June 2013 Vol. 27 No. 6

Photo courtesy of Phil and Linda Smith.

Whats InsideAdvice and Ideas ............................ 9Classifieds .................................... 44Crossword .................................... 32Delta/Montrose County ................ 38Faith .............................................. 33Gardening ..................................... 20Garfield County ............................. 42Health & Wellness ......................... 10Laughing Matters ......................... 16Local Lore ..................................... 24Mesa County ................................. 34Parks & Recreation ....................... 22Resource Directory ....................... 30 River City Singles.......................... 35

Ghost TownsColorado has over 1,500 ghost towns. What caused these towns to die out? Read more on page 24.

Western Colorados Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 31,500 Readers.

Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Produced by the BEACONs Advertising Team

Where are you going?

page 4

Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Produced by the BEACONs Advertising Team

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Tour

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Jeep tours may bethe only way

to get therepage 2

Senior Summer Traveler 2013

Your Guide to Summer Travel, Recreation & Festivals

&Festivals

Check out our guide to sweet summer travel and famously fun festivals inside.

Mountain storiesTwo local authors uncover the names and stories of moun-tains in the Uncom-pahgre. Read more on page 6.

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For Phil and Linda Smith and other locals, traveling in their RV is home on the road. They said, We dont call this camping, we call it living.

Heaven onWheels

2 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

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Help! I just got my first senior discountBy Kevin K. VanGundy

Ah, yes, the bittersweet moment of getting my first senior dis-count. Recently, I was at Kentucky Fried Chicken getting the family din-ner for my your turn to cook night. As I was about to pay for my bucket of grilled chicken, the young man looked up to take my credit card and said, Sir, youll be happy to know that we offer a 10 percent discount to seniors.

Now what would you do?

For a moment, I thought about protesting his assumption.

Me a senior? Obvi-ously you need glasses, young man.

Instead, I decided to accept his kind offer by pocketing the buck-fifty in senior savings. I then took my bucket of chicken and my bruised ego and walked out the door.

Shouldnt senior mean super?Well, of course, I think seniors are

just super! But my initial reaction upon being labeled a senior was to shrink back in shock and awe. Why? In many foreign countries to be called a senior is a title of respect and reverence. America, however, is a very youth-dominated culture.

What label fits you?This month, please visit our web-

site, www.BeaconSeniorNews.com and take a poll (two clicks is all),

letting us know which label, if any, you prefer (senior, boomer, etc.).

If you feel passionately about one, then by all means, drop me a line at Kevin@PendantPublishing.com or P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

Got game?From bocce ball to swimming,

track to quilting, dance to golf, and even a black jack tourna-ment, the Western Colorado Senior Games has an event for everyone. Next month, the BEACON will publish a complete schedule of events for this

growing senior competition. The reg-istration fee is nominal and its great fun for everyone.

By the way, advertisers, if youd like to help sponsor this City of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation event, or advertise in the BEACONs special insert, give us a call at 243-8829.

August is our popular pets issue.Readers agree that Augusts BEA-

CON, 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 20. Start sending them in to-day at Beacon@PendantPublishing.com or P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502.

To my father, Eldon, left, and my uncle, Dean, right, and to all of the other fathers out there. Happy Fathers Day!

4 Cover Story www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

Heaven on wheelsBy Melanie Wiseman

Ask anyone who enjoys RVing to sum up their experiences in one word and you will most likely hear: relaxing, fun, adven-ture, journey, friendships, excit-ing, educational, recreational and even heaven.

RVers Phil and Linda Smith, both 69, couldnt agree more. In 2012, they spent nine and a half months, mid-April through De-cember, traveling in their motor home, covering 22 states and five Canadian provinces.

You have to be creative with the space you have and remem- ber that everything you need is available along the way, Linda said. Usually were packing for three seasons on our extended trips, but this time we had to pack for four seasons.

The Smiths have been married 38 years and moved to Grand Junction in 1993.

We were thrilled to move to Grand Junction, as it had been one of our target retirement spots, Linda said.

Life on the roadCamping has always been in their

blood. Linda even had a camper while she was single. Together, they progressed from a tent to a slide-on camper over a truck bed to a travel trailer to a fifth-wheel, then down-sized to a 38-foot motor home so they could pull their Jeep.

We didnt own RVs, we used RVs, Phil said.

They started taking long-term RV trips in 2000.

I cant believe that people ask if we get sick of each other, Linda said. Hes my best friend. Who else would I travel with?

The Smiths treasure the many friendships they make while travel-ing, not only other RVers, but locals from the various places they stay.

Eighty-five percent are like us: enjoying life and making friends with other RVers along the way, Phil said.

Linda said a number of travelers have dogs that they bond with.

Being among friends, even if they are new ones, Linda said, We have never felt in danger or at risk during our trips.

Home away from homeSome RVers get homesick, but not

the Smiths. Im as excited to go on a motor

home trip as I am to get back home, Linda said.

Phil said they remodeled their mo-tor home to feel like home.

Its the same as someone who has a cabin, Phil said. The cabin is also home. When were traveling we dont think about making do in the motor home. It is home.

Technology helps the Smiths stay connected.

Our cabin goes wherever we land, Linda said. With Internet and GPS, its so simple now. I dont know how we traveled without them before.

The Smiths cleared up the miscon-ception that RVing is expensive and out of reach for the majority.

We started when we didnt have much money, Linda said. We just went to the desert.

Phil said you can spend a lot of money RVing, but you can also save a lot and have some great experiences, like spending time in forest service campgrounds.

RVs arent known for their fuel ef-ficiency, but as Phil puts it, Its the angle of the ankle that determines the miles per gallon and we do pretty well.

RV travel adviceWhen in Rome, do what the Ro-

mans do, Phil said. Eat what they eat. Talk to the locals.

Linda said the first thing they do when arriving in a town is go to the local visitor center.

Theyre the pros and they have the cleanest bathrooms, Phil said.

The Smiths aim to stay flexible while traveling.

Were pretty loosey goosey when it comes to planning our trips, Phil said. We have literally loaded up the RV, pulled out of the driveway and sat at the first stop sign trying to decide to turn right or left.

On their 2012 trip, the Smiths had a three-night reservation in Gran Marais, Minnesota. They ended up staying six weeks. There they discov-ered the North Shore Folk School and

Rallying the RVsGetting involved in an RV club is a great way to meet new people who love RV travel and can provide helpful tips for newbies on the road.

Good Sam RV ClubIf youre interested in RVing closer to home and are looking for good fellow-ship, you might want to check into the Grand Junction chapter of the Good Sam RV Club. They take camping trips once a month, April through October, and enjoy local activities, games, have campfires and more. Call 523-5625 for more information.

Chinook RV Club Bruce and Sharon Gallagher of Rifle never pictured themselves as RVers, but were hooked after they bought their first RV, a Chinook Premier, and went on their first three-month trip to Alaska in 2010.

Now Bruce, 62, and Sharon, 60, are active RVers, towing a trailer with two motor scooters, a two-person kayak and their bicycles. Their favorite trip to date was to Newfoundland in Canada.

We fell in love with the people, the culture and the food, Bruce said.

During their trip, they met the retired minister of the interior of Newfoundland and his son. They kept in touch with Bruce and Sharon during their trip via email and became online tour guides.

The Gallaghers found it easy to make friends with other RVers when they joined a Chinook RV Club. The club members organize rallies, which often include activities like potlucks, game nights, day trips, tours and all kinds of sightseeing. For more information, call 360-828-2639 or visit www.chinookrv club.net/chinookwestclub.html

Bruce & Sharon Gallagher at Mt. McKinley.

Phil and Linda Smith at a resort outside Niagara Falls, Canada.

June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Cover Story 5

enjoyed classes such as quilting and woodworking.

We may plan on an overnight somewhere and end up staying for days if something piques our inter-est, Linda said.

Although the Smiths enjoy traveling all over the U.S. and beyond its bor-ders, they find as much joy in explor-ing Colorado. One of their favorite locations is Creede, which has three theatres and great Jeep trails.

Jeeping remains our main recre-ation, Linda said.

Once they stayed in Creede for a month, seeing six professional sum-mer stock shows.

During their 2012 trip, they visited Prince Edward Island, where accord-ing to Phil, you can eat lobster for three meals a day. The Graham Bell Museum on Cape Britain, Nova Scotia was also a highlight. Traveling cross-country also allowed them to visit many friends from Friendship Force, an international exchange program, of which they are active members.

The only states they havent been to will be checked off their list this fall, when they explore Louisianas neighboring states, following a Friendship Force conference in New Orleans.

It would be a challenge to dampen the enthusiasm Monica and Bruce Peers, both in their 60s, have for RVing.

Its sheer heaven, Monica said. Its fun, relaxing and is a great way to explore and meet some of the nicest people. Each time we take a trip, we cross off another destination on our bucket list. Then we add one back on from ideas we have got-ten from other people we met along the way.

For many years, the Peers owned an RV and used it as a rolling hotel.

Now, our RV is strictly a toy, Monica said. We usu-ally head out twice a year for a couple months each time.

The Peers know many

people who RV full-time, but they en-joy their lifestyle at home, which in-cludes friends, volunteering, church and neighbors, and arent quite ready to give that up.

A new life of adventureSharon Hancock, 68, and Jim Faul-

haber, 70, have a new life of adven-tures ahead of them. Recently mar-ried in October, they gave up their apartment in April, bought an RV, and hit the road.

You can play it safe or you can get out there and go for an adventure, Faulhaber said. Seeing new places, meeting new people, and now to do it with Sharon is really special.

Hancock said they want to migrate to warmer weather in the winter, but plan to return to Grand Junction.

We have no responsibilities, so why not? Hancock said. We plan on coming back to Grand Junction at least a couple times a year for a grandkid fix.

Having fun should always remain a top priority when RVing.

We never lack for fun along the way, Phil said. We flip a coin to see who does the laundry and the other one cleans the motor home.

Phil fondly remembers one coin toss resulting in him doing laundry.

While at the Laundromat, he met a fellow RVer who summed up the RV experience in a way hell never forget.

She said, We dont call this camp-ing, we call it living. Publisher ....................... Kevin K. VanGundy

Founding Publisher .................. Susan Capps

Editor ....................................... Cloie Sandlin

Office Manager .........................Lisa Moeller

Office Assistant .......................Genevra Shal

Graphic Design ............................. Heidi Graf

Production/ Photographer ........ Karen Jones

Delivery ....................................Anouk Olson

Advertising Sales ........................Sue Bowen

Delta-Montrose Bureau

Assistant Editor ..................Liesl Greathouse

Advertising Sales ................... Virginia Carlile

Delivery .........................................JR Milner

Garfield BureauEditor/ Advertising Sales .........Cheryl Currier

P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502970.243.8829 800.536.7516 fax

Website: www.BeaconSeniorNews.comE-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 con-stitute 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 2013 All Rights Reserved

National & Regional Award-Winning Publication

Cover PhotoPhil and Linda Smith bought their cur-

rent RV to be able to pull their Jeep along on their travels. They said riding their Jeep on the many trails they encounter is their main form of recreation.

Sharon Hancock and Jim Faulhaber

The Gallaghers and their dog, Gatsby, at the Glass Chapel, Palos Verde, California.

Bruce and Sharon Gallagher at Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick.

Bruce and Monica Peers riding a stagecoach in Barkersville, British Columbia.

6 Feature Story www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

By Liesl Greathouse

The mountains of southwestern Colorado are full of stories and three local authors are helping tell them.

Peaks of the UncompahgreJeff Burch and Don Paulson seek

to uncover the reasons for the names of the local mountains in their book, Peaks of the Uncom-pahgre.

The book explains the official and local names of the moun-tains, their elevations, and the stories be-hind their names. It contains 10 two-page spread panoramas and lots of individual photographs of the mountains south of Montrose, with a total of 80 mountains featured.

The authors de-scribed their book the best in their introduc-tion: We have not of-fered any information

beyond this narrow focus. There are lots of guidebooks and now lots of websites for access to the mountains, and there are certainly lots of other books with pretty pictures. This book is the only one that allows the reader to learn the names, the eleva-tions and the backgrounds of the mountains they see.

Burch, 64, was also the photogra-pher for the book. He has always had an interest in the mountains. Having worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 33 years, Burch has lived in six states, finally settling in Colorado over 22 years ago. He likes to brag about the area.

I tell my friends that the San Juan Mountains are the best part of Colo-rado and our part of them is the most beautiful, he said.

Paulson, 69, was a

Local authors tell the mountains stories

professor of chemistry at California State University in Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he and his wife visited Colo-rado and fell in love with Ouray.

Studying the history of the area around Ouray was my hobby for 40 years, Paulson said. My passion is the history of the railroads and mines.

In the 1990s, Paulson and his wife bought property outside of Ouray and Paulson began to work at the Ouray County Historical Museum, eventually becoming its curator.

The book was first conceived when Paul-son wrote a series of articles in a local news-paper about the his-tory behind the names of the local mountains. Burch contacted him about creating a book combining Paulsons history with his photo-graphs and a partner-ship was formed.

Burch and Paulson

split the work, with Burch taking all the photographs except one, doing the research on the peaks, and add-ing local anecdotes. Paulson wrote about all the stories on the moun-tains names.

By dividing the work, it allowed us to do what we each do best, Burch said.

Paulsons favorite parts of the book are the the two-page panoramas.

It is really cool to stand on a hill and be able to compare the books pictures to the mountains themselves, he said.

The book is perfect for hikers, climbers, hunters, and anyone who loves the mountains or who loves his-tory. As the authors say in their book, It would be a treat for us to someday see you stopped along the roadside, look-ing up at the peaks

Jeff Burch Don Paulson

Courthouse

Mountain

(12,152)

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Fortress o

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Redcliff Pe

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own as

Pe

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(13,642)

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June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Feature Story 7

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entire trip. In the book about Imogene Pass, he

wrote about the Social Tunnel and in-cluded then-and-now photos, which compare sections of road from 100 years ago to how they look today.

I have arranged these guides to be as if you were on one of my tours, each section being a stop along the way, Greathouse said. Each stop has both GPS coordinates and an identifying photo to help you locate that stop. I include a variety of good-ies, pertinent information, some cool photos, jokes and of course spiels, some mine, and some donated by fellow respected guides.

Greathouse gathered the photos and GPS coordinates for the book about Black Bear Pass all on a tour.

That was the most fun because I was actually in the mountains col-lecting information, he explained.

For the Imogene Pass book, he gathered all the information over a couple of trips.

The two books are useful for peo-ple who are taking a vacation in the San Juan Mountains, in either their own vehicle or a rental Jeep.

Greathouse hopes to write more guide books in the future, including ones about Engineer Pass and Yankee Boy Basin.

For more information or to pur-chase a copy of The Tour Guides

Guide to Black Bear Pass and The Tour Guides Guide to Imo-gene Pass, visit www.alpinepara dise.com or call 596-2158.

and pointing to the pages of this book.

For more information or to pur-chase a copy of Peaks of the Uncom-pahgre, visit www.coloradothirteen ers.com, the Montrose Walgreens, Hastings, or Columbine Copy Center.

The guide for tour guidesClay Greathouse tells the stories

of the people who lived and worked in the mountains in his two books, The Tour Guides Guide to Black Bear Pass and The Tour Guides Guide to Imogene Pass.

Greathouse, 51, has worked as a four-wheel drive tour guide in the San Juan Mountains for over 25 years. Originally from Denver, he has worked in both Ouray and Telluride, driving a variety of vehicles from Jeeps to pinzgauers.

As my passion for Jeep tours grew, my interests and knowledge of the area grew as well, he said.

Greathouse started collecting infor-mation for his book seven years ago.

It seemed like a way for me to expand my passion for doing trips to another level, Greathouse said. I enjoy giving tours, but lots of people nowadays use their own vehicles or rent a Jeep to drive, so they do not use a tour guide. My books are the only way I can share my experience and knowledge with those people.

In his book about Black Bear Pass, he wrote about part of the road he enjoys most: the Star Steps, considered the most thrill-ing part of the

8 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

Watermelon Glaze: 2 c watermelon puree 1 T lemon zest 1/2 c maple syrup (can use light version) 1/2 t cinnamon 1/2 t ground chipotle pepper, or to taste Juice from 3 fresh lemons

Chicken: Chicken wings or drumettes 2 c pineapple juice 1/2 c soy sauce 1 T minced fresh ginger 3 cloves minced fresh garlic

TO PREPARE WATERMELON GLAzE, simmer ingredients together in a heavy sauce-pan for 20 min. or until sauce is thick. Makes 2 cups. Keep warm.

TO PREPARE CHICKEN, place the chicken in a large ziploc bag with rest of the ingredients and seal. Marinate at least 2 hrs. or up to 12. Grill until cooked and ar-range on a warm platter. Pour the glaze over the chicken and serve immediately.

Serves: 10

2 c whole milk1-1/2 c sugar2 c creamy peanut butter (not natural)4 oz semisweet chocolate chips (3/4 c)2 c heavy cream1 t pure vanilla extract

LINE a 5-by-10-in. jumbo loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a 4-in. overhang on all sides. In a medium sauce-pan, combine milk and 1 c sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add peanut butter, and whisk until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature.

IN A SMALL SAuCEPAN, bring 1/2 c sugar and 1/2 c water to a boil over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool to room temperature.

IN A LARGE BOWL, using an electric mixer, whisk cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add half the peanut butter mixture and whisk until combined. With a rub-ber spatula, add half the remaining peanut butter mixture and gently fold 3 times (mixture will be rippled).

TRANSFER half the cream mixture to loaf pan. Top with half the peanut butter mix-ture and 1/4 c chocolate mixture. Top with remaining cream mixture, then drizzle with remaining peanut butter mixture and 1/4 c chocolate mixture. With a skewer or thin-bladed knife, swirl mixtures together. Freeze until firm, about 5 hours (or up to 3 days). Let sit 20 minutes at room temperature before serving with extra chocolate sauce.

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June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com adviCe & ideaS 9

Advice Column for the Over 50 CrowdBy Gayle Lagman-Creswick

Dear Old Bag: A girlfriend of mine had a recent visit from a male high school friend. (For them, high school was 57 years ago to be exact.) While they never dated, they were always friends. They both enjoyed their visit together. My friend has been divorced for eight years. Her friend from high school is married and his wife has been in a nursing home for the past four years. His wife has a deteriorating Alzheimers-like disease. She no longer recognizes him and needs total care. Members from both sides of the family have given him their blessings to move on with his life. He visits her every day and feeds her. Both he and my girlfriend are respectful of her and her condi-tion. But I am not comfortable with the situation. Arent they commit-ting adultery? How can they be happy with their relationship while living in sin? Signed, A friend who believes what she reads in the Bible

Dear Friend: So many thoughts go through my head when reading your letter. 1) Why do you have to be com-fortable with this situation? 2) Even if they are committing adultery, what is it to you? 3) Are they living in sin? I do not know and I do not care. I have all I can do to take care of my own shortcomings! 4) While I do not pre-tend to be a Bible scholar, I have a lot of Bible phrases that are programmed into me from my dear mother. One of them she used to use on me when I felt the need to be judgmental of an-other: Judge not lest ye be judged. I cant tell you exactly where to find it, but since you are a Bible scholar, I am sure you know about it. Isnt it lifting a load off you to know you dont have to judge them? Pray for them. Pray for relief from pettiness. Somehow, it seems to me there is always room

Ask the Old Bagfor more love in this world. Other thoughts that come to mind are Live and let live, Never judge a man unless you have walked a mile in his moccasins, etc. Some-day, we will come to a full understanding of life. Good luck. O.B.

Dear Old Bag: My father has been in a nursing home for several years. He has dementia and has not recognized any of us for a couple years. My mother visits him regu-larly. I used to, but not any longer. He is getting excellent care and does not even know us. The prob-lem is that my mother seems to be taking up with a man whose wife is in the home and in a similar shape as our father. I think this is wrong. After all, my father is still alive and she is cavorting right in his face, so to speak. I tried to talk to her about it and she just started crying. How do I deal with this? Signed, Worried daughter

Dear Worried: First of all, please read my answer to the previous writ-er. That all applies to you as well. In addition, your mother is your mother, not your child. She has made jillions of decisions in her life. Many more than you have. Please be respectful of her decision to develop a relationship with someone who well understands the isolation and loneliness of losing a loved one to this horrible disease. Please give her your blessing and do not add to her unhappiness by chas-tising her. And may I chastise you for not visiting your father anymore? You said he does not know you, which is probably true, but do you know him? He is still your father. Just because he does not know you, it does not let you off the hook. You can still love him and help care for him. It is the right thing to do. Prayers and bless-ings your way. O.B.

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

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10 HealtH & wellneSS www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

The Healthy GeezerBy Fred Cicetti

Q. Ive noticed that I cant drink a cup of regular coffee after mid-afternoon. It keeps me awake at night. I used to be able to drink coffee at dinnertime and it never bothered me. Is this another age thing?

Yes. Sensitivity to caffeinethe pick-me-up in coffeetends to increase as you get older. Children metabolize caffeine quicker than adults.

About 90 percent of Americans consume caf-feine daily. More than half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine every day, making it Americas most popular drug.

Caffeine occurs naturally in many plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa nuts. Therefore, it is found in a wide range of food prod-ucts. Caffeine is added artificially to many others, including a variety of beverages. The most common sources of caffeine for Americans are coffee, tea, colas, chocolate and some over-the-counter medications.

Here are some useful numbers to help you determine how much caf-feine you take in:

A 6-ounce cup of coffee - 100 mg A 6-ounce cup of tea - 70 mg A 12-ounce can of cola - 50 mg An ounce of chocolate - 6 mg One tablet of Extra Strength Excedrin - 65 mg

One tablet of Anacin - 32 mg One tablet of Maximum Strength NoDoz - 200 mg

For most people, 200 to 300 milli-grams of caffeine a day isnt harmful. But if you are sensitive to caffeine or the use of certain drugs, you may want to cut down or eliminate caf-feine from your diet. Your caffeine consumption is worth discussing with your doctor.

Caffeine can cause restlessness, anxiety, irritability, muscle tremors, sleeplessness, headaches, nausea, di-arrhea and abnormal heart rhythms.

Some medicines and supplements interact negatively with caffeine. These include some antibiotics and bronchodilators. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether caf-feine might affect the medicines you take.

In the practice of medicine, caf-feine is useful as a cardiac

stimulant and also a mild diuretic. Caffeine is

an addictive drug. It stimulates like amphet-amines, cocaine and heroin.

If you feel you have to have caffeine every

day, then you are addicted to it. Eliminating caffeine

suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches and fatigue. These symptoms usually pass after several days.

Here are some tips if you want to chase away the caffeine monkey:

Read labels carefully for ingredients and keep track of the caffeine you consume.

Gradually reduce the amount of caffeine you take in. This will enable you to acclimate to less caffeine and reduce the effects of withdrawal.

Start drinking decaffeinated coffee, tea and soda.

Brew your tea for less time to cut down on caffeine. Or try herbal teas, which are caffeine-free.

Check the caffeine content in over-the-counter medications that you take. If you can, switch to caffeine-free forms of the medications you need.

If you would like to read more columns, you can order a copy of How to be a Healthy Geezer at www.healthygeezer.com. If you have a question, write to fred@healthygeezer.com.

19 Years of Serving You!

June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com HealtH & wellneSS 11

the sun, follow these tips:

Cover your head and ears with broad-brimmed hats, which offer protection from the suns rays.

Wear tightly-woven clothing made of light col-ored fabrics.

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Avoiding dehydra-tion is important

when out in the sun. Signs of de-hydration may include: dry mouth, thirst, fatigue or weakness, weak or cramped muscles, dizziness, head-aches, forgetfulness, confusion and fever.

To avoid dehydration:

Drink iced fluids before feeling thirsty.

Eat vegetables and fruits with a high fluid content.

Avoid beverages with alcohol or caffeine.

Summer temperatures in Colorado are on the rise and it is important to keep sun safety tips in mind.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S., accord-ing to the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion, Western Chief Medical Oncologist Dr. Walter Quan, Jr. said. With nearly 300 days of sunshine a year, high mountain elevations and Coloradans love for the outdoors, sun safety is vital and can help resi-dents reduce their risk for developing skin cancer.

Here are some precautions you can take to limit your sun exposure and the risk of developing melanoma.

Be aware of the amount of time spent in the sun. Perform outdoor activities before 11 a.m. and after 3 p.m. to avoid high-risk hours. (Even one incidence of sunburn places people at risk for skin cancer in their lifetime.)

Avoid sun tanning. It will help your skin appear younger for longer. (When your tan fades, your skin tries to heal the damage caused by sun exposure. However, your skin never forgets what happens. Radiation dam-age is cumulative over the course of years.)

Teach your children and grand-children to wear sunscreen at a young age. The higher the solar pro-tection factor (SPF), the better.

Eat certain fruits and vegetables that contain immune-boosting ingre-dients and that are rich with nutri-ents. Citrus fruits contain antioxi-dants to protect cells from changes that lead to skin cancer. Eating three or four avocados per week can help reduce skin damage. Vitamin A, found in carrots, has been linked to a reduced risk of sunburn, which can reduce the risk of skin cancer.

When you must venture out into

Stay safe in the sun

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You may have skin cancer if(ABCDE)See your dermatologist if you notice any of these mole or skin changes:

Your moles become AsymmetricMoles have Borders that are irregular or ragged

If a mole is more than one Color or if you notice it has changed color, particularly if it has become black or dark.

Moles have a Diameter of more than 6 mm

A pre-existing mole has ElevatedSkin cancer usually does not hurt. If you or someone you know notices a new skin lesion/mole or a change in something you have had before, see your doctor or dermatologist right away.

Sun safety is vital and can help residents reduce their risk for

developing skin cancer.

12 HealtH & wellneSS www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

Funny as a heart attackBy B. Elwin Sherman

I know what youre thinking: he wouldnt DARE write a humor col-umn about heart attacks! Well yes, he would, because if he didnt, hed have to hang up his humorist shoes.

But first, a revelation: For my dedi-cated readers who arent aware of it, Ive been a nurse for as long as Ive been a humor columnist, and neither discipline has ever worked very well in my life without borrowing from the other.

Try healing without humor. You can do it, but the result is like living with plastic plants. Ive also worked with a few humorless healthcare professionals and thats like spending your day watering plastic plants.

When my wife suffered a heart attack, however, I do admit to not finding the funny in it right away. I reacted as any of us do when a loved ones life is suddenly threatened and we must act to save them, then and there, and without benefit of script or rehearsal.

I dialed information to ask for the phone number for 911. I lost control of all my bodily functions. I chased my head across the carpet after it fell off and rolled under the bed. I screamed Help! in every one of the worlds 6,800 known languages and sub-dialects. Oh, and I had my own heart attack and fell dead. The end.

I did all those things, in my mind, and in less time than it took to type the p in panic. Then, back at real-ity, I called 911. I assessed her vital signs. I was calm, controlled and de-liberate. I stayed with her and helped her breathe. I set everything in mo-tion that ultimately saved her life. I intervened precisely and (except for that one p in panic microsecond) without hesitation.

After I saw her off in the ambu-lance, I went back inside, retrieved most of my head, collected some of my bodily fluids, cleaned the carpet,

left the house and followed her in my car to the hospital with all the con-trolled nurse/humorist muse I could muster.

For reasons known only to those goofy, reflexive coping mechanisms we all have, I first put a harmonica and a bar of bakers chocolate in a tote bag. Somehow, it seemed like the vital contents for a post-heart attack emergency room survival kit.

This brings us to a few rules for surviving your loved ones heart at-tack. Its a work in progress.

If you think prayer will help, pray. If you think having a back-up har-monica song and some bittersweet chocolate at the ready will help, have them with you at all times. My grandma used to say, Whatever flips your skirt. Our coping methods are our own.

Youve now become a caregiver to your partner. Take care not to become a caretaker. Meet them where they are, not

where youd like them to be. This is a good general rule for doctors, nurses, politicians and stand-up comics.

When the publisher for my new book heard the news, he wrote an encouraging note, adding this sage advice, based on his having gone through his spouses heart attack, Dont volunteer to do the dishes or youll be doing them forever. I took this under advisement, and later in-vented Zen Dishwashing and Fry Pan Nirvana.

Believe everything doctors tell you, and dont believe anything doctors tell you. Settle somewhere in the middle.

Dont forget, as you devote yourself to your partners recovery and reha-bilitation, to tend to your own basic needs. Find time to eat, sleep and bathe. Try not to do all these things at once (insert visual of a humorist standing up asleep in the shower and holding soggy toast).

Life as you knew it is over. You now have a new life with your mate,

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Try healing without humor. You can do it, but the result is like

living with plastic plants.

June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com HealtH & wellneSS 13

replete with new strategies for living, and restructured ways of sharing and communicating. Within weeks of their heart attack, youll also know the sodium and sugar content of ev-ery food on the shelves.

In America, as you set out newly determined to find heart-healthy foods, pay close attention. Youre also now adding shopping and cooking to dishwashing and pot scrubbing. The only food I could find at the super-market with no added salt and/or sugar (no wonder were all sick) was toilet paper.

Anyone have a recipe for bathroom

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tissue tortellini soup?Lastly, never lose your sense of

humor and do your very best to keep your recovering partner in play. Ive invented a nursing diagnostic (I may patent it, so be careful). Its called a humding-oscopy. Heres how to perform it.

Stand at your partners side and place one hand on her chest and one hand on her back. Rub her back gently for 10 seconds while chanting, Heal, heal, heal, heal, heal in your best basso profundo cartoon voice. Laugh together. Rest together.

Repeat as needed.

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Grand Junction area residents have an unprecedented opportu-nity to participate in a historic study June 25-29 that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations.

Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65, who have never been diagnosed with cancer, are needed to participate in the American Cancer Societys Cancer Prevention Study-3.

CPS-3 will enroll a diverse popula-tion of up to half a million people across the United States and Puerto Rico and will help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmen-tal and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.

Those who wish to participate in the study can enroll at St. Marys Regional Cancer Centers Advanced Medical Pavilion, 750 Wellington Ave., Entrance 22, in Grand Junction on one of four days:

Tuesday, June 25 from 7 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 26 from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27 from 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29 from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Appointments are required. To make an appointment or for a com-plete list of enrollment dates and times, visit www.cps3GrandJunction.org.

To enroll in the volunteer study, individuals will be asked to read and sign an informed consent form, com-plete a brief survey, have their waist

Help save a life from cancerVolunteers needed for cancer research effort

circumference measured and give a small blood sample. The in-person enrollment process takes approxi-mately 20 to 30 minutes to complete. At home, individuals will complete a comprehensive survey packet that asks for information on lifestyle and other factors related to their health. Upon completion of this process, the society will continue to send period-ic follow-up surveys to update partici-pant information and annual newslet-ters with study updates and results. The follow-up surveys are expected to be sent every few years.

Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the ques-tion, What caused my cancer? In many cases, we dont know the answer, CPS-3 Principal Investiga-tor Dr. Alpa V. Patel said. CPS-3 will help us better understand what fac-tors cause cancer and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer.

The voluntary, long-term commit-ment by participants in this study is what will produce benefits for decades to come.

Taking an hour or so every few years to fill out a survey and po-tentially save someone from being diagnosed with cancer in the future is a commitment that thousands of volunteer participants have already made, Patel said.

To learn more, visit cancer.org/cps3 or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.

14 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

DRIP and droughtBy Marsha Kearns

When you fly into the Grand Valley during the growing season and look down, the stark line between green and brown is strik-ing. Where there is water from the river or irrigation canals, there is an abundance of green plant life. Where there is no water, the landscape is brown and tan, typical of a dry, high-desert environment.

Drought is more than a temporary lack of precipitation. Rather, it is a prolonged period of deficiency in the water supply we all depend on for our daily water needs.

When looking at stream flows in our watershed, the drought of 2012 was the fourth worst drought on record for Ute Water, Ute Wa-ter Conservancy External Affairs Manager Joseph Bur-tard said. Utes snowpack in March 2013 was only at 90 percent of what we had in 2012. This means we will be facing two extreme back-to-back droughts.

Unlike with other commodities, increased demand for water does not create more supply. Our water supply depends on snowpack, which has been only a fraction of normal

for several years in a row. This means reservoirs are already low.

Reservoirs are the water bank we pull from as a backup for the supply from snowmelt, Clifton Water District Assistant Manager David Reinertsen said. When they get low, water is simply not avail-able.

Already this year, the entire state of Colorado has been designated as be-ing in an exceptional drought condi-tion. Many areas are imposing strict enforcement of mandatory conserva-tion measures. Drought monitoring

recently became easier with the launch of www.coh2o.co, a portal into conditions around the state.

Cooperation, not competitionWe have a dual water system in the

Grand Valleyone for irrigation and one for the potable water we use for drinking, cooking and bathing. Our local suppliers of domestic water are the City of Grand Junction, Clifton Water District, Ute Water Conservan-cy District and the Town of Palisade.

Following the drought of 2002, the four water suppliers and the Colora-

do State University Extension created the Drought Response Information Project (DRIP). This group monitors the water situation and implements the necessary stages of drought response.

Snowmelt from the north side of the Grand Mesa is used by Ute Water and Palisade. Grand Junctions sup-ply comes from the west side, above Kannah Creek. Clifton pulls from the Colorado River, which is fed by snow-melt higher upstream. If one supplier runs short on water, the others share, which is why you will hear a united message from them all.

Long-term, constant conservation over time is the most appropriate response to living in an arid envi-ronment, Reinertsen said. The response to extreme drought condi-tions will be immediate. Something must be done quickly and strongly to ensure supply, so all of us have the

basic amount we need for living.

Each water providers system is designed to serve its specific custom-ers. Ute, Palisade, and Clif-ton have river irrigation, and much of Grand Junc-tion uses domestic water for all its needs. When irri-gation is cut back because of dwindling supply in the

reservoirs, everyone turns to domes-tic water use. This puts a strain on all the water providers, because when one supplier experiences a shortage, the others step in to cover the loss.

The Grand Valley water provid-ers and their governing bodies have taken a proactive role in managing our water supplies and storage, Burtard said. Had they not been so aggressive in their foresight, then we, like many other water providers across the state, would also be en-forcing mandatory water restrictions. Thats not to say that mandatory water restrictions will not be coming down the pipeline as we move into the warmer months.

Dont overwaterOverwatering outdoors is by far the

biggest drain on our supply. Putting in new lawns and gardens during drought conditions is irresponsible. Instead, learn ways you can make the

Constant conservation over time is the most

appropriate response.

a birds eye view of the Grand Valley.

June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com 15

most of less water usage, inside and outside.

Its not necessary to water your yard five days a week, City of Grand Junction Water Services Manager Rick Brinkman said. In fact, its detrimental to your lawns overall health. If you water your lawn prop-erly two to three days a week, it has a much better chance of surviving any drastic cutbacks we may face.

Depending on the type of soil you have in your yard, it may not be able to efficiently absorb 15 to 20 minutes of watering all at once. The result is twofold: Excess water runs off and is wasted, and your lawn loses the deep-root conditioning that will keep your grass healthy even during the

stress of drought.The CSU Extension office has a

lot of great information on how to efficiently and effectively maintain your lawn in the Grand Valley. Learn-ing how much water your soil type can accept, how much water your lawn needs in a week, and how much water you are actually putting on it will help you achieve a fabulous lawn without wasting water. Visit their website at www.ext.colostate.edu or call 244-1834 (Mesa County), 249-3935 (Montrose), 874-2195 (Delta), or 625-3969 (Garfield).

Waste not, want notWater being wasted can stem from

a lot of things, Reinertsen said. If you see water running down the street, hitting hard surfaces like side-walks or roads, or bubbling up from the ground somewhere, please call us. It could be that someone is just unaware of the problem. It could be that theres a leak in the system we need to fix.

DRIP will be putting out its mes-sage in a variety of ways, such as inserts in your water bills, warnings on billboards and suggested ways to save water. Read the information. Heed the warnings. Embrace the need to conserve. If we dont do this, we will all pay a hefty and painful price. But if we do our part, we will all have enough water to meet our basic needs.

We are in an extreme drought, Burtard said. Water conservation goes beyond the mentality of turning off the water when you brush your teeth. Those elementary behaviors should have already been in place. Extreme drought means you are not watering your lawns, you are not filling swimming pools, you are not washing your cars in your driveway. Extreme drought means that you are changing out your water-consuming landscapes to something native to our semi-arid climate.

If you have questions or concerns about your own usage or if you see water being wasted, call your local supplier of domestic water.

We all need to remember we are out here together in the middle of the desert, Brinkman said. Making

Tips for maximum water conservation

Water turf areas deeply and infrequently. Let your grass grow a bit longer than usual to retain moisture and need less water.

Reduce turf areas by installing planting beds of flowers and shrubs.

When replacing shrubs and plant-ings look for low-water drought-tolerant replacements.

Group plantings according to the plants water needs.

Water your plants only when needed, as overwatering can drown plants, even in our semi-arid environment.

Mulch planting beds to help cool the soil and retain moisture.

Adjust the lawn mower to a higher cut to lessen turf stress.

Routinely check the sprinkler system for leaks and broken spray heads.

Dont run sprinklers on windy days, because much of the water evaporates before hitting the ground.

Learn how to shut off the automatic sprinkler system in the event of a malfunc-tion or rainstorm.

Learn how to adjust your sprinkler sys-tem. Timers dont know whats happening with the weather.

Water less in the cool spring and fall and adjust your timer to suit.

sure we all have the water we need depends on our ability and willing-ness to help each other.

DRIP members are available to give presentations and spread valuable information about how to use water wisely. Learn more about their edu-cation efforts and options at www.thedripwebsite.com.

stage 1 - Steps for Voluntary Conservation Governmental entities reduce water use

Serve water in restaurants only upon request

Use low-flow showerheads and low-flush toilets

Reduce street cleaning and other outdoor

washing of surfaces and vehicles

Do not fill swimming pools

Turn off ornamental fountains inside and outside

stage 2 - Steps for Mandatory Conservation

Require compliance with all steps in Stage 1

Eliminate fire hydrant use to only that required for public safety

Increase penalties for wasting water or violating restrictions

Restrict landscape water usage to subsistence irrigation

No new landscaping allowed

Tammy McCurry 970-216-8497tammy@ironmaidenllc.com www.facebook.com/ironmaidenllc

1979 Three Eagles Way, Loma, CO 81524

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16 laugHing matterS www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

Laughing MattersStolen truck Submitted by Karen Jones

Jim came running into the store and said to his buddy, Alex, some-body just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!

Did you see who it was? Alex asked.

I couldnt tell, Jim said. But I got his license plate number!

Dumping garbage Submitted by Pam Fix

A police officer pulled up next to a guy unloading garbage out of his truck and into a ditch.

Why are you dumping garbage into this ditch? the officer asked. Dont you see that sign right over your head?

Yep, the man replied. Thats why Im dumping it here. It says, Fine for dumping garbage.

A couples feud Submitted by Monica Kaiser

A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led them to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their posi-tion. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, Relatives of yours?

Yep, the wife replied. In-laws.

Home for eternity Submitted by Shelby Garson

A forester and a lawyer were in car accidents on the same day and showed up at the pearly gates together.

St. Peter greets them at the pearly gates and takes them to the homes where they will spend all of eternity. They get into St. Peters holy ve-hicle and head on down a gold road, which turns into a platinum road, which turns into a road paved with

diamonds, and then they see a mansion.

St. Peter turns to the lawyer and says, Here is your home for the rest of eternity. Enjoy!

Then St. Peter took the forester to his home, back down the diamond studded boulevard, down the plati-num highway, down the street of gold, down an avenue of silver, along a stone alley and down an unpaved footpath to a shack.

Here you go, St. Peter says. He goes to leave when the forester says, Wait minute! How come the lawyer gets the big mansion and I get this shack?

Foresters are a dime a dozen here, St. Peter said. We have never had a lawyer before.

Smart kid Submitted by Donna Dixon

A young boy enters a barbershop. The barber whispers to his custom-er, This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you.

The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other,

then calls the boy over and asks, Which do you want?

The boy takes the quarters and leaves.

What did I tell you? said the bar-ber. That kid never learns.

As the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store.

May I ask you a question? the customer asks the boy.

The boy nods. Why did you take the quarters

instead of the dollar bill? The boy licks his cone and replies,

Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over.

Smoking kills Submitted by Bob Breazeale

Two old geezers are sitting on a park bench when the first one lights a cigar. In a very disgusted voice, the second one says, How can you smoke those dirty, filthy, stinking things? They can kill you.

Dont I know it, said the smoker. Smoking killed my nephew last year.

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June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com laugHing matterS 17

Lung cancer? asked the second guy.

No, the smoker said. He was walking across a busy street and he stopped to light up a cigarette and he got run over by a bus.

Sacramental whiskey Submitted by Evelyn Clarke

Haggarty ran a red light and plowed headlong into a car driven by Father Cogan. The auto turned over three times and the priest, thrown from the vehicle, lay stunned beside the road.

Haggarty rushed over and said, Im terribly sorry, Father!

Saints above! said the shaken priest. You almost killed me!

Here, Haggarty said. Ive got a little sacramental Jack Daniels. Take some and youll feel a lot better.

Father Cogan took a couple of large swigs and continued his tirade. What were you thinkin about, man? You nearly launched me into eternity!

Im sorry, Father, Haggarty said. Take a few more sips. Itll ease your nerves.

After the priest had almost finished the entire bottle, he said, Why dont you have a drink?

No thanks, Your Reverence, Hag-garty said, Ill just sit here and wait for the police.

Life after Mary Poppins Submitted by Bob Breazeale

Have you ever wondered what happened to Mary Poppins after she got out of the movie business? Well, I found out. She moved to Los Angeles and opened a psychic shop. She be-came very adept at predicting people who had bad breath. In fact, she was so good at it that she became world-famous. So she decided to change the sign over her shop to read: Super-California-Mystic-Expert-Halitosis.

Church squirrels Submitted by James Witt

There were five houses of reli-gion in a small town: a Presbyterian church, a Baptist church, a Methodist church, a Catholic church and a Jew-

ish synagogue. Each was overrun by pesky squirrels.

One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels. After much prayer and consideration, they deter-mined that the squirrels were predes-tined to be there and they shouldnt interfere with Gods divine will.

In the Baptist Church, the squirrels had taken up habitation in the bap-tistery. The deacons met and decided to put a cover on the baptistery and drown the squirrels in it. The squir-rels escaped somehow and there were twice as many there the next week.

The members of the Methodist Church got together and decided that they were not in the position to harm any of Gods creation. So they

humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free a few miles

outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back.

The Catholic Church came up with the best and

most effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church.

Now they only see them on Christmas, Ash Wednes-

day, Palm Sunday and Easter.Not much was heard about the

Jewish Synagogue, but they took one squirrel and had a short service with him called circumcision and they havent seen a squirrel on the property since.

Marriage and romance Submitted by Kathy Forni

A wife, being the romantic sort, sent her husband a text that read, If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking, send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you!

The husband, typically nonroman-tic, replied, Im on the commode. Please advise.

Send your funniest jokes to: beacon@pendantpublishing.com

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18 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

Senior services in Colorado will get an additional $4 million for the first time in years, deregulation of telephoneincluding Internet phone and landline servicewas stopped, voting for older adults will be easier, and biosimilars are going to need more than the word of two drug companies to prove they are safe for consumers.

Those issues and more make up AARP Colorados accomplishments this 2013 legislative season. The ses-sion wrapped up May 8 and Advoca-cy Director Kelli Fritts and her band of more than 20 legislative advocates ended it with many wins to celebrate.

I dont think I can convey how amazing this session has been for consumers, AARP State Director Morie Smile said. No one else was fighting some of these issues. I cant thank our wonderful, dedicated and off-the-charts, smart advocate volun-teers enough for the work they have done this year.

Among the battles won is the pas-sage of Senate Bill 13-127. The bill called for additional funding of senior services, including Meals on Wheels, transportation and ombudsman ser-vices that help keep seniors in their homes and living independently.

Gov. John Hickenlooper said he would give a one-time increase of $2 million toward such services. Sorely underfunded, any increase to the Older Coloradans Fund would be use-ful. But that wasnt enough for AARP, especially after years of stagnant funding and budget cuts.

We put together a coalition, found sponsors to introduce SB 127, and we went for $12 million over three years for senior services, Fritts said. We didnt get that much, but we did get $4 million.

Thats just the beginning. AARP Colorado will return next year to fight for another increase. Jean

Nofles, lead advocate on the bill, said the additional funding is a significant step forward in ensuring that these vital services will be available for all older Coloradans.

Senate bill 127 was a turning point for the members of the Colorado Legislature, in that they began to understand the need for Coloradans to support the senior population in the state and not push them over the edge toward Medicaid, said Linda Worrell, AARP co-lead advocate on the bill.

Another AARP Colorado accom-plishment is the demise of House Bill 13-1255 and Senate Bill 13-287. These bills were designed to deregulate telephone servicetake away any and all possible future local oversight of communications companiesand let consumers fend for themselves against big Telcos. AARP advocates said that wasnt good enough.

Fritts said the issue comes up every year and AARP was the only group registered in opposition of these bills. It was a dramatic session, in which HB 1255 passed with all yes votes in the House, but came to a halt in the Senate with the introduction of SB 287. This was an opportunity for AARP Colorado advocates to hit SB 287 hard in the Senate. Both bills died on the vine.

Smile said she gives a lot of credit to AARP Executive Council Member and utility expert Steve Merrill. Mer-rill, who has an impressive back-ground in the utility industry, was the lead advocate on both bills.

Overall, the legislation was not necessary and for the bills to fail, thats good for the consumers, Merrill said.

The hardest-fought and sweetest win for AARP Colorado is the failure of House Bill 13-1121. Also known as the biosimilar bill, HB 1121 had dozens of lobbyists registered to rep-

AARP helps increase senior funding and makes impact in 2013 legislative session

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resent nearly 430 entities, either in support, opposition, or as monitors of this bill that would have allowed drug companies to release untested biosimilar drugs, which are similar to, but not the same as, regularly prescribed medication.

Early on, AARP advocates were concerned about the safety of the drugs because they are not FDA-approved. AARP advocate, Dr. Shirley Leow, a retired PhRMA scientist, dug in and found cause for concern.

Killing the biosimilar bill was one of the greatest joys ever, Fritts said. It had so much support from leader-ship on both sides of the aisle and things got emotional, too, as some consumer groups backed the bill because they believed the sponsors who promised cheaper drugs.

Other great victories include the

failure of two PERA bills, the demise of a bill that sought to kill the health insurance exchange, the passage of Medicaid expansion, the creation of mandatory reporting for at-risk adults, and the Colorado break-through voters bill, which will allow voters to register just prior to voting, among other benefits.

Although AARP Colorado pointed out the work of its lead volunteers on the most urgent bills of the 2013 ses-sion, all advocates made a difference, Smile said.

Every single person was instru-mental in the success of the group this year, and our thanks go out to all our advocates, other volunteers who support them, and the AARP staff, both in-state and at the national level, she said.

AARP Colorado re-cently named Terri Potente of Fruita as its state president.

AARP state presidents are volunteers, who may serve up to six years and lead the organizations Colorado executive coun-cil, as well as its volunteer corps.

Prior to accepting her new post, Potente has been a mem-ber of the AARP Colorado Executive Council for five years. She has been instrumental in educating the public about Social Security and Medicare, she has addressed Colorados delega-tion in Congress, and has appeared as an AARP spokeswoman in a number of local and national media.

We are extremely pleased to have Terri as our new state president, AARP State Director Morie Smile said. Terri is a dynamo who is pas-sionate about the issues that impact older adults. She is a true team player and extremely generous with her time.

Potente grew up in Ridgefield, New Jersey. She left The Port Authority of

Fruita woman named AARP state president

New York and New Jer-sey after 26 years to join the Rockefeller Founda-tion in 1988. She traveled extensively to southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, visiting villages sponsored by the founda-tion. She was the foun-dations assistant to the president and liaison to the board of trustees, the

Rockefeller family, and the political community.

Potente left the foundation in 1999, married her husband, Ed Apanel, and moved to Fruita. In 2000, she joined Mesa County RSVP as recruitment manager and retired in 2006. She was then appointed to the RSVP Board of Directors and served as president for four years. She remains a member of the board.

Im very interested in protecting the earned benefits of seniors and ensuring that Medicare and Social Security are kept strong for present and future generations, Potente said. AARP gives me the support I need to fight on behalf of seniors in my com-munity and beyond.

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20 gardening www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

By Kathy Kimbrough, Garden Scentsations

Q. I recently attended Beacon-Fest and one of the vendors was showing a Tower Garden. It looked very interesting, but does it work? Alexis F., Grand Junction

While I do not have first-hand knowledge of the Tower Garden, I did visit their website and found some interesting information. The Tower Garden is a state-of-the-art vertical aeroponic growing system. Aeroponics is the process of grow-ing plants in an air or mist envi-ronment without the use of soil.

The Tower Gar-den has a 20-gal-lon reservoir or storage tank at its base. This reservoir stores the Tower Tonic nutrient solution and water. Inside the reservoir is a small, low-wattage submers-ible pump. The pump pushes the nutrient solu-tion up through a small, central hose and drips through the cen-tral tower using a special device that evenly cascades the nutrient solution over the plant roots that are exposed there. On the journey down the tower, the nutrient solution feeds the plants roots and becomes highly oxygenated as gravity tumbles it back down to the reservoir.

From this information, I assume it would be convenient for people who do not have enough space to plant a garden in the ground or for those who cannot bend over to maintain a traditional garden. Monica Cullinane

is a local distributor and Im sure she can answer any additional ques-tions you may have about the Tower Garden. Visit her website at https://monica.towergarden.com or call her at 683-0166.

Q. I hear different answers about this from my neighbors all the time. At this time of year, what is the optimum time to wa-ter your lawn? How often should you water it? Do the guidelines change as the summer goes on? Brittany S., Grand Junction

The watering needs of our lawns as well as the rest of our landscapes do change with the seasons. Early in the season and going into fall, our lawns need less water than during the heat of the summer. As far as the optimum time of day to water, there is no better time than in the middle of the night! I know this might sound crazy but heres why: There is less evaporation due to hot tempera-tures and sun-light, and there is

less chance of fungal diseases occur-ring because you are not increasing the amount of time the grass is wet, as grass is naturally wet during the night with the formation of dew. If you cannot water between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., then consider watering from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Yes, you will lose some water from evapora-tion but the dew on the grass will have dried by then, thereby reducing the risks of fungal diseases.

How often you water will be de-

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June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com gardening 21

English Lavender (Lavandula angusti-folia) or true lavender has been grown for centuries around the world for good reason. It is beautiful, hardy, fragrant and very useful. It is also ideally suited to our hot, dry, high-desert climate in western Colorado. Lavender comes in many colors and sizes to suit any land-scape. The classic dark purple lavender is very popular but dont pass up the chance to try the violet, blue, pink or white lavenders. Most English lavenders have a mature size of 2 feet high by 2 feet wide. Plant your lavender in a loca-tion with excellent drainage and full sun. Lavender is a xeric or water-wise plant but needs regular watering to get estab-lished. Some great companion plants are Agastache, purple coneflower,

Penstemon, yarrow and Artemesia.

Plant of the Month termined by the type of soil you have. We have two types of soils in our area: heavy clay and sandy loam. Heavy clay soils hold the water and have poor drainage while the sandy soils release the water and drain too quickly. A quick test to see if you need to water your lawn can be done with a long screwdriver. If you cannot easily push the screwdriver into the soil for more than 2 inches, its time to water. Ideally, your lawn should be irrigated once a week. While you can water more frequently, watering deep and infrequently takes into account the root system of trees and shrubs. If you have clay soils, however, you may have to water a couple of times on your watering days with shorter duration to be sure the water is ab-sorbed and not running off. Colorado State University Extensions website

has a great and much longer explanation of how to water estab-

lished lawns and how to manage your automated irrigation system. Their website is www.westerncol oradogardening.org. Look under the Turf section.

Q. My lavender plants are slow to green up this year and they seem dead on one side and not the other. Is there some-thing wrong with them? Should I cut out the dead stems? Paula B., East Or-

chard MesaIt sounds like you

have winter damage on your lavender plants. We have had an exceptionally cold winter and spring this year, and it can take a toll on lavender plants as well as other woody shrubs. Most of the damage probably occurred this spring when the south side of your plants heated up during the day and cooled down drastically during the night. The

extreme temperature change weak-ens the plants. Mulching your plants or covering them with a floating row cover will mitigate the temperature changes and eliminate the winter damage. When you cut out the dead branches the lavender plant should produce new buds and green up with the warm temperatures. It may look a little lopsided but it will recover and fill out over time.

Garden Checklist 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 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 Mexican dishes, from salsas to fajitas to pinto bean soup. To have fresh ci-lantro 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 or bolting. Other fast-growing crops are Swiss chard, spinach, lettuce and radishes.

Fertilize trees and shrubs now. This will give new growth time to harden before late fall cold. Fertilize roses once they are in full bloom.

To develop bushier plants and delay blooms until August, pinch back the tops of mums and asters when the stalks reach about 8 inches. Repeat each time they reach that height until mid-July. Remove the spent flowers or dead-head the pe-rennials that have already bloomed. Many will bloom again later in the season. Rose blooms should be pruned back to a set of five leaflets.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as lilacs and viburnums before they set their blooms for next year in early July.

Mulch tomatoes after the soil is thor-oughly warm to conserve moisture and help prevent blossom end rot.

Mulch the whole vegetable garden with permeable fabric or organic material to maintain even soil moisture and inhibit weed growth.

Send your questions to Kathy at Beacon@PendantPublishing.com or mail them to the BEACON at P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502.

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22 reCreation www.BeaconSeniorNews.com June 2013

To register for the following activities, visit www.gjcity.org/recreation.aspx or call 254-3866. For a complete list of activities, pick up the Activity Guide at the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation office, 1340 Gunnison Ave. or at the Senior Recreation Center, 550 Ouray Ave.

June 13 Sego Canyon/Trail Through Time No hiking is required to see rare pictographs left by the Archaic, Fremont and Ute peoples in Sego Canyon. Venture to a well-preserved ghost town and enjoy a picnic lunch. Take an interpretive stroll along a trail through a dinosaur quarry. The Trail Through Time is riddled with fossilized dinosaur bones and plant material. Van leaves at 8:30 a.m. from Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $25.

July 25 Excursion of the Senses Tantalize your taste buds and scintil-late your nostrils in this excursion of the senses. First stop will be High Country Orchards for a peach-pack-ing tour and wine tasting at Colter-ris. Next, we will wander through the lavender fields of Sage Creations, where lavender bundles are $5. We end our day at the Palisade Brew-ing Company for a tour and outside seating at the base of the Bookcliffs. Bring money for lunch at the brew-ery. Cost of $20 includes transporta-tion only. Meet at Lincoln Park Barn at 10 a.m.

August 8 Montrose Museums The Montrose County Historical Museum has an extensive collection of farming and mining equipment. The Ute Indian Museum has the most complete collection of Ute Indian artifacts in the nation. For lunch, we will have a picnic. Cost of $35 includes all expenses. Meet at the Lincoln Park Barn at 9 a.m.

SENIOR SPORTS Pickleball is played most days at

about 10 a.m. at the tennis courts at Lincoln Park. In mid-June, the courts will be under construction, so pickle-ball will be played at Pine Ridge, located at Ridges Boulevard and Desert Trails Drive in The Ridges.

Senior softball is open to men and women ages 50 and older. For more information, call Carl at 255-6688.

August 26-30 Western Colorado Senior Games The 12th annual Western Colorado Senior Games is for anyone 50 years and better as of August 26, 2013. Compete in track and field, swim-ming, pool, golf, 5K running or walking, bowling, cards, dance, horseshoes, bocce ball, pickleball and more! Registration forms are available at www.gjcity.org, the Parks and Recreation office, the Senior Rec-reation Center, and in Julys BEACON. Register by August 12. Cost is $19 to compete in many competitions.

CLASSESBeginning Line DanceClass is at 12:15 p.m. on Mondays, June 3-24, at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $12.

Gentle Yoga Class starts at 7:45 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, June 3 through July 18, at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $4 to drop in.

Introduction to Classical DrawingDiscover your inner artist in this class held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on June 15 at Stone Cellar Studio. Cost is $75.

Estate Planning WorkshopThese free estate planning sessions are at 4:30 p.m. at Brown and Brown, PC, 1250 E. Sherwood Drive. Visit www.brownandbrownpc.com or call 243-8250 for details.

July 17 Estate planning for baby boomers

August 12 Estate planning for the elderly

senior Recreation Center550 Ouray Avenue - 970 243-7408

The Senior Recreation Center offers activities for seniors age 50 and older.The center is open Monday - Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Annual membership is $10.

Se n i o r re c re a ti o n ce n te r Mo n th ly ca le n d a r o f ev e n tS

Monday 9:00 a.m. Cribbage 10:30 a.m. Computer Classes 12:00 p.m. Gray Gourmet 1:00 p.m. Card Bingo 5:30 p.m. Singles Pinochle (1st & 3rd Monday)

Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Cribbage & Pool Tourney 12:00 p.m. Gray Gourmet 1:30 p.m. Bingo

Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Ladies Pool, Card Social 9:30 a.m. Jack & Jill Pool Tourney 10:00 a.m. Free Blood Pressure Clinic (3rd Wed) 12:00 p.m. Gray Gourmet 1:00 p.m. Pinochle

Thursday 9:00 a.m. Canasta 9:00 a.m. Cleaning Crew (Last Thursday) 9:30 a.m. Bunco (3rd Thursday) 10:00 a.m. Band (1st Thursday) 12:00 p.m. Pokeno 7:30 p.m. Dance

Friday 9:00 a.m. Canasta, Painting Class & Pool Tourney 12:00 p.m. Gray Gourmet 12:30 p.m. Bible Study 12:45 p.m. Bridge

Saturday 8:00 a.m. Bridge Class 9:00 a.m. Bridge 1:30 p.m. Bingo

Sunday 1:00 p.m. Dance (1st & 3rd Sunday)

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Fun after 50Offered by Grand Junction Parks and Recreation

June 2013 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Fruita 23

June 7 & 8 Star Party Join the Western Colorado Astron-omy Club for multiple observing sessions. Weather permitting, you will see planets, springtime galaxies, star-forming nebulae, and clusters. Telescopes will be set up. Meet in the Saddlehorn picnic area parking lot just after sunset. Cost is $10 for a vehicle pass through the Colorado National Monument or use your an-nual pass. For details, call 858-3617 or visit www.wcacastronomy.org.

June 29-September 21 Fruita Farmers Market The Fruita Farmers Market takes place from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. every Saturday on the civic center lawn in the heart of downtown Fruita (weath-er and crops permitting). Admission is free! For more information, call 858-3894.

July 4 Centennial Band Concert in the Park Come and enjoy the wide variety of selections performed by the Cen-tennial Band at 7:30 p.m. at Fruita Civic Center Pavilion. This summer concert series features fun music, show tunes and other familiar favor-ites. Dont forget your lawn chair or blanket. Admission is free. For more information, call 260-0112.

FRUITA SENIOR CENTER ACTIVITIES

All activities below are offered by Fruita Parks and Recreation. To regis-ter for any of the following activities, call the Fruita Community Center (FCC) at 858-0360, stop by 324 N. Coulson, or visit www.fruita.org. Events take place at the FCC unless otherwise noted.

June 3 & 17 Food for Thought This group will discuss nutritional facts and will share recipes, menus and more that can help make meal-time more enjoyable. This group meets from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.

June 13 & 27 Be coupon savvy Meet with other coupon-crazy shop-pers to sha