

weeds like dandelion or purslane, add their leaves and stems to salads or steam them for a unique side dish. Positively identify any weeds for consumption with a good guidebook, and don’t eat anything that grew where chemicals or pesticides were used. Wash the harvest well before eating.

|Once the garden is weed-free,

sprinkle corn gluten where seeds will not be planted, and put down a thick layer of mulch. Then be persistent. Pull, hoe, burn or dig out weeds as soon as they appear. Consistent persistence over the course of a few seasons should make weeding manageable and maybe even enjoyable. ■

JUNE 2016

HOME & GARDEN 21

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How can I protect my yard from deer? Garden Smarts, By Kathy Kimbrough Q. How can I incorporate native

plants into my existing landscape? Adding native plants to the landscape is a great idea and is something everyone can do to some extent. Native plants, like the Rocky Mountain penstemon, naturally adapt to the harsh growing conditions of our region and are an important food source for bees, butterflies, birds and pollinators of all kinds. The best way to incorporate any new plants into your existing landscape is to take into account the water, soil and sun needs of both the existing and new plants. In general, our native plants like full sun, lean soils and minimal watering. If your existing landscape has the same conditions, you can plant almost anything you want. But if you have a landscape that has mature trees and a lawn that needs regular water and fertilizer, look for another spot in your landscape that has drier conditions or look for natives that can take more water. One of the best places to plant natives is in a hell strip, which is that dry, sunny area that lies between the sidewalk and curb.

Q. Any suggestions for deer-resis-

tant shrubs for my front yard? We have a herd of deer come through every winter and I would like to discourage them from coming through my yard. Deer and rabbits can be problematic for landscapes. They can and will munch on almost anything if they are hungry enough. While you may not be able to keep them from walking through your yard, you can reduce the amount of damage they do by incorporating plants they don’t like. I like to think of it as a restaurant. If you keep changing the menu to food deer don’t like, they should quit coming. In my personal experience, deer love arborvitae, sweet potato vine and hosta. I will never plant these in areas accessible to deer again. Thanks to Chrissy Morin of the Douglas County Examiner for this list of plants that are deer and rabbit resistant in Colorado. Xeriscape list Likes sun - Lavender cotton, blue flax, elfin and wooly thyme, apache plume, fernbush, Russian sage, three leaf su-

GARDEN CHECKLIST:  Fertilize trees and shrubs  Control flea beetles on

vegetable transplants like eggplant as soon as they are planted. Cover with floating row covers or sprinkle diatomaceous earth on leaves.  Bring your houseplants outside

and give them a good shower. Spray all of the foliage to remove dust collected over the winter and soak the plant until water runs out of the

mac, blue mist spirea, piñon pine Likes shade - Ajuga

Regular water list Likes sun - yarrow, coreopsis, coneflower, daylily, peony, feather reed grass, blue fescue grass, barberry, rose

drainage holes. This dilutes any accumulated salts from fertilizers and tap water in the soil.  Cilantro is one of those herbs

you can use in many food dishes. To have fresh cilantro all season, you can do what is called “succession planting.” Plant a small amount of seed every three weeks or so. You will have new plants coming along as the older ones are fading out. Other fast-growing crops are Swiss chard, spinach, lettuce and radishes.

of Sharon, lilac, viburnum, maiden hair grass, locust trees Likes shade - Golden Tiara, Blue Giant and Frances Williams hostas; bleeding heart; Japanese painted fern; boxwood. ■

Give your father a Gift of Love with Hardy Colorado Grown:

PLANT OF THE MONTH— Cape Blanco Sedum

(Sedum spathulifolium ) I love groundcovers and this one is super special because of its color. The blue-green leaves form tight rosettes on trailing stems and create a bold contrast against rock or bark mulch. Plant this sedum in a hot, dry and sunny spot on the edges of perennial borders or rock gardens. Cape Blanco Sedum gets between four and six inches high and spreads out eight to 12 inches across. Bright yellow flowers appear in late summer and look great with Rocky Mountain Penstemon or Licorice Mint hyssop (agastache rupestris).

• Beautiful Potted Plants • Trees & Shrubs • Evergreen Trees & Shrubs • Annuals & Perennials • Hanging Baskets • Roses & Vines • Grasses & Herbs • Gift Certificates

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HopeWest remembers Vicki Caldwell:

a giving volunteer full of love and southern charm By Dani Martin

n 2013, Vicki Caldwell was voted Woman of the Year by the Ouray Woman’s Club. But to her husband, Steve, she was more than that—she was the most loving, gracious and beautiful woman he had ever met. Vicki was a giver, too. She made things happen for her community, helping HopeWest and many other nonprofits as a supporter, volunteer and advocate. Vicki’s kindness is still felt by families today. The Caldwells both lost parents while they were in the comforting care of Hope West. Vicki and a few local volunteers worked to create a hospice room at Valley Manor Care Center in Montrose, where patients and family could gather in a comfortable place that looks and feels like home. “She loved to help,” Steve said. “There is a medical supply closet in Ouray that is in operation because of Vicki. It’s a place where people can donate used medical equipment and others can just check out what they need. She had a passion for her volunteer work.” A few years ago, Vicki began experiencing health problems. She continued her community involvement, but started to require her own level of care. Through her connections with HopeWest, Vicki was admitted to the palliative care program, which is designed for those coping with serious illness but don’t need hospice care. Steve was her constant companion and caregiver. Vicki was coping with a great deal of pain related to a degenerative back condition. When other health concerns progressed and she began to experience additional pain and symptoms, Vicki moved into hospice care for an even higher level of support. “HopeWest was just fantastic in ev-

Steve and Vicki Caldwell celebrated 37 years of marriage before she passed away. ery aspect,” Steve said. “Her caregivers were wonderfully compassionate and I simply can’t say enough about what they did for us. Dr. Marlin made house calls, and our nurses were so bright and knowledgeable. Vicki was able to maintain her quality of life as pain free as possible because of the care she received from HopeWest.” Even though Vicki knew she didn’t have much time left, that didn’t stop this vivacious woman from living out just a few more of her dreams. “She wanted to go on a second honeymoon to Napa Valley and San Francisco for our wedding anniversary,” Steve said. “We weren’t sure she could make it but she tried and she did. We went and it was amazing.” When they returned home, Vicki was granted another wish before she passed away—being with Steve on their 37th wedding anniversary. “With the help of HopeWest,” Steve said. “Vicki died with dignity, at peace and relatively pain free. I know that’s true and that’s all I could have ever asked for.” ■

Senior

LAW DAY JUNE 17, 2016

7:30 a.m. â€“ 4:00 p.m. Two Rivers Convention Center 159 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501 Registration required

Call 2-1-1 or 970-244-8400 to register Registration WITH lunch and keynote address from Judge Valerie J. Robison ................ $10.00 Registration for sessions ONLY and NO lunch.........$5.00

Keynote Speaker: Judge Valerie J. Robison Memory and the Magic Pill

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24 Keynote Speaker: Judge Valerie J. Robison

Memory and the Magic Pill Judge Valerie Robison grew up in Colorado and received her law degree from the University of Denver in 1991. She was admitted to practice law in the State Courts of Colorado, United States District Court for the District of Colorado, United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench in 2007, she served Mesa County as the chief assistant county attorney and as the interim director for the Mesa County Department of Human Services, where she worked closely with Adult Protective Services.

Shauna Clemmer Medicaid Planning: How to pay for long-term care Special needs trusts/ABLE Act: Planning for a disabled heir Shauna’s practice focuses primarily on estate planning, estate administration, probate, conservatorships/guardianships and special needs planning. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Penn State, Dickinson School of Law in 2006. Prior to joining Brown & Brown, PC, she worked as assistant counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation. She is a member of numerous associations and a member of HopeWest’s Planned Giving Council.

John Ahern Medicare 202: Tune-up John became interested in insurance issues as co-founder and president of Trihydro Corporation, a hazardous waste permitting and cleanup company. As he approached Medicare age, he visited the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in Grand Junction to learn more about Medicare insurance options. Now he is a certified SHIP Medicare counselor and helps others navigate Medicare’s choppy seas.

Doug Larson Bankruptcy: Are you judgment proof? Doug graduated from Lewis & Clark/Northwestern College of Law in 1977. He has practiced bankruptcy law since then and has served as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee since 1986. He has represented consumer and business debtors in bankruptcy, as well as creditors and

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com other interested parties in the bankruptcy courts. He is a partner in Griff, Larson, Laiche & Wright.

Lloyd Quesenberry Wills & Trusts: You can’t take it with you (seminar repeats) Lloyd’s practice focuses on business transactions, real estate, oil and gas work, and wills and estates. He attended the University of Iowa College of Law, where he served as associate editor of the Iowa Law Review. He has practiced in Grand Junction for over 13 years. He is the current senior vice president for the Colorado Bar Association.

Annie Murphy

Probate & Personal Representatives: Learn the steps Annie is a partner at Dufford, Waldeck, Milburn & Krohn. She earned her law degree at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Her law practice is concentrated in the areas of leasing, real property, estate planning/probate, and civil litigation. She is a trial lawyer, but also assists clients outside of court with real property issues and disputes.

Barbara Butler Probate & Personal Representatives: Learn the steps Barbara is a partner at Dufford, Waldeck, Milburn & Krohn. She works on a variety of legal issues, including probate, civil litigation, real estate transactions, business formation and property taxation. She is an active member of the Mesa County Bar Association and serves on the boards of The Pro Bono Project, the Access to Justice Committee and KAFM.

Nanci Quintana

Emergency Disaster Preparedness Nanci is a 10-year member of the Regional Emergency Preparedness and Response team at the Mesa County Health Department, providing services and trainings to 10 county public health departments in Western Colorado. She is the unit coordinator for the Mesa County Medical Reserve Corps and administrator of the West Region Healthcare Coalition.

Magistrate Stephanie Rubinstein

Grandparent Rights To Marry or Not to Marry? Stephanie is a current magistrate with the 21st Judicial District. She graduated from Drake University Law School and moved to Grand Junction in 1996 and

worked with Colorado Legal Services. She worked for the City of Grand Junction as a staff attorney for over four years and was in private practice for three years. She was appointed to magistrate in 2006.

Brian Burns POAs/Living Wills/MOST: Make your decisions now (seminar repeats) Brian received his law degree from the Charleston School of Law, where he served as an editor of the Charleston Law Review. He served a one-year clerkship with a justice on the Supreme Court of South Carolina, gaining exposure to many areas of the law. In 2016, he moved to Grand Junction, where he joined Rider & Quesenberry, LLC. Brian maintains a general transactional practice, with a focus on business matters, real estate, wills and trusts.

Dyann Walt POAs/Living Wills/MOST: Make your decisions now (seminar repeats) Dyann has been working in the human services field for 26 years. She is an adult services supervisor with the department of human services, primarily overseeing the Single Entry Point/Options for LongTerm Care programs. Dyann has been a member of the Advance Care Planning Task Force in Mesa County since its inception in 2003 and has been a part of the Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment Task Force since 2010.

JUNE

Semi

PRESENT

Memory and the Magic Pill......................

Medicaid Planning: How to pay for long-te

Medicare 202: Tune-up..............................

Bankruptcy: Are you judgment proof?.........

Wills & Trusts: You can’t take it with you*....

Probate & Personal Representatives: Learn the steps............................................

Emergency Disaster Preparedness..........

Grandparent Rights..................................

POAs/Living Wills/MOST: Make your decis

Titling Assets & Beneficiary Deeds: To gi

Special needs trusts/ABLE Act: Planning for a disabled heir..........................

Elder Exploitation: Spotting the signs of ab

Guardian/Conservator 101: When is it nec

To Marry or Not to Marry? A discussion of to couple and become uncoupled.................

Mobile Home Park Act: The lease that nev

Chris Mahre

Planning for Your Pets..............................

Titling Assets & Beneficiary Deeds: To gift or not to gift? Chris received a Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law. In Washington, he serve as a deputy prosecuting attorney and was a candidate for district attorney and state representative. After operating his own practice, he moved to Grand Junction in 2001. He is a member of the Colorado and Mesa County Bar Associations, Colorado West Estate Planning Counsel, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and Grand Junction Downtown Rotary Club.

What to Do When Someone Dies..............

Drew Moore Special needs trusts/ABLE Act: Planning for a disabled heir Drew graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1993. He was an advisor to the Ombudsman Title III program, working with Medicaid issues. Since being in private practice, his emphasis is in elder law issues, including planning for long-

Power Against Fraud................................

What If There Is No Will? Colorado has wr

Aging In Place: Your home is your castle..... Mental Health First Aid: Can you spot the

Long-term Care Insurance & Annuities...

Hanging Up the Car Keys for Good...........

Veterans Benefits: What your country can do for you and your s *Seminar will be presented twice term Medicaid, representation of guardians and conservators in court proceedings, and probate administration. He is currently on the board of the Mesa County Adult Protection Program.

E 2016

inar

TATIONS

years. She has been a long-term care case manager and Adult Protective Services case manager. She is currently a supervisor for the Adult Protective Services division.

Carol Viner

................................................. John Ahern

Guardian/Conservator 101: When is it necessary? Carol is a partner with Masters & Viner, PC, in Montrose, and provides legal services to seniors on estate planning and administration, guardian and conservator proceedings, and bankruptcy and other debtor/ creditor related issues facing retirees.

............................................... Doug Larson

Andrea Rosenberry

..............................Judge Valerie J. Robison

erm care............................. Shauna Clemmer

...................................... Lloyd Quesenberry

....................Annie Murphy & Barbara Butler

........................................... Nanci Quintana

.................. Magistrate Stephanie Rubinstein

sions now*.............Brian Burns & Dyann Walt

ift or not to gift?.........................Chris Mahre

.................. Drew Moore & Shauna Clemmer

buse..................................Candace McGuire

cessary?......................................Carol Viner

f how .................. Magistrate Stephanie Rubinstein

ver terminates...................Andrea Rosenberry

............................ Anna Stout & Teri Shecter

............................................Charles Reams

................................................. Dave Waite

ritten one for you......................... Jamie Roth

...................Dave Norman & Christie Higgins signs?.................................. Felicia Romero

............. Phyllis Hoffman & Scharee Atchison

................................Officer Martin Donohue

spouse................................Timothy Johnson

Candace McGuire Elder exploitation: Spotting the signs of abuse Candace has worked with Mesa County Department of Human Services for nine

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Mobile Home Park Act: The lease that never terminates Andrea graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans with a degree in civil law in 2013. During law school, she was a member of the Loyola Wage Claim clinic, where she assisted a group of laborers in their wage claim using the Louisiana Wage Claim Act. She is currently a grant attorney with Colorado Legal Services, and her practice focuses on family law and landlord tenant disputes.

Anna Stout

Planning for Your Pets Anna is executive director of Roice-Hurst Humane Society. She has over a decade of nonprofit and business experience as the founder and president of the Foundation for Cultural Exchange and owner of Transfinem Language and Cultural Services, as well as the member of various community boards of directors. Anna is a Certified Court Interpreter, Certified Medical Interpreter, and Certified Spanish-English Translator.

Teri Shecter

Planning for Your Pets Teri is a probation officer with the 21st Judicial District. Her primary focus is crime victims, but she has worked in the field of victim services for over 20 years. Teri has collaborated with a number of local animal rescue organizations, and is the chair of LINK, a sub-committee of the Mesa County Domestic Violence Task Force, which provides emergency placement for the companion animals of domestic violence victims, allowing individuals to seek safe housing knowing their animals will not be harmed by an abusive partner.

Charles Reams

What to Do When Someone Dies Charles began his career in personal injury and insurance defense as a lawyer in 1983. In 1991, he was appointed as the public administrator of the 21st Judicial District

of Colorado. As the founding partner of Reams & Reams, his primary focus of practice is probate, but he also specializes in the administration and litigation of decedent’s estates and trusts, guardianship and conservatorship, and wrongful death litigation in connection with the estate.

David Waite

Power Against Fraud David is a prosecutor with the 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office. For a decade, he specialized in criminal law, wills and trusts, and family law. He has attended numerous trainings related to criminal law, fraud avoidance and elder law.

Jamie Roth

What If There Is No Will? Colorado has written one for you Jamie is a partner at Brown & Brown, PC. Her practice focuses on clients with needs in probate, litigation, estate planning and conservatorships/ guardianships. Jamie received her Juris Doctorate at the University of Colorado in 1997. She earned her LL.M. degree in taxation from New York University in 2011. Jamie serves on the Colorado Attorney Disciplinary Hearing Board and Heeling Partners of the Roaring Fork Valley, among others.

Dave Norman Aging In Place: Your home is your castle Dave Norman established Mesa County RSVP and assisted in the planning and organization efforts to establish an Area Agency on Aging, to which he became director in 1974. Most recently, he implemented a regional Adult Resources for Care and Help (ARCH) program that provides assistance to seniors and adults with disabilities. He has created a network of committed sponsors who have provided over $1.3 million to support services for seniors.

Christie Higgins Aging In Place: Your home is your castle Christie has been in the social services field for over 13 years, having worked with many different populations and age groups. She is currently the director of the Aging and Disabilities Resources for Colorado Program and Western Colorado 2-1-1.

Felicia Romero Mental Health First Aid: Can you spot the signs? Felicia is a program director

for outpatient programs, a licensed professional counselor and a Certified Addictions Counselor III who joined Mind Springs Health in 2012. She has been practicing in the field of mental health, substance abuse and victim advocacy for almost a decade.

Phyllis Hoffman

Long-term Care Insurance & Annuities Phyllis is a respected longterm care planning specialist. In 2009, she joined Genworth’s Long-term Care Insurance wholesaling division and successfully assisted financial advisors and investment representatives associated with the top financial services companies in 14 Northwest-Midwest states.

Scharee Atchison

Long-term Care Insurance & Annuities Scharee is an independent long-term care insurance agent representing Genworth Life Insurance Company. Her awareness of the need for long-term care came after she experienced firsthand the financial and emotional impact that many families live through during the illness of a family member. Her approach to long-term care insurance is to educate, inform and present all available options, and her goal is to help individuals who are seeking to protect their hardearned assets and maintain their financial independence, lifestyle and dignity.

Officer Martin Donohue

Hanging Up the Car Keys for Good Martin attended Trinidad State Law Enforcement Academy in 1996. He was hired by the Steamboat Springs Police Department, where he worked for 2-1/2 years until he was hired by the Grand Junction Police Department in 1998. Since being with the GJPD, he has served as school resource officer, a SWAT team member, a firearms instructor and corporal, but his true calling has been as a motor officer and a level IV accident reconstructionist.

Timothy Johnson Veterans Benefits: What your country can do for you and your spouse Timothy has been a patient advocate in the Grand Junction veterans health care system for 8-1/2 years. Prior he worked at the VA Health Administration Center in Denver, working with the CHAMPVA program.

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JUNE 2016

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Don’t wait to get your estate plan in order: Kain & Burke can help By Terri Benson

here comes a time in everyone’s life when they need to start thinking about what’s going to happen to their families when they’re no longer around to help. Perhaps they’re more worried about how things will play out without them to referee between family members. The attorneys at Kain & Burke, PC specialize in estate planning, which includes wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate. There’s truth to the old saying “the only things you can be sure of are death and taxes,” and Kain & Burke can help ease the pain of both. Attorney Michael Burke quoted Ben Franklin, saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and added, “At Kain & Burke, we believe that is particularly true in estate planning, where we can help clients get their affairs in order before there is a crisis.” A death in the family is traumatic enough without family members having to deal with trying to figure out what kind of burial you wanted or arguments over who gets what family heirloom. With a properly crafted trust or will, along with medical directives and powers of attorney, health insurance releases, and other documents in place, you can take care of the choices you don’t want your loved ones to have to make. Kain & Burke specializes in helping you design a will and/or trust to

protect your assets for your heirs. Hiring a qualified and experienced attorney who takes the time to understand your specific situation can make the aftermath of death much less difficult for everyone you leave behind. You might think a will is all you need, but you could be leaving out some critical pieces of your estate plan without additional planning. If you had the foresight to draw up a will years ago, you could be overdue for an update. Family members may have been added, others might have died, or your situation might be significantly different now than before. Kain & Burke’s attorneys, including William Kain, Michael Burke, Stephanie Holguin, and Andrew Smith, have expertise in estate planning, business, family, civil and criminal law. “Our law firm is dedicated to helping people in a time of need,” Burke said. “We can handle every aspect of estate planning, as well as your other legal issues.” Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call Kain & Burke, PC, at 778-4461. Watch a free estate planning video at www.kainlaw.com and receive a free workbook to help you understand the questions you need answered, and assist with the decisions you need to make. Isn’t your family worth you taking the time now, rather than making them spend it later? ■

“Our law firm is dedicated to helping people in a time of need,” Burke said. “We can handle every aspect of estate planning, as well as your other legal issues.”

BUSINESS PROFILE 27

28 FINANCE

A guide to travel insurance

By Jason Alderman

sudden storm, a missed connection or a family emergency can turn a hard-earned vacation or important business trip into a big disappointment. Travel insurance can save the day, but picking the right coverage requires research, cost comparison and above all, reading the fine print. A quick online search can make it easy to identify and price highly rated travel insurance carriers. But personal circumstances and coverage should be examined thoroughly before any trip reservations are made. First, travelers should evaluate their own life, home, auto and health insurance coverage. It is wise to call personal insurance agents to discuss the future trip and its accommodations and activities. The idea is to see where personal coverage ends and where additional travel insurance might be beneficial. Some travelers might be surprised

to know that their homeowners’ policy actually offers liability coverage for out-of-state or foreign trips, and their health insurance might offer full or partial evacuation insurance. Credit card companies may offer additional protection. List specific risks and circumstances surrounding the trip to discuss with insurers to determine whether additional travel coverage might be necessary. For business trips, employees should repeat this process with their benefits or human resources departments. Employers that regularly do business in risky areas where crime, geopolitical conflict or rough weather are common may have specific systems in place for these issues. But it is important to know how extensive an employer’s protections might be to determine whether you’ll need additional coverage. Travel insurance covers these main risks: trip cancellation and/ or trip interruption, baggage loss,

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medical and/or dental, pre-existing (medical) conditions and evacuation (medical or otherwise). It’s difficult to cite average premiums for trips because every trip and traveler is different. Coverage for short domestic trips with basic coverage for cancellation or lost baggage might cost some; comprehensive coverage for a major world excursion may go well into the hundreds. Travel companies like airlines and cruise lines sell various forms of trip insurance, but it might be wise to buy directly from an actual insurance company in the travel insurance business, better known as a third-party carrier. While travel insurance sold by travel companies might be adequate, they generally cannot match the quality of coverage or customer service that a fulltime insurance provider can. Before you buy travel coverage, it is particularly important to know what the policy’s exclusion clause says. That section of the travel insurance policy indicates particular activities or circumstances that will prevent the payment of a claim.

Rockin’ Elegance!

JUNE 2016

Insurance companies respond to claims when customers file documents properly. Travelers who need to make a claim should have copies of receipts, ticketing and paperwork relevant to losses such as flight delays, lost luggage or any other potential loss indicated in the policy. If the claim is the result of a criminal act, policyholders should make sure they obtain and file copies of police, hotel or other relevant documentation. Finally, it never hurts to visualize potential risks on an upcoming trip. Quick online searches make it easy for travelers to check on weather and potential conflicts at their destination. The U.S. State Department features its own global travel alert and warnings webpage (travel.state. gov) to prepare travelers for local crime, terrorist attacks or geopolitical conflict. The U.S. National Weather Service also features sites for long-term storm and hurricane prediction, though travel insurers will generally not issue coverage after a particular storm system is named. ■

HELLO HAPPINESS—Bank of the San Juans COAT CHECK—Bellco Credit Union STARLIGHT—Bighorn Consulting Engineers, Inc.

FHW PHYSICIANS: Dr. Brian & Mrs. Lisa Belnap Drs. Roy & Jessica Mears Dr. Doug & Mrs. Suzanne Goforth Dr. Elizabeth & Mr. Henry Mensing Dr. Troy & Mrs. Diane Griffiths Dr. Michael Neste Dr. Kevin & Mrs. Dorinda Howell Dr. Patrick & Mrs. Deletha Pevoto Dr. David & Mrs. Deb Kirch Dr. Ellen & Mr. Randy Price Dr. Joe & Mrs. Stephanie Kupets Dr. Larry & Mrs. Sharon Tice Dr. KC & Mrs. Kim Lewis Dr. Scott & Mrs. Denyce Vincent

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JUNE 2016

TALKING DIGITAL 29

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The social media guide for people with grandkids

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teach mass communication courses at Colorado Mesa University. My specialty is storytelling through emerging media. That means I teach students how to help companies and journalism outlets communicate interesting stories through a variety of modern media channels. But when people ask me to describe what I teach, I summarize the experience by explaining that I teach college students how to use Facebook. They laugh, because most people who don’t do much on social media see it as a mystery and/or a distraction. Previously, I have mentioned that generations who did not grow up with the Internet often assume that those who did grow up with a smartphone intuitively know how to use all technology properly. When cars were adopted into the mainstream, I wonder if people thought kids would intuitively know how to drive. Social media, simply defined, is a form of website that allows users to signup for a free account and then communicate with others based on similar hobbies, relationships, geography, business interests, etc. The most common social media outlet is Facebook, but there are dozens more, such as Instagram, Twitter, Vine, SnapChat and YouTube. Despite what your kids may tell you, nobody needs to be on Facebook or any other social media. A positive social life is completely possible without signing up for a single social media account. That said, you might be missing out on something by avoiding social

media based on misconceptions about privacy, inappropriate content, shady activities, etc. Most social media outlets are as safe as the connections you keep. If you connect with shady people, you may run into trouble, but if you use Facebook to connect with your kids, grandkids and former classmates, you should have nothing to worry about. Facebook is a social media site dedicated to helping real-world acquaintances stay connected across time and distance. It is not an online pick-up bar and there is no more anonymity than you would find at a neighborhood potluck. Facebook is for family to share the otherwise mundane experiences of daily life, for friends to exchange movie or restaurant recommendations, or for past acquaintances to share moments of nostalgia. Of course, you can also join groups with people of similar interests and you can follow your favorite brands, but Facebook is primarily a place for connecting people who know each other personally offline. I am not an evangelist for Facebook. Paranoid technology users will never be comfortable using the service, but people who are considering Facebook should know that it is a great way to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. This barely scratches the surface of social media, if you have questions about Facebook or other channels, shoot me an email and I will add my insights into a future column. ■

Adam Cochran is a technology instructor at Colorado Mesa University. You can email your technology questions to Adam at adamc@talkingdigital.org.

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Kicking the travel bucket list By Jody Lebel

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aybe it’s because I’m a Virgo, but I have always loved making lists. My days and weeks and often my years are planned out on paper, and as such, I am the quintessential bucket list person. In theory, a bucket list, which for those of you who may be unaware is a list of things to do before you kick the bucket, is a great idea. Who doesn’t experience a little thrill of satisfaction when you get to check something off your to-do list? There are even books written about it, like “1,000 Places to See Jody Lebel on one of her trips in front of the Trevi Fountain. Before You Die” by PaNow, the question is: Is this the real Trevi Fountain or the one in Vegas? tricia Schultz. Just how long does Patricia think and say discouraging things like, I have, anyway? “You’d better get going. Your knees Whether they are written down or not, there are many things in this aren’t going to last forever.” world we would like to experience, Here are five good reasons why you but haven’t had the time or perhaps should consider kicking that bucket the funds. It’s a no-brainer that writlist to the curb. ing out a bucket list is the first step 1. A bucket list narrows your focus. towards accomplishing our goals. If you arrive in Abu Dhabi fixated Once it’s done, you can proudly tape it to your refrigerator for evon booking that camel ride in the eryone to scrutinize and grumble desert, you might miss the lady at about. As the years pass, however, the table next to you, covered from the list will become dog-eared and head to toe in a black burka, trying food-stained and your regular New to eat a salad under her veil. Or if Year’s Eve guests will squint at it you’re so hyped up to jump out of

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that airplane, you might miss the local children holding the giant iguana on a leash by the side of the road. Stop looking at the big event and start looking around. It’s the random side adventures and tidbits that make travel memories. 2. High expectations can disappoint. I wanted to swim with the manta rays when we got into port in St. Maarten. It was all I talked about. On the big day the weather was bad so the tours were cancelled. Major disappointment. Trip ruined. I’ve learned it’s better to travel carefree. Expect nothing—that’s when you find treasure. 3. Bucket lists make you feel obligated to travel. You don’t really have the money to spend on your air ticket to see Switzerland decorated at Christmastime, but you’re doing it anyway because it’s on your bucket list, gosh darn it. The truth is we change as we age. What we once considered important and fun may not be so hotsy-totsy in our later years. 4. You’ll miss out on smaller trips. Bucket lists are not cheap to complete. A serious bucket list person is likely to turn down little trips along the way because he’s saving up for the big blowout journey. Not getting to do everything on your list doesn’t make you a bad traveler.

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5. A bucket list turns you into a tourist. Much of the time our lists consist of things other people have told us about, things we’ve seen on TV, or read in a magazine; you simply MUST take the gondola ride in Venice. When you’re in Venice, making a beeline for the gondolas is something that the tourists do. It’s not the most fun or authentic way to soak up the local culture. When I was there I got lost. I found myself quite far away from the tour meeting spot and in a residential neighborhood where I stumbled onto an Italian-style yard sale. I still have the Murano glass paperweight on my desk that I haggled down, with my broken Italian, to seven Euros. Thinking about my own most interesting moments—moments I will cherish when I’m not able to travel any longer—I am certain I will remember the ones that came to me at unexpected times, like having a ghost interaction on a plantation in Jamaica and picking up a CD of the local music in Barcelona only to be jolted by how it spoke to me when I got home. And years after he died, I still smile when I run my thumb over the cork from that bottle of wine my husband and I shared on that rooftop restaurant in Mexico City while a dozen violins played around us. There’s no list for things like that. ■

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Nacho madness By Wendell Fowler

uring any sports season, thousands of fans across America are gleefully sucking down insipid, health-trashing, unctuous corn chips asphyxiated in a molten, psychedelic yellow cheese-like substance from a tin can—an affront to food purists. Gosh, you’re an easy mark—content with low-grade, inauthentic, inferior nutrition in the name of instant pleasure. Go, team! Do you settle for whatever is in your feedbag? We’re indeed mammals, a trainable species that can be sucked into the black vortex of any food fare bedecked with bells and whistles, lilting mascots and shiny, bright-colored packaging. But we mustn’t forget stewardship. God did not create us to be absentee landlords. The biblical assignment for man to responsibly care for him or herself has apparently been written out of the scriptures while diseases born of malnutrition are the new norm. News flash: You were created by a loving God to express perfect health. I bet the farm that when nachos were invented the corn wasn’t genetically altered, spiced with herbicide, fried in filthy cottonseed or peanut oil and then topped with “cheese sauce” from a can that leaches cancerous BPA. Please grasp the insanity of not paying attention to your food choices or reading labels.

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I purchased a can of ready-to-use nacho cheese and saw it was made from cheese whey, partially hydrogenated soybean oil (trans-fats that cause heart disease), modified food starch, “natural” (wink, wink) flavors, sodium phosphate, maltodextrin (an intense carb), salt, MSG (neurotoxin), sugar (cancer fertilizer), cheddar and blue cheese (way down at the bottom), and succulent yellow 5 and 6 food dye, banned in European countries where warnings are issued about their possible side effects. It is still freely and extensively used in the U.S., nevertheless. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports yellow 5 and 6 seem to cause hyperactivity in some children. Liquid gold, my butt; this toxic twaddle is poison to your temple and you should be alarmed they think you’re so gullible. That American icon, Velveeta “cheese” (wink, wink), is made from milk, whey, milk protein, whey protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, 2 percent or less of salt, calcium phosphate, lactic acid, ascorbic acid (preservative), sodium citrate, sodium alginate, enzymes, apocarotenal and annatto for color, and cheese culture. Purists say Velveeta is technically not cheese. It is a cheese-like substance. In industry semantics, Velveeta is packaged as a “pasteurized prepared cheese product.” In other words: processed. You deserve the best, not the least. ■

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Dad raised a bunch of Sweathogs By Teresa Ambord “I was blessed with five daughters,” Dad used to say. But we knew that, like most men, he also wanted a boy. Eventually he got not just one boy, but a bunch of them—a big bunch of Sweathogs. In the 1970s our family moved to the country, and Dad became the transportation director for a neighboring school district. That area was economically depressed and many of the kids had no fathers in the home and little discipline. Several boys were on the verge of dropping out or being kicked out of high school. They just didn’t care and the teachers had run out of options. Then someone got the bright idea of sending the misfits over to the school bus barn to “help” the new guy—my dad. Dad’s main job was to keep the big yellow school buses running safely. That meant climbing under the giant hoods and changing heavy tires. But at 5 feet 4 inches tall, and with no modern equipment, just changing a bus tire was daunting for Dad. So it came in handy to have several burly country boys to heft those bus tires around. He taught every boy to do basic vehicle maintenance and repair. During lunch he’d let them bring their family cars to the bus barn, and he’d teach the kids how to fix and maintain them. Everyone had chores and Dad didn’t put up with excuses. Anyone who wanted to hang out at the bus barn had to help keep the place clean and organized. It was Dad’s way of teaching them to listen, follow directions and be responsible. These kids had always ignored authority figures, but Dad demanded

and eventually got their respect. Not long after he took over the bus barn, a new sitcom hit the TV airwaves. It was called “Welcome Back, Kotter,” and it could’ve been modeled after Dad’s work life. Kotter was a teacher of kids who were misfits and incorrigibles, known as the Sweathogs. Dad’s boys saw themselves in the Sweathogs and embraced the name. Over time, the Sweathogs gained skills they could take into the working world. But there was one area that bugged Dad and he couldn’t seem to make much headway. “To be employable,” he said, “you have to clean up your language.” He’d taught his daughters that if you use profanity, people think you’re too stupid to use real words. That’s all it took with us. But it didn’t faze the Sweathogs. So one fine morning, they entered the bus barn to find a gallon jug on Dad’s desk. He’d cut a slit in the metal lid, and slapped a label on it that said “No Swear Jar.” “If you swear, you owe me a nickel,” he said, and they knew he’d collect. Unfortunately, to them it was a game, and that jar filled up fast, over and over again. After several school terms of

collecting nickels, the money added up. Then one December, the boys came up with a good use for it. Just before Christmas, Dad and the Sweathogs went on a secret shopping spree. Armed with a list of needy local families, they stretched that money to provide gifts for as many kids as possible. For most of the Sweathogs, that was the first time they’d ever looked beyond themselves to the needs of others, and they loved doing it. Generally, the work Dad did with the Sweathogs went unnoticed, though not by the Sweathogs themselves. Even after they were grown and Dad retired early due to poor health, they kept in touch with him. When Dad passed away in 2014, some of them drove 100 miles to be at his memorial. “He was the only reason I graduated,” said one guy, and they all agreed. Story after story poured out of how Dad had turned their lives around. We always knew Dad wished for a son, but I doubt he envisioned leading a big bunch of Sweathogs. Like his daughters, those boys frustrated him, tested and tried his patience, and in the end, made him proud. He was father to five girls, but he also raised a bunch of Sweathogs and helped them become fine men. ■

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Four reasons (and seasons) to stay in Grand Junction

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Spring - Why leave in the spring

’ve lived in Mesa County for 40 years, and since we retired, my husband and I have been contemplating a move in order to be closer to family. But the locals here say that even if you leave for a few years, you always come back. Why? What is the draw of the Grand Valley?

when the abundant fruit blossoms make the air smell so sweet? It’s the time of year the bees begin their annual assault on the spring flowers. The humming sound is a realization of all the fertilization going on around you. Even the desert cactus bloom in the spring. Spring is a great time to hike or bike the desert trails before the summer heat bears down. The Colorado National Monument offers unique views and wildlife that benefits a national park, but with a lot less traffic. In spring, patio dining starts again with views in all directions. Spring usually comes early in the Grand Valley and gardeners, farmers and orchardists are busy preparing their crops as irrigation water flows through the ditches. No spring would be complete without a little rain, but here in the Grand Valley, rain is followed by the most amazing rainbows I have ever seen. I can’t forget to mention the annual baseball frenzy that happens here every spring. Local teams organize, play and dream of stardom in the JUCO tournament that calls Grand Junction home. And of course, now we have the Grand Junction Rockies. With the spring thaw come road trips over the mountain passes to Vail, Denver, Colorado Springs, Black Hawk or Estes Park. But don’t stay away too long, as you don’t want to miss one of the bike races through town or over the Monument.

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Winter - The Grand Valley is great in the winter. The winters are mild enough to walk or bike the many trails in the area, and the snow is never too deep or lasts too long. Most days, you can still golf at one of the five scenic golf courses in the area, and the cold doesn’t seem to bother the birds, as local birders have an Audubon bird count every winter. But if it’s winter you want, Powderhorn ski area is a mere 45 minutes away on Grand Mesa. The mesa also offers opportunities for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, ice fishing, ice skating and cozy nights in a cabin or condo rental. I know the hot tubs and fire pits are working overtime in the winter, especially when the sky is so clear you can spot constellations easily. The bright nights of winter offer sparkle and beauty beyond compare. If you do decide you want to get away for a warmer weekend, Las Vegas or Mesquite are both an easy road trip or short flight away. The hot springs pools in Glenwood Springs and Ouray will keep you warm, Gateway has a world-class resort, and though it may be snowy, the luxurious comforts of Telluride are not far. And when you return home to Grand Junction, a variety of restaurants, wineries, distilleries and breweries are waiting for you to enjoy.

Summer - Sure, it’s hot. But if you leave in summer, there are so many things you will miss—like the best fruit in the world. First the cherries, followed by apricots and plums. Then the peaches. Oh, the peaches! Last come the apples and pears, along with the Green River melons and Olathe Sweet Corn (also the best in the world).

JUNE 2016

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If you leave in June you will miss Country Jam and its four days of country music from little-known and top acts alike, the riverfront concerts, camping and fishing on Grand Mesa, chasing lizards in the desert, winery concerts, farmers markets, Grand Junction Rockies games, rafting the Colorado river, water play at Highline Lake, fireworks, picnics, Palisade Peach Festival, the Olathe Corn Festival and more. And if you are still in the mood for a road trip, Lake Powell is a popular destination in summer as well.

Fall - Fall is absolutely gorgeous. The colorful leaves and warm, sunny afternoons are perfect for walks, hikes and bikes—almost any outdoor activity. Hunters come from all over the country to stalk deer, elk, moose, duck, geese, mountain lions and bears. The fall harvest is bountiful. The apples and pears are ripe, chili peppers are roasted, pumpkins turn orange and grapes are made into award-winning wines. All is ready just in time for Halloween

P R E M I E R

parties, haunted houses and corn mazes. The festival season isn’t over yet, with Cedaredge Apple Fest, The Fruita Fall Festival and Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade. If the road is calling you, it would be wise to visit Moab during the mild temperatures or travel to Montrose, Ouray, Telluride or Gunnison to see more fall colors; but Grand Mesa is just as spectacular—if not more so. Fall football season is exciting, especially when the Broncos are winning. The best fans are on the Western Slope, after all. Some make the long trip to Denver for every home game. Of course, they’re happy to escape the dreadful traffic when they return. With so much to see and do here, why would you want to live anywhere else? There is no mystery here as to why people stay or come back. It’s all about the four reasons and seasons listed here. Instead of leaving, we might as well stay right where we are—our home: Grand Junction. ■

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36 FUN AFTER 50

Senior Recreation Center 550 Ouray Avenue - 970 243-7408

The Senior Recreation Center offers activities for seniors age 50 and older. The center is open Monday–Saturday from 8 am–4 pm Annual membership is $15.

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

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JUNE 2016

FUN AFTER 50

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 EVENT JUNE 10 Movies in the Park Movie starts at dusk, Lincoln Park Bring the family to an all-ages movie playing in Lincoln Park. Call 241-4453 for this month’s movie. Free admission. JUNE 18 Take Part in Art 9 am – Noon, Lincoln Park Barn Come explore the many creative organizations, guilds, clubs and societies that you can be a part of. There will be demonstrations and live performances from local visual and performing arts and crafts groups. Discover your creative side and delve into the best ways for you to spend your free time. Free. JUNE 19 Murder Mystery Matinee 3 – 5 pm, Senior Recreation Center Death on the Mound. Receive an invitation and instructions for your character, dress the part, act out the scenes and try to solve the mystery. Light refreshments served. Cost is $14. Register by June 8.

HEALTH JUNE 16 Pull Your Own Weight 9 – 10 am, Canyon View playground Learn how to use your own body weight as resistance on our newly installed fitness circuit at Canyon View playground. This event is free. JUNE 17 Facts and Tracks: Diet Drink Craze 9 – 10 am, Las Colonias Shelter Learn the good, the bad and the ugly about diet drinks from CSU Extension

Agent and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Ann Duncan at the Las Colonias Shelter (near the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens). Then enjoy a 30-minute walk on the Riverfront Trail. Cost is $5.

TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS Gentle Active Yoga 8 - 9 am, Lincoln Park Barn $7 drop in, $50 for 10-punch pass. This class is designed for an active beginner and above, teaching flexibility of mind and body in a fun and supportive environment. Students must be able to get up and down from the floor unassisted. Drop in for $7 or get a 10-punch pass for $50. DAILY Aqua Aerobics Mon/Wed/Fri: 8:15 – 9:15 am Tues/Thurs: 5:30 – 6:30 pm Orchard Mesa Pool These novice to intermediate aqua aerobic classes are for individuals introducing themselves to water exercise or those who have enjoyed our previous classes. Moderate intensity activities incorporate noodles, hand paddles, water weights, and more. Drop in for $4.50 or pay $46.50 for a 12-punch pass.

DANCE MONDAYS Beginning Line Dance 12:15 – 1 pm, Lincoln Park Barn Learn choreographed dance steps to a variety of music while improving your balance, coordination, memory and overall health. No partner or previous dance skills needed. Cost is $12. MONDAYS Intermediate Line Dance for Kids 50+ 1 pm – 2 pm, Lincoln Park Barn

Continue with the benefits of dancing and improve your line dancing skills by learning new dances with a little more difficulty. Drop in for $5 or get a 10-punch pass for $32.

THURSDAYS Senior Dances with Live Music 8 – 11 pm, Senior Recreation Center Dance the night away and enjoy your favorite music performed live! Cost is $3.

SPORTS JUNE 11 Beginning Pickleball Clinic 9 – 11 am, Pineridge Courts Skill level 1.0 – 2.5. Learn basic rules, equipment and basic strategies. Cost is $10. JUNE 11 Intermediate Pickleball Clinic 1 – 3 pm, Pineridge Courts Skill level 2.5-3.0. Learn playing strategy including court positioning, third shot strategy, dinking, court communication and teamwork, lob and return of lob. Cost is $10. AUGUST 20-26 Western Colorado Senior Games 5:30 pm, Lincoln Park, Stocker Stadium Choose from over 55 events that provide fun and friendly competition for the over 50 athlete. Register now or find your registration form in next month’s issue of the BEACON!PUBLIC ART IBITS

JUNE 2016

MESA COUNTY 37

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Mesa County Club Activities Grand Mesa Chorus of Sweet Adelines International rehearses every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Redlands United Methodist Church, 527 Village Way in Grand Junction. Rehearsals are always open to visitors. Call Shirley at 255-9419 or Bette at 523-3464 or visit www. grandmesachorus.org for details. Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays at A Taste of Heaven Catering. For more information, call 424-4980. Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets monthly from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday at Western Colorado Community College, 2520 Blichmann Avenue, Building B, Room 171. For information, visit www.thun dermountaincameraclub.org. Grand Junction Chess Club meets every Monday from 6:30 p.m.11:30 p.m. in the Safeway Starbucks at 29 Road and Patterson. Players of all abilities welcome to play for free. If you don’t have a chess set, we loan sets out at no charge. For details, visit www.jctchess.com. Vestafjell Lodge, Sons of Norway invites those interested in Scandinavian heritage and culture to join lodge members at the lunch meeting on Monday, June 13 at Golden Corral, 1100 Independent Ave. Gather in the west meeting room after 1:30 p.m. For more details call Barb at 245- 5649 or Annette at 858-6702, or visit www.vestafjelllodge.org. Art Quilt Association meets monthly at 9:30 a.m. on the third Saturday in Grand Junction. Location is generally the Goodwill meeting room, but can vary. Updates posted on www. theartquiltassociation.com. Not Going Quietly meets from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. This gathering is intended to create a space of empowerment, energy, grace, community and wisdom for individuals who are 60 years or older. This ongoing group meets at Two Rivers Center

for Spiritual Living, 251 Colorado Ave. For questions, call 433-7799. Great Old Broads for Wilderness meets monthly on the last Mondays from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 536 Ouray. Call 255-9900 for information. Friendship Force meets monthly at 6:15 p.m. on the second Thursday at the Red Cross Training Center, near Fifth Street and Gunnison Avenue. Call 260-4653 or visit www.thefriend shipforce.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 208-3389 or visit www.gjcoinshow.com. Two River Sams/Good Sam RV Club meets at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. For details and 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. 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 the second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 856-3632. High Desert Diamonds, plus-level square dances from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on the first and third Fridays at the Masonic Center, 2400 Consistory Court. For details, call Sue at 241-7457. 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 2433598 or visit www.mesafiberartsguild. org. 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 are welcome. Call 434-0868.

H er e WE GRO W!

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Blue Lodge Masons meets the first Saturday at 10 a.m. 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 the second Saturday at 9 a.m. at First Congregational Church. Call 640-2751. 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 downstairs at the Mesa County Public Library Study Room B, 443 N. Sixth St. Call 250-3969. Cribbage Lite meets at 6 p.m. every Tuesday at International House of Pancakes, 2420 Highway 6 & 50, Mesa Mall. Call 270-2433. Western Slope Rovers RV Club meets monthly for breakfast on the first Thursday of each month. Call 858-3907 for time and details. Western Slope Adventurers get together monthly on the second Monday for a potluck and speaker presentation. On June 13, Neal Gillman will show slides and talk about his paddling trips to Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park. Program is free and open to the public, and takes place from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in The Commons of Hilltop’s Garden Room. Please bring a dish to share and your own beverages. Call 433-4312 for details. ■

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Healing with Art The Veterans’ Art Center is a place where veterans can heal their emotional wounds through music and art. Page 6. Elks’ Lodge It was no easy task establishing a lodge in both Delta and Montrose, but perseverance and creativity prevailed. Page 20. Museum honors Ute heritage The Ute Indian Museum helps share the stories and livelihoods of the native Utes. Page 30.

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WORKSHOPS JUNE 11 & 12 A Taste of Metal, instructor Mike Allen Taste the world of forging in a blacksmith shop. This class is a preview into the world of shaping metal by forging. Heat steel and use a hammer and anvil to move the metal into different shapes by forging, bending and twisting. Class is from noon to 5 p.m. pm at Mike Allen Metal, 1128 S. Ninth St. $150 member, $190 non-member. All materials provided; $15 paid to instructor on first day. JUNE 11 & 12 Traditional Shibori Workshop, instructor Mary Hertert Shibori means “Shape Resist Dyeing” and allows for sculpted fabrics as well as textural patterns. Shibori is often referred to as the origami of the fabric dye world. Think a much more elaborate version of tie-dye. Mary will provide pots and pans and we’ll set up dye baths for “instant gratification.” You will walk away with samples and a finished piece. Workshop from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Color Creek Fiber Art, 1150 N. 25th St., Unit B. $80 member, $120 non-member. All materials provided; $45 paid to instructor on first day. JUNE 16 – 19 Summer Watercolor Intensive, instructor Sarah Peterson Boulder-based artist Sarah Peterson teaches a popular technique of using wet-onwet watercolor, or alla prima. It means “all at once” and is a very different way of painting, one that does not create layers. The result is a fresh and translucent feel. Sarah’s individualized attention toward students enables all levels of painters. Workshop is from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at The Art Center, 1803 N. Seventh St. $325 member, $365 non-member.

CLASSES JUNE 15 – AUGUST 3 What Is Beauty?, instructor Ramana Konantz In this 8-week course, Ramana Konantz – Lecturer of Art at CMU – will guide participants through the history of art with an eye toward how the concept of beauty is understood differently by different cultures. Through slideshows and discussion the class will discover and discuss the importance of beauty and how philosophers and artists through the ages have interpreted beauty in different ways. Class is from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. at The Art Center, 1803 N. Seventh St. $110 member, $150 non-member. JUNE 13 – AUGUST 8 Tai Chi, instructor Mark Posey Skipping July 4. Class is 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. $110 member, $150 non-member.

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Mesa County Calendar JUNE 3 & 4 Mike the Headless Chicken Festival Celebrate the 17th annual Mike the Headless Chicken Festival in Fruita. This festival is dedicated to the amazing story of one chicken’s will to live. Events such as a 5K run, disc golf tournament, wing and peep eating contests, live music, delicious food and artisan booths make this a weekend to remember. Free admission for the festival, which is open from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Check the website for festival schedule and details: www.miketheheadless chicken.org. JUNE 4 Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival Terry Nash will serve as master of ceremonies and will perform with fellow headliners Peggy Malone, Janice King Deardorff and Dennis Russell at Glade Park’s fifth annual Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the performance begins at 6 p.m. and takes place at Glade Park Community Center, a half-mile north of the Glade Park Store on 16.5 Road. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Food may be purchased from Dale’s Rib Shack. The event is outside, so bring chairs and warm clothing. JUNE 4 & 5 Colorado’s Free Fishing Weekend Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding the public of Colorado’s Free Fishing Weekend, where anglers of all ages can fish without a license anywhere in the state for the weekend. JUNE 7 Artist in Residence: Jessica Scriver

Jessica Scriver, the first Mesa County Libraries 970West Studio artist in residence, presents “The Passage into Postmodernism: Making Sense of Contemporary Art” at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Library Community Room. The presentation is open to the public at no charge. Visit Scriver during open studio hours from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Mondays until June 6. She’ll be present in the Artist in Residence space in the 970West Studio, and the public may drop by to view her work.

JUNE 7, 14 & 21 Creative Writing Workshop at WCCC Award-winning writer and journalist Jan Weeks will teach you how to craft a story, novel or essay with techniques that published writers use. Learn to create believable settings, vibrant characters, gripping plots and more. This class is an expanded version of “Show, Don’t Tell: How Do They Do That?” Please bring a laptop or a notebook to take notes and something to write with. Class is from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at Western Colorado Community College. Cost is $89. JUNE 8 Sunset Float Join Fruita seniors as they take a scenic float down the Colorado River with an experienced guide that will explore the wonders of the beautiful wilderness that surrounds the river ecosystem and sunset. Following the float, enjoy a cookout. Starting from Rimrock Adventures in Fruita at 4 p.m., the guided trip includes transportation and is open to all ability levels. The cost is $55 and the deadline for registration is June 1. Please consider a tip for the guides. JUNE 8 Screening: “Inspired to Ride” The inspirational cycling film “Inspired to Ride” will premiere at 7 p.m. at Mesa Theater in Grand Junction. From

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the same filmmakers as “Ride the Divide,” the popular film about the Tour Divide race that comes through Steamboat every year, “Inspired to Ride” is about the inaugural 2014 TransAmerica bike race that comes through northern Colorado. Audiences are saying this is the best work yet from filmmakers Mike Dion and Hunter Weeks, who will hopefully attend the show that night. Advance tickets are $12 and can be purchased at www.imathlete.com/ events/inspiredtoride. Tickets purchased the day of the event will be $15 at the door. Details about the movie at www. inspiredtoride.it.

JUNE 10 Help Hospitalized Veterans Flag Day BBQ The Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) Community-Based Arts and Crafts Center (CBC) will host a Patriotic Parking Lot Party at the center, 1670 North Ave., from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The public is invited to join area veterans in learning how HHV’s therapeutic arts and crafts benefit our military veterans’ treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. At the event, guests can check out some of the beautiful cars provided by the Just For Fun Car Club, eat great barbecue, and shake a veteran’s hand to say thank you for our freedom. The CBC volunteer staff will be cooking up hot dogs and burgers, and will have

a variety of free flag kits available for veterans and their guests to work on at the party or take home. There will also be patriotic door prizes and games for those attending. For more information, contact Lisa Smith at 424-0499.

JUNE 10-11 Mesa County Relay for Life American Cancer Society is recruiting teams for the Mesa County Relay for Life at the Holy Family School Track. Opening ceremonies will be at 6 p.m. Register for this great team-building event at www.GJRelay.com. Cancer survivors and those currently in treatment are invited to attend the Cancer Survivor Dinner at 4:30 p.m. JUNE 11 Charity Auto Show Enjoy the sixth annual Ed Bozarth Mark Miller Chevrolet-Buick Charity Auto Show from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the dealership, 2595 Highway 6 & 50. Register to show a vehicle at 9 a.m. on show day for $15 per vehicle, or come as a spectator for free. All proceeds benefit local charity. There will also be a cruise down Main Street at 8 p.m. For information, call Josie at 712-4935. JUNE 16 Monthly Oral History Program The Mesa County Historical Society and the Museums of Western Colorado’s June Oral History Program will feature

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Denise and Steve Hight. The Hights will present a PowerPoint slide show and talk about Fruita’s history and the importance of Fruita’s founder, William E. Pabor, to Mesa County and Colorado. The Hights are the authors of two books about Fruita’s people and history, “Images of America: Fruita” (2011) and “Legendary Locals of Fruita” (2016). There will be a question and answer session afterward. Admission is free.

JUNE 17 Grand Junction Rockies Opening Day Come to the first home game of the season! The Rockies take on Orem at 6:30 p.m., followed by fireworks after the game. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for kids age 3-11. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. JUNE 22 & 28 Ruby-Horsethief Canyon Raft Trip Join Fruita seniors on this full-day tour, floating through 25 miles of towering red sandstone canyons starting from Rimrock Adventures in Fruita. Along the way, you’ll witness huge boulders of Precambrian schist, photograph a variety of water fowl, and dip your toes in the cool refreshing waters of the Colorado River. The trip includes transportation, lunch and a guided raft trip and is open to all ability levels. Rafters must be able to sit for long periods of

time in the heat and sun. Choose from two dates or attend both! The cost is $95. Register by June 15.

JUNE 23 Communication Strategies when dealing with dementia Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center Administrator Tracy Waite will discuss verbal and non-verbal communication forms and how they occur, and their importance in dealing with someone with dementia. Seminar takes place from 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m. at The Law Office of Brown & Brown, PC, 1250 E. Sherwood Drive. Registration is required by calling 243-8250 or register online at www.brownandbrownpc.com. JUNE 27 How to Start a Critique Group Award-winning writer and journalist Jan Weeks teaches you how to start a critique group, the benefits of a critique group, and how to critique effectively from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Western Colorado Community College. Please bring a laptop or a notebook and something to write with. Cost is $39. JUNE 30 The Centennial Band Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a performance from the Grand Junction Centennial Band at Fruita Civic Center Park at 7 p.m.

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Mesa County Beacon Bits Attention Grand Junction High School Class of 1961! The GJHS Class of 1961 is looking for contact info of class members who may be interested in attending the 55th class reunion on September 30-October 1, 2016. If you have not received any mailings and are interested in information, call 241-2367 or email gj61hs@gmail.com, sportersings@gmail.com or pweegpm@gmail. com. Details and registration to follow soon.

Wow Only $ 195 per YEAR!*

*Seniors 65 years & older

Local quilters invite you to quilt for a cause At 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, the Grand Valley Valor Quilters invite you to join them in the Community Room at Ed Bozarth Chevrolet to make valor square blocks for Quilts of Valor, an organization whose mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts of valor. If

THERE’S ONLY ONE COLORADO. THERE’S ONLY ONE GRAND JUNCTION. And there’s one bank that helps you make the most of living here. As a Colorado community bank, you’re more than just our customer – you’re our neighbor. Bank of Colorado is committed to educating, advising and partnering with our customers to create stronger communities all across Colorado. Because we’re not just a bank in Colorado, we’re Bank of Colorado. GRAND JUNCTION 200 Grand Avenue • 2903 Patterson Road 970.245.1600 • bankofcolorado.com

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you come with 3-inch strips already cut, you’ll be off to a head start. The quilters will gladly accept a block or two from anyone who can donate their time to the cause. For more information, call Shar at 245-5422 or Sue at 241-7457. See world-class entertainment at Regal Cinemas See renowned operas and ballets in HD at Regal Cinemas, 648 Market St. in Grand Junction. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.fathomevents.com. • June 16 – “Teatro alla Scala (the Temple of Wonders)” art and architecture in cinema at 7 p.m. Cost is $12.50. • June 22 – “Tosca” from the Metropolitan Opera at 7 p.m. Cost is $12.50. • June 29 – “Elsir d’Amore” opera from the Metropolitan Opera at 7 p.m. Cost is $12.50. OI product drive for deployed military Operation Interdependence is holding their annual product drive now through July 4, asking for donations of nonperishable food items, goodies and hand-written notes to be sent in care packages to deployed military. Find drop-off boxes at locations throughout Grand Junction, including all Randy’s Southside Diners locations, The Dragonfly Gift Shoppe, Adam’s Vacuum, Vectra Bank and American Furniture Warehouse. For information, call 523-4217. Palisade’s Little Free Library relocates Palisade’s Little Free Library, sponsored by Altrusa International of Palisade, is now located in Independent Park, opposite the U.S. Post Office on the corner of Kluge and Third Street. The Little Free Library resides in the newly relocated gazebo, encouraging visitors to “take a book, leave a book,” but most importantly, to find a book (or two or three…) to enjoy

JUNE 2016

and take with you, compliments of Altrusa of Palisade, a local community service club that focuses on literacy and other community needs. Find more information, including a world map of other Little Free Library locations, at www.littlefreelibrary.org. Susie Bevan receives Nightingale Award HopeWest Vice President of Clinical Services Susie Bevan, RN, BS, received the esteemed Nightingale Award, Colorado’s highest honor for nurses. Bevan was selected from hundreds of outstanding nominees. Only six received the highest honor as Nightingales at the 2016 Nightingale Luminary Awards Banquet in Denver on May 7. Bevan has been a nurse for 14 years. “Susie is a magnetic leader,” Hopewest President and CEO Christy Whitney Borchard said. “She inspires others to be passionate in their work and encourages nurse managers to develop their own leadership skills.” Bevan said she was completely honored and humbled to receive the award. “It is the highlight of my professional career. There are 60,000 nurses in Colorado that go above and beyond every day. To be honored in this way by my peers and the amazing nurse leaders of the state of Colorado is more than I could have ever imagined.” Judy Devincentis wins Franchisee of the Year award FirstLight Home Care of the Western Slope, an award-winning provider of non-medical in-home care, received FirstLight Home Care’s 2016 Franchisee of the Year award. The home care provider, which has offices in Grand Junction, Montrose and Glenwood Springs, was selected from more than 110 FirstLight locations nationwide to receive the honor. The award was presented to local franchise owner Judy Devincentis during a gala at the organization’s recent national conference in Phoenix. “Judy and the entire Western Slope FirstLight team have worked tirelessly to create a culture of care in the community, and that is reflected in their exceptional client satisfaction survey results and overall

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business growth,” FirstLight Home Care CEO Jeff Bevis said. “I think their clients would agree that FirstLight Home Care of the Western Slope is very deserving of our ‘Franchisee of the Year’ award.” HopeWest receives Hospice Honors award HopeWest has been named a recipient of the 2016 Hospice Honors award, an elite national award that recognizes hospices that provide the highest level of quality, as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. Presented annually by Deyta Analytics, a division of HEALTHCAREfirst, the Hospice Honors award winners are announced at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Management and Leadership Conference held each spring in Washington, DC. HopeWest was one of only two hospice providers in the state of Colorado to be named a Hospice Honors Award winner. New home care agency matches caregivers with clients MLS Senior Care (Must Love Seniors), a new home care agency in Mesa County, takes a new approach to caring for its caregivers and clients. Owner Diana Conner said MLS’ goal is to match caregivers with clients, as compatibility ensures that the working relationship between caregiver and client is mutually satisfying. MLS offers non-medical care to clients. For details, visit www.mlsseniorcare.com or call 314-2993.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of our member agencies. For a list of additional volunteer opportunities and to register, call 243-9839. RSVP is looking to fill the following volunteer positions: • Docent (Help kids learn about animals) - Grand Valley Zoological Quest, The Children’s Nature Center • Driver to deliver meals to construction crew – Habitat for Humanity

• Craft distribution assistant for veterans - Help Hospitalized Veterans • Activity facilitator for seniors – The Commons of Hilltop • Volunteer for food drive for the homeless - Homeward Bound

Glade Park Movies Under the Stars schedule The Glade Park Volunteer Fire Department presents Movies Under the Stars on Friday nights during the summer. Movies are free and family friendly. Enjoy live entertainment, kids’ activities and low-

Colorado National Monument is seeking new volunteers to assist the staff in a variety of ways. Opportunities include visitor services, trail ambassador, environmental education, facility and trail maintenance. For more information, call 858-3617, ext. 364. Family Health West is looking for volunteers to act as greeters at Colorado Canyons Hospital & Medical Center or to assist with our activities in our assisted living facilities. To learn more, call 858-2211 or email nwatchman@fhw.org.

SUPPORT GROUPS • Mending Hearts Support Group is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Grand Junction groups meets from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest. Call 248-8844. • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups for family members of adults who have a serious mental illness and connection groups for adults living with a mental illness. Groups meet at various times and locations in Mesa County. For additional information, please visit www.NAMIWS. org or call 462-3989. • 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.

cost grill items and concessions, beginning at 6 p.m. Proceeds from food and concessions benefit the fire department. Movies begin at dusk and play behind the fire department, 16400 DS Road in Glade Park.

Movies playing this summer are: June 3 – “Over the Hedge” June 10 – “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” June 17 – “Minions” June 24 – “Mr. Pepper’s Penguins” July 1 – No movie due to holiday weekend July 8 – “The Lego Movie” July 15 – “Ratatouille” July 22 – “Elf” July 29 – “Inside Out” August 5 – “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” August 12 – “Yogi Bear” August 19 – “Ever After: a Cinderella story” August 26 – “Avengers: Age of Ultron”

• MACHO Men cancer support group meets monthly at 5 p.m.6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Hospital’s Java City Café. Call 298-2351 for details. • 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 Tuesdays at Village Inn, 757 Horizon Dr. Call 241-8975.

42 FUN & GAMES

FUN & GAMES

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JUNE 2016

For the puzzle answers see page 46

FUN & GAMES

JUNE 2016

8 1 7 2 4 8 7 4 5 7 6 2 8 3 6

Across 1 French 101 verb 5 Dey TV series 10 Fly like Lindy 14 Perjured oneself 15 Open-air rooms 16 “The Lost Boys” star Corey 17 “___ Wonderful Life” 18 Ohm or Solti 19 Pistolet, e.g. 20 It can be over your head 21 Garden-variety Canadian sprinter? 23 Always the same 25 ___-Day vitamins 26 Says “yes” without saying a word 27 Place for sports writers 31 “Baa Baa Black Sheep” writer Gregory ___ Boyington 33 Senate assistants 34 Naval off. 35 Top cards 36 Bygone Renault auto 37 Cruising to Hawaii 38 Parseghian of Notre Dame 39 Late astronomer Carl 40 Good buddies with handles

FUN & GAMES 43

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Down 1 Yale’s Yale 2 Certain -missile 3 Garden-variety tombstone inscription? 4 Writer LeShan 5 Some brews 6 Mr. T’s worn outfit? 7 Scientologist Hubbard 8 Noted nickname in hoops 9 Former Jeep model 10 Journalist Alexander, et al. 11 Dinghy directors 12 It can move a star

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41 Ornamental ribbons 43 Playwright Bogosian 44 River to the Gulf of Finland 45 It’s on the level 48 Garden-variety talk show hostess? 52 D-Day troop carrier 53 Moistened clay 54 Winner by ___ margin 55 He loved Lucy 56 Singer Lane 57 “___ say more?” 58 Evangelist Roberts 59 Wedding wear 60 Altos and tenors 61 F.D.R.’s park

Your guide to aging well in Mesa, Montrose & Delta Counties

13 Serious sign 21 Type of builder 22 Pianist Myra 24 Beau Brummells 27 Type sizes 28 Garden-variety pay rate? 29 River to the Baltic 30 Present time 31 Early late-night personality 32 Bat head? 33 Arm of the Mediter-ranean 36 Certain Baltic natives 37 Somewhat 39 Culinary potpourri 40 Robert with the blues 42 Canine coat? 43 Fragrant resins 45 A deadly sin 46 Syrian leader 47 Of value 48 Norwegian saint 49 1995 earthquake site 50 Physics Nobelist Isidor 51 Emulate a Mr. Universe contestant 55 Play-___

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Crossword Puzzle

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Mark Bluhm

TEMP REP WANTED for sales to local retail community. Easy and fun. Local management support. Could lead to other assignments. Generous compensation. Call 985-5559 for details. Your success is a gimme!

HOME CARE MAYFIELD SENIOR CARE, LLC Openings! Private pay clients, Montrose to Aspen areas. Professional, exceptional and compassionate home care. Cooking (from scratch), light housekeeping, laundry, assistance to appointments, shopping, office administration, pet care. Insured. Local references. 683-1414. jenniferjane@mayfield seniorcare.com

JUNE 2016

(970) 260-2327

Professionally conducted estate sales, executive sales, farm and ranch

THE PROVEN PROFESSIONALS

www.reliableestatesales.biz

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. DO LITTLE SERVICES, LLC Helping seniors, single adults, and anyone maintain home and property. Garden tilling, weeds, trees, hedge trimming. Swamp coolers and general repairs. Free estimates. Jeff 773-6337.

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JUNE 2016

TREE SERVICE Get ready for summer. Tree trimming, tree removal, stump grinding. FREE hauling, boom truck to 85 feet, FREE estimates. Licensed and insured. Chris 260-0222. CRYSTAL CLEAR SERVICES Installation of irrigation pumps, controls and sprinkler systems. Call Brad at 433-7988. HOUSECLEANING AND MORE! Safe and secure small animal pet sitting. Your home, Grand Junction and Clifton area. Reliable house cleaning, once a month or more often. References. Disounts available. Call Benni at 970-241-2611.

BRUNO SRE-3000 Elan Straight Rail Stair Lift. Used only for 2 months. $3,000. 434-9236

WANTED TO BUY 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 TWO CEMETERY PLOTS available at Memorial Gardens in the Garden of Gethsemane, Grand Junction, CO. $1,500 each, plus transfer fees. Contact Steve at 260-1740.

EVENTS Jesus said “Tell my people I am coming back. Get Ready!”

Decoration We come to say hello to our friends, our loved ones And show our respect today In a simple, quiet way. We know death doesn’t know we are here Since God took His breath from you. But maybe He will look down from behind the cloud And smile upon His creation of beautiful flowers On the graves all around

POETRY

CLASSIFIEDS 45

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And know His living children took time out to express Their love and compassion On this day called Decoration. - Lois Peterson

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The Sentinel Group is an advertising group and represents lawyers jointly advertising their services. It is not a law firm or lawyer referral service. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. You should not rely upon any information herein as legal advice. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

46 KUDOS & KVETCH

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kudos \ ku·dos

 “Thank you so much for the wonderful article! (“Literacy changes lives” by Melanie Wiseman in May’s BEACON) Melanie, you did a fantastic job of gathering information and really promoting our program and fabulous tutors. We appreciate you taking the time and interviewing everyone. It really was such great positive coverage!” -Wendy Kirby, Literacy Program Coordinator, Mesa County Public Library District

 “Just picked up a BEACON (May 2016). Wow, here we are on the front cover of Health and Wellness, and then we even have the centerfold! We are so grateful. Whoever did the layout did a fantastic job! The left column of how you can help is a great idea that I never thought about and is very powerful. Once again, the BEACON goes above and beyond for the Huntington’s disease families in this community and for Marie and me. Thank you for your terrific staff and above-par paper for seniors.” -Charlotte Reicks

FUN & GAMES Game answers from page 39

3 5 4 7 1 8 9 6 2

6 1 9 4 2 3 8 5 7

2 7 8 6 5 9 1 4 3

8 2 3 5 7 4 6 1 9

5 9 1 3 6 2 4 7 8

7 4 6 8 9 1 3 2 5

1 6 2 9 3 7 5 8 4

9 8 7 1 4 5 2 3 6

4 3 5 2 8 6 7 9 1

Puzzle by websudoku.com

Reader discretion advised By Anne Ashley

have always considered swearing to be nothing more than an extension of everyday language. I don’t mind it used in aggression, to punctuate a good point or as humor. I even believe that in some cases it’s the only way the narrator can express exactly what they intend. Granted, some words are better left to more grown-up audiences, but there are a few profanities that can be dropped into conversation without offense to even the most pious amongst us. An innocent damn or an innocuous hell is practically elementary these days. Anyone who’s spent 10 minutes in my company learns quickly of my penchant for everything from Disney-style expletives to full-throttle obscenities, depending on the occasion (and topic). No word too decadent, no phrase too immoral, so long as the audience is likeminded, prepared or deserving. I confess to my colorful vocabulary because I wish to provide convincing proof that I am no prude. I’ve been on this earth long enough to have heard, seen, tasted, felt and encountered just about everything. Everything apart from this modern open-mindedness for advertising products that beautify, boost or recover the most private of bodily private parts. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been watching television in the company of guests only to be unexpectedly confronted by an ad for lovemaking superfluities, personal hygiene remedies, constipation tonics or body enhancers. Half the time I don’t even know my guest’s middle names, let alone what feminine hygiene routines they follow. So learning that we can get our hands on the cure for ED or a new pill to make sure we’re ready when the moment arises in between programs is cringe worthy. I’ve seen less uncomfortable faces in a dentist’s waiting room.

It’s not just evening or late-night viewing schedules either. Even daytime programs can catch me off guard when a commercial interrupts a harmless newscast with “good news” that I’m not alone in my world of suffering. Better still, here’s a coupon for my new and improved cream available online at www.fallingapart.com (the modern day alternative to the idiot number). I don’t know about you but I’d rather suffer in silence than to go through all the palaver of inevitably registering with all my relevant contact information on a site that will hold me ransom for the rest of my life and fill my inbox with other equally disturbing products, than to ask for 50 cents off my Secret Sunshine in a Bottle. What is the world coming to? My generation got along just fine without having to rely on commercial breaks to educate us on every ailment, complaint and need we might have had in our early days of maturing. If we didn’t have a parent or a close relative to discretely discuss life’s trials and tribulations with, we plodded on until experience educated us. And I dare say our grandparents also managed without the sponsors of The Great Gildersleeve enlightening them about the treatment for low testosterone or unfair gender expectations. I mean, whatever would Great-nana make of a radio advertisement that informed her of what to do about Great-granddad’s low sex drive? Hell, Nana was probably too busy raising her 12 children and too grateful for his lack of attention to even notice that Gramps was spending more time happily whittling away his time on the porch than pestering her with his devotion. Seriously, it’s not just adult programs that should come with viewer discretion warnings; it’s the @#*!! commercials in between, too! ■

JUNE 2016

kvetch \ kfech  “I have been thinking about the aging process. The unique aspect of growing older is that we are not prepared for it. We have a perspective as children that our parents are old and our grandparents are positively ancient. We love them, look up to them, but can’t picture ourselves becoming like them. As teens we imagine that we are invincible and that we know everything. As young adults and new parents, we are so busy just dealing with everyday life that we have no appreciation for our young healthy bodies, our energy level, or our physical stamina. As we enter our 40s the realization comes that we are middle-aged, but we don’t FEEL that way. Our mental outlook is still that of a much younger person and we find it odd that younger people consider us “over the hill.” In our 50s, a lot of the stress has leveled out, our children are mostly grown and we have time to begin enjoying life and having more fun, but now the years are beginning to show. Staying up until the wee hours? Not so appealing. Reckless behavior? Not so much. The invincibility illusion is long gone and we understand that not only are we vulnerable to injury, illness and other issues, we also become aware that not only did we NOT know everything years ago, we sure as hell don’t know everything now. Still the concept of nearing senior status seems downright goofy. Then we turn 60 and there is no denying it. We begin to lose friends and family. We attend many more funerals than weddings. We adore our grandchildren but are often completely baffled by them. And as our aging bodies begin to betray us at every turn, we still do not think of ourselves as “old.” You younger folks, enjoy your youth and stop to appreciate it. It will be gone before you expect it, and it’s a rude awakening!” – Sherry’s friend

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Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

JUNE 2016

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Mesa County Cattlewomen honor Father of the Year

PARTING SHOTS

By Patty Miller

In celebration of Father’s Day, the Mesa County Cattlewomen chose 83-year-old Beeman Casto as the 2016 Father of the Year. Casto was born February 8, 1933 in Grand Junction, Colorado, but was soon taken back to a ranch in Unaweep Canyon, where his folks Byrel and Vivienne lived, and where he still lives today. Casto met his future wife, Jessy Lines, when she was only two months old. They were married many years later on May 21, 1951 in Grand Junction. Their daughter Janice was born 10 months later and their son Lloyd was born in April 1954. Casto said it was a good thing they were young parents because their kids were energetic. He said the kids would run away from their mother while riding bareback on horses. The Castos have nine grandkids, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandkids. He also has nieces and nephews living in the area. Casto is still a hard-working rancher and said, “I’m retired but not very retired.” He is irrigating before the sun comes up and is still able to saddle his horse and take care of 300 head of cattle and take them on the Uncompaghre in the summer and feed

Fashion, friends and fun. It’s all part of celebrating the 18th Birthday of the local Red Hat Society.

Beeman and Jessy celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

them in the winter. In 2010, a cow jumped over him and knocked him down and he hit his head on the ice, giving him a bad concussion. He can’t hear on the phone too well because of that, but he said he has still been blessed with good health all his life. The Castos bought their ranch from his parents in 1986. Last year they placed 740 acres in a conservation easement with Mesa Land Trust, preserving the land for generations to come. Casto is awarded for his efforts of taking care of the land and raising this food source with gift cards and a pre-cooked roast for Father’s Day. ■

The Mesa County Cattlewomen will be selling their 5-pound pre-cooked roasts from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on June 18 in front of Sportsman’s Warehouse. Roasts are $35. Pre-ordering is recommended. To reserve your roast, call 270-1176.

Three queens lead the local group: Kathy Guerrie, Leslie Kiesler and Lily Fitch. To become a Red Hatter call Leslie at 260-4103 or Lily at 250-6966.

If you would like to see your photos in the BEACON, email them to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

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9 7 0 - 2 9 8 - 7 5 6 9 | st m a r yg j g i ft .o rg P O Box 1628, Grand Junction, Colorado 81502-1628