November SENIOR NEWS: being kind on Thanksgiving
Dear Seniors,
Will this be your first big family gathering at Thanksgiving since the COVID restrictions took place?
How will things change? Will you be more kind in your conversations, and just be glad to see everyone face-to-face again? Perhaps you should make a “game plan” rather than “play it by ear.” Thanksgiving is all about FAMILY… not gifts… not free-for-all family bbq’s outside in the backyard …not taking off for a hike while visiting the family cabin… but sitting together at a table and sharing, laughing, eating a traditional turkey…
One could say… You know we almost lost members of our family to the virus. We should be thankful they are alive. What is it about them that you hold most dear? What makes them fun, or dear, or good talkers, or hardy eaters, or huggable?
Let’s make this a Thanksgiving Comeback that we will always remember! — Wishing YOU and Yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
………….your editor, Kathleen Spring
Senior Activities report
Lyons seniors got a delicious, genuine old-fashion turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and fixings lunch at the Senior Center on November 16th. It was followed with pecan and/or pumpkin pie; and a game of BINGO.
NEW FURNITURE AND FLOORING at Lyons SENIOR CENTER
Many thanks to Boulder County Area Agency on Aging who got a grant to modernize the Senior Center hall this year. It took many months longer than expected, but the final piece was delivered this month. Attention was first given to the structure/maintenance of the building, including fresh paint. Then a new floor (no more carpet). And finally new tables and chairs. This included a new table for the coffee, and one for the television, and a new four chair comfy sitting area near the front window. It is now squeaky fresh, and easy to clean.
NEW Boulder County Aging Office representative in Lyons:
Lyons BCAAA office in the LYONS Senior Center has a new SENIOR Resource Specialist= Sara Lloyd. Sara will soon be accepting meetings in November, by appointment only, at the office in Walt Self Housing bldg/Senior Center. The office is a shared space, so more folks than Sara will be using it. They are still awaiting the new furniture, so she does not have Senior Center office hours as of 11/17/22. Clients can contact Sara at slloyd@bouldercounty.org or 720-766-8844. All community members are welcome to contact the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging at 303-441-1617 or infoADRC@bouldercounty.org.
Sara made a stop in the Senior Center at lunchtime on November 16th, at lunch time, to introduce herself. We have asked her to sit down with us and do an interview, so we can write an article about her, (twice) but she has declined. She has kindly supplied us with her official BCAAA “biography”, as follows: Sara is really excited to begin working with the BCAAA and is looking forward to working together to help Boulder County’s residents. She has been a companion caregiver and discovered a lot of joy in this work.
Her experience is varied, though she has worked mostly for nonprofits. Most recently, Sara has worked in her church’s Outreach Committee, which seeks and implements ways to help people locally, nationally, and internationally. She also serves on the Leadership Team of the Round Pantry, which distributes food to 800+ households twice per month.
Sara loves to learn new things, reads voraciously, gardens haphazardly, knits occasionally, loves her dog and cats, is wholly devoted to her family and spending time with them, and absolutely adores singing.
NOVEMBER IS:
Trans-awareness Month/ and Trans Remembrance day: A month to celebrate transgender and gender nonconforming communities and to raise awareness for this community through education and advocacy activities. See ARTICLE.
Native American Heritage Month. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” And each president thereafter has signed it in again. Commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. See ARTICLE.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF TOWN NEWS
ACTIVITIES: The Rave to the Grave took place with 1,000 people attending! in LaVern Johnson Park, raising thousands for the Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund! ===See the Lyons Recorder article for photos of weekend events === The Spooktacular Parade was wall-to-wall people in costumes! The school band led the parade. And afterwards the kids went door-to-door to trick or treat, with it all being done and quiet by 7 p.m. ===The Garden Club brought back their Annual Chili Contest (with $5 bowls) and said they had their best night! ===What a night to remember!
CONSTRUCTION NEWS: The Lyons Recorder has ARTICLES on several construction projects around town. (1.) Hwy 7 over the St. Vrain River still has a traffic light, which stops traffic each way for about three minutes, while construction goes on, and (2.) The construction on Hwy.36 between Lyons and Estes Park has once again extended its finish date, and is now aiming for December, “the end of the year.” (3.) The solar panel farm has been delayed due to a need to find funds to finance it.
BUSINESS NEWS IN LYONS: (1.) Spirit Hound Distillery is celebrating their 10th anniversary in November! See their web site/or Facebook page for news on special events. (2.) This week is your last chance to order Holiday pies and such from our local bakeries, especially the Dairy Bar. (3) Colorado Cherry Pie Company, located in Pinewood, was on Good Morning America in the final competition for the best pie in America (11/15/22). (4) Oskar Blues is celebrating 25 years. See their 25 year history captured in an article in the Lyons Recorder in December.
THANKSGIVING community dinner: The River Church will NOT have one this year. Millsite in Ward has one: Opens at 5 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. Bring a dish to share. Call to reserve your dish and seat 720-547-9438. Location: 44365 Hwy 72, Ward. (I spent 3 days making inquiries, and could not find another one in EstesPk, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder; wow, that’s sad).
Christmas Bazaar and Parade: The craft gift Bazaar will take place, as usual, the first weekend of December, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the elementary school gym. It is now called Artisan Market. Buy local! Great, unique items. No foreign, mass-produced items. The museum will have a booth, and will sell gifts and history books. They will also have an intricate old-time Oklahoma dollhouse, 2stories, up for Silent Auction (made by Anne O’Brien). ===The Parade takes place Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local people or groups put together home-made floats with Holiday lights on them. The theme is “Starry Starry Night.” There will be hot chocolate and cookies available. There will be no fireworks, due to it being “year-round fire danger,” and Lyons being near so much Open Space that has previously been ignited. The Lyons Community Church will have free community chili dinner, starting at 5:30 p.m., and throughout the Parade, in the lower level. (thanks!) For more details see the town web page, or our Calendar page. https://lyonsrecorder.org/events/
NEWS YOU CAN USE
DISPOSING OF UNWANTED OR EXPIRED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: Boulder County
- The Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) offers prepaid envelopes for all unused medication including legally held controlled drugs and narcotics.
- Find resources for disposal of expired and unwanted prescription drugs at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)or FDA’s website Using Medicine Safely.
- For information on proper disposal of controlled substances or other drop-off options, call the Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) Hotline at 303-786-7223.
- Many hospitals have a box in their main waiting room (call first)
- Many drug stores have a box near their pharmacy dept. (call first)
- SHARPS: Safe Syringe Disposal Locations in Boulder County – Boulder has 3 locations and Longmont has one; including a kiosk by Boulder City bldg., at Arapahoe & Broadway. The Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) is currently accepting sharps from Boulder County residents free of charge during normal hours of operation===Sharps are NOT accepted by recycling programs. Don’t put them in the bin, even if in a recyclable container.
AGEISM: “CBS Sunday Morning” had a piece on ageism on 11/13/22. You can still catch it online. One woman being interviewed said, “in the tech world, those 30 years often draw unwelcome questions: “I’ve been asked my age, I’ve been asked, ‘How long are you going to work? Aren’t you getting tired? Are you going to stick around? … “Can you imagine someone in their twenties or thirties or even their forties being asked those same questions?” Allen said. “And yet, for some reason, it’s socially acceptable to say those same types of things to a woman in her sixties. ===Everyday ageism refers to those sort of minor comments, interactions, exposures that suggest that aging is undesirable.” University of Oklahoma professor Julie Ober Allen conducted a large-scale nationwide survey to assess just how pervasive it really is. She found that more than 93% of older Americans between the ages of 50 and 80 frequently experience everyday ageism interactions and experiences. ===Author Ashton Applewhite is also getting the word out in her book “This Chair Rocks,” with hopes of catalyzing a grassroots movement, like the women’s movement, to raise awareness of ageism. // You can also read the full article here: === When I was working in an office and hiring people in the 1990s, we had to not ask YOUNG WOMEN their age, or in any way ask “do you plan to have a baby soon?” Employers hated training someone in to the job, and then have them leave soon after… to get married and stay home, or have a baby. Times have changed.
COVID – is spreading in CO == County Health Director Tom Gonzales, MPH, noted that Governor Jared Polis has extended the COVID disaster declaration to rapidly respond to and to support healthcare systems to include RSV and flu.===“Co-infection with flu and COVID is possible,” Mayer stated. “If you get sick, call you doctor first for guidance. Urgent cares and emergency rooms are packed. You primary care physician may be able to help you over the phone.”=== Alan Qualis, CEO of Banner Health Northern Colorado, said the company’s facilities are seeing 25% higher than normal volumes in their emergency departments. “Most COVID patients appear in the ER and are then sent home with a plan of care,” Qualis said.
DECEPTION IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAMS: Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair Bob Casey (D-Pa.) along with Democratic members of the Finance Committee in urging the Biden Administration to implement additional consumer protections in Medicare Advantage (MA), following an increase in reports of deceptive marketing practices aimed at seniors in the program. · Reinstate protections loosened during the previous administration.
- Monitor MA disenrollment patterns and use enforcement authority to hold bad actors accountable.
- Provide clear guidelines and training to ensure agents and brokers understand and adhere to best practices.
- Implement robust rules around MA marketing materials and close regulatory loopholes that allow cold-calling.
- Support unbiased sources of information for beneficiaries, including State Health Insurance Assistance Programs and the Senior Medicare Patrol.
The letter comes amid a dramatic increase in complaints of deceptive marketing practices, with complaints doubling between 2020 and 2021. A report released earlier this month further confirmed this increase, and described tactics used by insurance companies, brokers, and third party marketers to push seniors to sign up for their plans, including deceptive mail advertisements, misleading claims about increasing Social Security benefits, aggressive in-person marketing tactics, and enrolling beneficiaries in a new plan without their consent. (10 other Democrat senators signed the Letter; no Republicans).
====FEEL GOOD===
December 6th Colorado Gives Day –Join in on Colorado’s statewide movement! On the first Tuesday of December since 2010, Coloradans have come together to support the nonprofits that make a difference in our lives. Colorado Gives Day has grown to be Colorado’s largest 24-hour giving event, raising more than $362 million for nonprofits across the state since it began. (Note, you can sign up today, and it will post on Dec. 6th.) Many of the nonprofits have “matching campaigns” where you donation is automatically increased in size! You can search for local Lyons ones, too. ColoradoGives.org is home to Colorado Gives Day, and your one-stop shop for making good happen for our community.
DONATE YOUR IRA DISTRIBUTION: ==what us a QCD== In most cases, distributions from a traditional Individual Retirement Account are taxable in the year the account owner receives them but there are some exceptions. A qualified charitable distribution is one of the few exceptions. A QCD is a nontaxable distribution made directly by the trustee of an IRA to organizations that are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. QCDs can’t occur from Simplified Employee Pension plans and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees IRA. Making a QCD can benefit the taxpayer by reducing their taxable income while they support qualifying charitable organizations of their choice. The taxpayer doesn’t have to worry about meeting the standard deduction or itemizing deductions with a QCD.
===PEOPLE IN THE NEWS====
Announced 11/15/22: The petite black woman who danced with President Obama and Michelle Obama at the White House died at 113 years old. Virginia McLaurin met the Obamas at the White House in 2016 after her ‘campaign’ to meet the president went viral. Immediately upon meeting them, she danced with the Obamas. The moment was captured on video and went on to be viewed more than 70 million times on the White House’s official Facebook page.
SOAP OPERA LOVERS: Days of Our Lives viewers will see Victor Kiriakis for the last time on Monday, Dec. 26, when the late John Aniston’s final episode begins streaming on Peacock, TVLine has confirmed.====Aniston’s death was announced by his daughter, Friends vet Jennifer Aniston, on her Instagram account Monday. “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew,” she wrote. “I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain.” He was 89 years old.
FRIENDS: for those of you who knew long-time residents Ruth & Scott Corwin, who moved a year ago to Oregon, they will be coming to Lyons area to visit friends and relatives in Thanksgiving week. Give them a call to learn the date they’ll be at the senior center.
Please do not stop reading the Newsletter here… there are lots of great (new) bits of information below; it’s not just a list of past links.
SCAM NEWS
It’s the Holiday season and you need money to buy gifts? It’s a hot time for the Publishers Clearing House scammers to say you won. Do you remember the tv ads with someone coming to the door with balloons saying you won? The Prize Patrol is live with the million dollar winner; but the scammers say you’ve won $10,000 (or less) and therefore it’s not done live. PCH never has strings attached. They do not ask for a bank account info. There is no processing fee, tax, or special handling charge to get the prize. It’s delivered free of charge to you. PCH sends it to you via UPS, FedEx or USPS Express Mail. Sometimes the scammers send a check and ask for a portion back; then the first check goes bad, and they have your money. This info was provided by PCH.
COVID-19 NEWS, FLU SEASON
COVID cases are increasing in Colorado, and across the country this fall. == The fall is predicted to be a “bad flu season,” mainly due to people no longer wearing masks or social distancing.
The flu vaccine is safe and has ‘no’ or mild side effects. (2) It will NOT give you the flu. (3) Seniors are especially at a higher risk for serious flu complications, which could result in a hospital stay.(4) each year’s vaccine is new to control the current year’s virus’s.
If you NEED someone to come to your HOUSE, call this State of Colorado “call center” and ask them. It may take a few weeks for them to come out. You can also call this number if your results are not returned in three days: 303-731-2993
REGULAR MONTHLY ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS
LUNCHES: Served Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the Walt Self Senior Center (located in the Boulder Housing apartment complex community center next to the Post Office). You can order a tasty catered meal by 1 p.m. the day before at 303-441-1415. Indicate “carry out,” or go to the building at 12 noon, and come inside (masks optional). Lyons seniors 60+ only pay $3 donation, or what you can afford. (others pay a flat $12). The voice message states what the meals are for the week, or stop by during lunch hour and pick up a copy. Sponsored by Boulder County Aging (BCAAA) office.
SENIOR OUTINGS – see “Activities” below
SENIOR EXERCISE – free classes – open to all Lyons seniors 55+
As of October 20: (1) new place: Walt Self Center, lower level (2) new time: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (enter thru back/alley door but park on street, at Sandstone Park). Contact Lisa: LRamsey@TownofLyons.com. 303-823-6622, ext. 30 to sign up, and if you have questions. Go here for more details and to register: https://www.townoflyons.com/624/Register-for-Recreation-Programs
FOOD PANTRY: Wednesdays – 3:30 to 6 p.m. – for those in need. Contact LEAF for more information. Come inside and pick what you need. At the Lyons Community Church hall, lower level, park on Main Street. (Or donate non-perishable food 9:30-3:00 p.m.)
Crisis Help
Mental Health Partners, Colorado — Crisis Center for walk-ins 24/7 – 3180 Airport Rd., Boulder
(normal resource center: 2935 Baseline)
The country-wide CRISIS hotline/emergencies is now in effect: 988 = for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. July 2022.
Lyons local LEAF offers mental wellness counseling. In most cases it is free, and can be charged to your insurance of Medicaid program. Write mentalwellness@leafLyons.org for confidential help.
Don’t Call 911 – instead Call 211 – for services and questions (eg, I’m being kicked out of my apartment – get the phone number of housing aid, or free legal aid)
9-1-1 == If there is an emergency situation which calls for help from a “mental wellness counselor”, when you call 9-1-1 for police assistance, you can ask for Co-Responder Lynette Anderson to also come along.
Medical Tip of the Month
ANNUAL OPEN MEDICARE SIGN UP // OR CHANGE: Oct 15 to Dec 5: Free Help: You must schedule an appointment.
Participating Medicare enrollees are invited to connect with Boulder County Area Agency on Aging counselors starting October 20. Open enrollment period runs from Saturday through Dec. 7, during which time people can review or change their plans for next year.
BCAAA Medicare counselors are State Health Insurance Programs certified and can help enrollees by comparing their current plan against other options. Counseling appointments are both virtually and over the phone. Call BCAAA’s Medicare Appointment Counseling Line at 303-441-1546 or email medicarecounseling@bouldercounty.org.
For those in Larimer County, contact the Aspen Club, in Estes Park/Ft. Collins. They have become the lead agency to which seniors and their family members turn when they have questions about Medicare and related health insurance.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
November 19, 2022 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am – Lyons Fire Protection District is holding a pancake breakfast and will be presenting the new Engine to the community at Station 1, 251 Broadway St. At 11:00 a.m. the Engine will be dedicated in honor of the life and service of volunteer Firefighter Griffin Ferguson.
CRAFTS/PAINTING: The library has three crafty/art classes coming up and two aimed at writers. Check their web site for the details. Limited space! =a gift and wrapping = watercolor card = Cricut machine craft == Word Wednesday for writers == author speaking “how not to be boring”
December 21, Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. – includes a craft and pastry in December = Monthly Birthday party is on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, for all those having birthdays this month. For those wanting to each lunch at noon, they must order lunch day before by 1 p.m. (see above BCAAA Lunch for details). The group plays a fun social game or does a craft (free); and enjoys a pastry. All seniors invited!
December 12th Bus trip, Monday; `12-4:30p.m. —We will be treated to a private screening of the new Christmas Movie “The Fabelmans” by Steven Speilberg, which is a semi-autobiographical film. Comfy recliner seating. Length: 2.5 hours. Cost $10 or ask about the scholarship. Be sure to contact Lisa Ramsey at Town Hall to sign up and pre-pay. ===Lyons seniors Ages: 55 and up—sponsored by the Town, and paid for by LCF grant. Please also indicate if you’d be willing to wear a mask on the bus so that those with possible health issues might be able to join. Leave Walt Self bldg., and go to AMC Westminister.
BOULDER COUNTY AGING== “Fresh Conversations” about staying healthy/mainly food topics – second Tuesday of each month – free -This group discusses eating healthy.===== December 14th– Fat can be Heart Healthy: Types of Fat to Enjoy and Types to Limit==Register here: REGISTER and you will be sent a Zoom link before the event.
New — VOTING Results: see a long list of final results of elected politicians, and initiatives passed or not passed, as well as quotes from some local winners in the Lyons Recorder article. ===Voters within the Town of Lyons have approved two local ballot measures regarding an increase in the lodging tax by 73%, and by 77%, allowing for arts and cultural facilities to be a permitted use and non-profit facilities to be a conditional use in the parks and open space (POS) zoning district, according to the unofficial results available from the Boulder County Clerk & Recorder. === Pretty much all incumbents (and Democrats) won seats in the Senate and House races in Colorado.
BINGO – (1.) Longmont Bingo Hall, Longmont, (behind the Wendy’s) every Sunday – funds go to the Middle/High School equipment (2.) Estes Park American Legion Hall, every Sunday 6 p.m.
VETERANS: Information and support services are available to Veterans every Wednesday at the Estes Park American Legion Hall, from 9-11 a.m. New Opportunities coming soon. Esteslegion.org – Menu available. // Boulder American Legion has: meals, trap range, and Texas Hold Em card games. American Legion Post #10, 4760 28th St., Boulder // Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs // Boulder County Veterans Services, 515 Coffman, Suite 150, Longmont ========================================
See the Lyons Recorder weekly
==“Things to Do” article for activities and deadlines… such as art openings, library events, deadlines, and more.
==WEEKLY “News Briefs” about what’s happening around TOWN, go to Lyons Recorder’s “Editor’s Notes”
Happy Birthday, Seniors! Stay Warm! It looks like we are entering a cold Winter!
November Birthdays:
Happy Birthday to Ruth Corwin (moved to Oregon; was a big volunteer in Lyons), Kate Kerr (Chair of Friends of the Library and volunteer at LEAF), David Agee (we missed him in October), Cheri Hofer (now has an official Mexican resident Visa), Victoria Simonsen (our Town Administrator, who is now “one of us,” at the age of 60 years!
Be sure to say “Hi” and Happy Birthday to these folks! It’s always nice to get a friendly hello!
If you wish to be on our Birthday List, please write us! LyonsRecorder.Editor@gmail.com
NEWSLETTER — to be assured that you get a copy of the monthly, award-winning, SENIOR NEWS — add your name to the Loving Lyons Seniors Group email list. This newsletter/article has been produced for approximately 20 years by Kathleen Spring, and has been published in full in the Lyons Recorder since November 2020. Email: LovingLyonsSeniorGroup@gmail.com
TO SEE PREVIOUS SENIOR NEWS articles, click HERE
