NOVEMBER 2015 Vol. 29 No. 11 Montrose & Delta Counties’ Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 13,650 Readers.

Final Flight B-17 pilot makes

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Final Flight

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NOVEMBER 2015 3www.BeaconSeniorNews.com EDITORIAL

What is it about war that fascinates us?By Kevin VanGundy

S ince reading the book “A Higher Call” by

Adam Makos and Larry Alexander and more recently “A Pilot’s View of World War II” by Winifred Tappan, I have wanted to see the inside of a B-17 bomber, as that plane was such a central point of each book.

As part of the recent air show, the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona brought its restored and operational B-17G to town. To walk through it was exciting enough, but when they offered to fly me over the Grand Val-ley in it I was as giddy as a Cub Scout in a camping store.

But this was no toy. Nicknamed the “Flying Fortress,” the B-17 was the battle tank of the skies and a lot more deadly.

Having never been to war, I’m sure that I romanticize it too much. In fact, for the people that I have spoken with who have been there and done that, there’s no romance to it at all. To those who built that B-17 bomber, to those who fired its weapons and to those who sacrificed for my freedom, thank you.

In honor of our veterans and in observance of Veterans Day, we

at the BEACON have put our best efforts forward to compile a list of resources, freebies and events for our veterans in this issue of the BEACON Senior Newspaper.

Happy Holidays insertOur area’s finer local retailers have

gathered together to advertise in this month’s Happy Holidays insert. From bicycles to bagels, you’ll find an appropriate gift idea for the people on your list.

If you’d like to do something nice for someone older, might I suggest you buy some socks and take them by any of the area nursing homes? For some reason, they always seem to need more socks. I think it has some-thing to do with those industrial-sized clothes dryers they use.

Happy Thanksgiving! ■

The Grand Valley as seen through the waist gunner’s door on a recent flight of the “Sentimental Journey” B-17 bomber.

The BEACON Senior Newspaper is looking for freelance

photographers in Delta and Montrose counties.

Email your cover letter and resume to Cloie@PendantPublishing.com

Please include some samples of your work.

No phone calls, please.

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NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com4 COVER STORY

By Melanie Wiseman

W ini Tappan has had lunch at the Montrose Senior Center every

weekday for the past 13 years. Over the years her interest has grown in the stories of the 30-50 people she meets there daily.

A year ago, one meal and one conversation with Bob Boecking, 93, opened the door to her legacy of tell-ing the untold stories of veterans.

“[Bob] mentioned his journal, and at my request he brought it for me to read,” Tappan said. “I think I got as far as the fourth page before I thought to myself, ‘This has got to be published.’”

The result from a year-long process of interviews and methodical re-search is the book “A Pilot’s View of World War II: Memoirs of B-17 Pilot Robert Boecking.”

A Pilot’s View of World War IITappan credits Robert Boecking’s

journal, his memory of the past, and the Air Force for providing the mate-rial for her book.

“Fortunately, the Air Force has marvelous records of the people who were in their service,” Tappan said. “They even had an interview they had done with Robert several years ago that confirmed what he told me.”

According to Tappan’s book, Boecking was in his sophomore year at the University of Nebraska, just over a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when he enlisted in the military. He enlisted rather than be drafted so he could choose his branch of service.

“I am not going to be a ‘ground pounder,’” Boecking said, referring to his decision to join the Air Force.

He had received a small plane (Pip-er Cub) pilot’s license at age 18, and the Air Force proceeded to train him to be a bomber pilot.

“I had hopes of becoming a fighter pilot,” Boecking said. “But the Air Force had other ideas.”

Boecking spent the next three years serving as a B-17 Pilot with the 8th Air Force, 379th Bomb Group.

“The fact that the cockpit in the B-17 is extremely small, and I am small (5 feet 5 inches tall), made me a perfect candidate for the job,” Boecking said.

Members of the 379th Bomb Group were trained, assembled and operational at Kimbolton Airfield in England, August 12, 1944.

The 379th Bomb Group received several unique honors, including two Presidential Unit Citations for its

accomplishment in combat,

best bombing results (percent on target), greatest tonnage of bombs dropped on target, largest number of aircraft attacking, lowest losses of aircraft, and lowest abortive rate of aircraft dispatched.

Memories from the war vary for each veteran, but for Boecking they include actor Jimmy Stewart, who was stationed at his base, and a four-day pass to Scotland, which he never saw. Instead he and a friend spent all their time in a hotel sobering up from celebrating their freedom over a bottle of Scotch.

“I remember the first time I saw the inside of a B-17 bomber,” Boecking said. “I couldn’t believe how small the spaces were that the gunners had to work in. I never could understand how my 250-pound friend could fold himself into the rear gunner’s posi-

A B-17 pilot’s view of World War II

B-17 Cockpit photo by Nathan Kinney

Front gunner seat photo by Nathan Kinney

On October 5, Boecking had the rare opportunity of flying in a B-17 one last time when “Sentimental Journey,” a restored B-17 World War II bomber, arrived in Grand

Junction as part of the recent air show. It was a rare experience indeed, as many B-17 pilots did not return home from the war and only a few B-17s were ever re-

stored. Boecking was given the red carpet treatment from the Sentimental Journey crew and members of the media that had gathered for the event.

During the flight, Boecking had the best view on the plane looking out the front gunner’s position in a glass bubble at the nose of the plane. Upon landing, Boecking expressed his gratitude and delight

when he said, “I had a great time going back up. I can die a happy man.”

ONE LAST FLIGHT

NOVEMBER 2015 5www.BeaconSeniorNews.com COVER STORY

Publisher .............................Kevin K. VanGundy

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

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

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P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502ph: 970.243.8829 fax: 800.536.7516

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tion. Each mission lasted eight to 10 hours.”

The B-17 was known as the “Flying Fortress,” as each plane carried six gunners. Ten men manned each plane.

“The thundering roar of 36-48 mammoth planes each tak-ing off every 15 to 30 seconds is a sound I will never forget,” Boecking said. “Once we were in the air, we had no way of contacting any other plane or home base.”

Being part of the B-17 team meant being prepared 24/7.

“We never knew when we would be called to go on a bombing run,” Boecking said. “It could be anytime of the day or night.”

During World War II, 754,818 bombing runs were carried out and Boecking flew on 36 of them.

“That doesn’t seem like very many, but to me it was a grueling experi-ence that I never want to repeat.”

“A few of our missions were relatively easy, with no fighters, not much flak or ground fire, and no damages to speak of. On other missions we paid a heavy price. I’ve recorded all of this on my Mission Journal pages. They are very brief accounts of a lot of action. They also form a kind of memorial for each of the men lost on those missions. I have not forgotten any of them. They each paid the ultimate price. I didn’t have to pay that price. I was so very, very fortunate.” —Robert Boecking

Mission Target Map. Robert Boecking flew 37 missions (one was aborted) between August 18, 1944 and December 19, 1944.

Front gunner seat photo by Nathan Kinney

Boecking’s mission journalBoecking’s journal of his 36 bomb-

ing missions was a valuable resource for Tappan’s book. Here are a few excerpts.

Mission–1, August 18, ’44 Target: Maastricht, Railroad Bridge crossing, Mouse River(Also includes a list of 10 friends shot down during several missions)

Mission–5, September 10, ’44 Target: Sindelfingen near Stuttgart, Motor truck plant.Started wearing parachute on bomb runs in case ship blows up.

Mission–6, September 11, ’44 Target: Merseburg, GermanyNo. 1 engine hit and knocked out. No. 4 en-gine hit at same time and knocked out. Radio Mans leg hit. Roughest yet. Was Awarded Air Medal Today!!! I’ve had it.

Mission–21, October 25, ’44 Target: Gelsenkirchen, GermanyAlmost got a direct hit in nose. One large piece hit my right window even with my head. Rough Flak!!! I’ve had it.

Mission–25, November 9, ’44 Target: Siegfried Line near Metz on the Moselle River11 more to Go!!! Take me back home.

Mission–34, December 24, ’44 Target: Merzhausen, GermanyWhat a hell of a xmas eve and day we had!!! No xmas dinner!!! 2 more to go!!!

Mission–36, December 29, ‘44 Target: Wittlich, Germany Rail yard and supply dumpLAST MISSION!!!! TOUR COMPLETED!! That’s ALL JACK!!! ■

Cover Photo: Robert Boecking poses in front of “Sentimental Journey,” a B-17 bomber just like the one he flew when he served in World War II. The plane visited Grand Junction as part of the recent Air Show.

NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com6 FEATURE STORY

Story and photos by Callie Corley, Prime Montgomery

W alking up Andrew Higgins Drive to the

corner of Magazine Street, the National World War II Museum rises against the New Orleans skyline like a giant stone vault, holding the history, and perhaps some secrets, of what’s been termed America’s “Greatest Generation.”

It’s a history touching every facet of American life. Sixteen million men and women served in the armed forces during World War II. Inside the museum’s five (soon to be six) buildings are the stories of those lives. For many, those stories are also passed down from generation to generation.

The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion is the place to start your journey through the museum. There you can buy tickets and talk to museum vol-unteers. With a little luck, you’ll hear a first-hand account from one of the approximately 20 World War II veter-ans who volunteer with the museum. The Memorial Pavilion is also where you start your “Dog Tag Experience.”

With a general admission ticket to

Blood of Heroes: Visit the World War II Museum in New Orleans

the museum, you receive a dog tag allowing you to follow the life of a World War II participant. The Train Car Experience is your first stop with your dog tag, recreating the first leg of a journey that carried millions of Americans away from their families and into service. Throughout the museum you check-in at different sta-tions, collecting the stories for your dog tag and learing more about the person whose life you’re following.

If your museum trip starts early, Jeri Nims Soda Shop is a great place to grab a snack or a quick break-

fast, while The American Sector is a full-service restaurant serving lunch and dinner. You can add a little flair to your visit with a live show at Stage Door Canteen, where music of the war years comes to life. Find the show lineup and ticket information online before your visit at www.stagedoorcanteen.org.

Once you leave the Memorial Pavilion, cross the street to the main portion of the museum. The newest addition, added in 2014, is Campaigns of Courage, considered the heart of the museum experience. The Road to Berlin exhibit showcases the grueling challenges servicemen faced in the European theater, from the deserts of North Africa to Germany’s doorstep. The interactive experience brings together the entire campaign from battle to battle, and reveals the strate-gy and sacrifices that helped win the war. The exhibit presents a personal perspective on the cost of war, with personal items, such as family photo-graphs strewn across a beach of real sand from Normandy. The Road to Tokyo exhibit is scheduled to open later this year.

Continue your journey through history with a stop at the U.S. Free-dom Pavilion: The Boeing Center.

Replicas of six World War II-era aircraft, including B-17 My Gal Sal, are sus-pended in air. The four-story viewing deck provides a 360-degree view of the aircraft. The Vehicles of War exhibit offers a glimpse of what it was like on the ground, facing an attack from different war machines, or being rushed from the battlefield with an injury. There’ll you’ll also find the Medal of Honor Wall and the interactive “Final Mission: The U.S.S. Tang Experience.”

Set aside enough time to see every-thing at the museum, including the “Beyond All Boundaries” movie (pro-duced and narrated by Tom Hanks). Each requires an additional ticket and happens at pre-set times throughout the day. Be sure to check times and prices online before you go at www.nationalww2museum.org.

“Beyond All Boundaries” is a 4D experience that puts you on the front lines. Archival footage and narra-tions of real life stories bring to life a growing threat in Europe and news of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. The movie affects every one of your sens-es, enabling you to better understand the magnitude and weight of the war

NOVEMBER 2015 7www.BeaconSeniorNews.com FEATURE STORY

“A PILOT’S VIEW OF WWII” AUTHOR FINDS LOVE IN WRITINGWini Tappan authored her first book at 87. Now at age 89, she is currently working on her fourth—proof that it’s never too late to follow your dream.

Tappan went back to college at age 50 and earned her master’s degree by age 55. She retired from teaching at 75 and said her most rewarding experience was teaching high school-level disabled students.

Retirement threw her a curve ball when she was informed she had been overpaid Social Security benefits for 11 years, and the government wanted the $25,000 back. Five appeals later, the ruling was reversed. The result of her stressful experience was her first book, “Grappling with Government Abuse: My Social Security Nightmare.”

Her second book, a lactose-free cookbook, offers substitutes and recipes for those who are lactose intolerant.

Tappan is currently working on a new book “Silent Voices.”

“It is a compilation of letters from servicemen and women in World War II to their families back home, newspapers, family albums and of course more research,” she said.

She is especially excited to have recently interviewed the sister to whom some of these letters were written before her brother was killed in Normandy.

“I’m hoping to make people today stop and think, and appreciate what the individual per-son is doing,” Tappan said. “These are individual voices that have never been listened to.”

Purchase Tappan’s books at Buckskin Books in Ouray or Out West Books in Grand Junc-tion, on Amazon, or online at SanJuanPub.com/shop-online/books-for-sale/.

that changed the world. You feel the rumble of tanks as America enters the war, and see and hear steam rising from the jungles as American troops fight for freedom. The produc-tion also highlights the courage of Americans at home, as every citizen–male, female, black, white, immi-grant–answered the call and lived up to the demands of wartime.

One of the most emotional stories in the museum is that of the U.S.S. Tang. The interactive experience puts you inside America’s most decorated World War II submarine on its last patrol. The commander gives orders as visitors man battle stations. The experience combines actual tasks with an overhead pro-jection of the submarine’s final, fatal fight. Standing at a duty station, the makeshift compartment rings with the sounds of firing torpedoes and mechanics. There’s a sense of pride as the crew takes down more enemy vessels, followed by panic with the realization your efforts aren’t enough to save the ship.

If you’ve already been to the muse-um, the new additions should bring you back on your next trip to New Orleans. You’ll leave feeling more proud than ever to be an American, knowing your cultural heritage runs in the blood of these heroes.

Meet a History MakerHaving the chance to talk to and

learn from a World War II veteran is something we won’t be able to do much longer. I met two extraordinary men on my visit.

Arthur Arceneax, 92, was a Marine pilot who’ll tell you from the start he’s lived the very best life. And he’s got the heart and spirit to prove it. A career military man, Arceneax saw fighting in Okinawa, Korea and Viet-nam, finally retiring after 22 years of service at the rank of Lt. Colonel. Along the way, Arceneax married the girl of his dreams and says that without the uniform, he’d never have been able to catch such a wonderful woman. He tries to be at the museum every Saturday sharing his story.

Bert Stolier, 96, joined the Marine Corps at 17 and was a warrant officer on the U.S.S. Northampton. He sur-vived the attack on Pearl Harbor and an attack at sea. Stolier spent three days in the waters of the Pacific Ocean before being picked up by a Navy ship.

If you’ve got a World War II veteran in the family, don’t miss the oppor-tunity to take them to see the muse-um. They’ll get free admission and a special veteran’s ID. ■

Having the chance to talk to and learn from a World War II veteran is something we won’t able to do much longer. With a little luck, you’ll hear a first-hand account from one of the approx-imately 20 World War II veterans who volunteer with the museum, such as Arthur Arceneax, left, and Bert Stolier, right.

NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com8 ASK A GENEALOGIST

S ay the word “census” and you’ll see an immediate gleam in the

eyes of a genealogist. That’s because census records contain a wealth of in-formation to help trace your family tree.

Congress uses the census to deter-mine how many representatives each state will have. The first federal census was conducted in 1790, just seven years after the American Revolution. Census takers had to cross streams, climb hills, walk door to door, and battle the weather to interview every family. The census has been taken every 10 years since then. The contents of the census are confidential so it can only be released after 72 years. Hence, the last census, from 1940, was released in 2012. The 1950 census will be public in 2022.

Federal censuses are often the first resource a genealogist goes to. Infor-mation varies from decade to decade. From 1790 to 1840, only the head of household was listed by name. Later enumerations listed names of spouse and children, and anyone else living in the household and their relationship to the head of house. As the years went on more details were added, such as age, date of birth, birthplace, race, oc-cupation, date of immigration, etc.

The 1930 census asked if there was a radio in the household. That may seem like an odd question, but since the cen-sus was taken during the Great Depres-sion, owning a radio was a clue to the family’s financial status. It also indicated whether or not a certain rural area had been electrified.

The 1900 census is the only census to list the birth date of a person. The 1920 census is the only census to ask the year a person was naturalized. In 1860, the census reported the cause of insanity.

Print every census record pertaining

Census records: a go-to resource for your genealogy search

to your family search and compare the information. Don’t be alarmed if names are spelled differently, or the ages are different. Birth dates weren’t particular-ly important in the early days—not like they are today.

Once you’ve found your family on a census, take note of who lives near them. Sometimes relatives lived near each other.

If you find a relative in the 1910 census but can’t find them in 1920 (and you know they were alive) try a differ-ent spelling. Another approach is to search for a child that had an unusual name. Try looking up the next door neighbor whose name might be easier to search.

Ancestry.com, a subscription web-site, carries the entire run of federal census records and has indexed them. The Montrose Genealogy Center has a subscription to the international version of Ancestry and is free to patrons.

FamilySearch.org, a genealogy research tool operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offers free access to most of the census records and to many other records as well. The church is famous for its family history research and has millions of records online.

HeritageQuestOnline.com also carries the census records. It’s free through the Montrose Regional Library District and other subscribing libraries. All you need is a library card to access it.

There are many other websites that share census records. Don’t limit your search to just one.

For more information, visit The Montrose Genealogy Center, 700 E. Main St., Suite 103. It’s open from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month. For details, call 240-1755. ■

Ask a Genealogist, By Dorothy Causey

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NOVEMBER 2015 9www.BeaconSeniorNews.com ASK THE OLD BAG

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

Dear Old Bag: My mother is 88 years old and living in her own home. I have suggested she might do well in assisted living. One day she said to me, “Why would I go to a place like that when my son has a big house and lots of room?” She caught me off guard. I stuttered and said that I would have to speak to the family about that. That’s how we left it. I spoke to my wife about her coming to live with us and she is dead set against it. It’s not because she doesn’t like Mom, but it’s because my wife is very active and is gone a good part of every day. She said it would be just as if Mom was living alone and she would do better in assisted living. What do you think? Signed, Son

Dear Son: I tend to agree with your wife. It’s not because you don’t want her, but it’s about what will be best for her. I have seen it work with Mom living with her children, but most often it causes tension within the family. In assisted living Mom would have her meals prepared, friends, an activity program, 24-hour supervi-sion, etc. She would also be able to visit you frequently, and you could join her for occasional meals. I’d be willing to bet that after a few months she will wonder why she didn’t do it sooner. Take her to visit a few places and if she has friends in one, take her there to see them. Let me know how it works out. Good luck. OB

Dear Old Bag: Recently you had a letter from a man who asked if you thought it was okay to date a wom-an for the purpose of sexual activity. His sister thought he was a “dirty old man” and you agreed with her. I am a man who disagrees with you. I am not interested in marriage again, and I do not need a companion muddying up

ASK THE OLD BAGAdvice Column for the Over 50 CrowdBy Gayle Lagman-Creswick

my life. I still have fire in my furnace, and I have found that there are plenty of women who feel the same way. I guess you would be surprised, huh? Signed, MM

Dear MM: Yours is not the only letter of objection I received, but it’s probably the most honest. I suppose if two consenting adults want to spend their evening that way, who am I to object? I hope you realize that while you probably don’t have to worry about pregnancy, you do need to be careful of those dread diseases, which are on the rise among older folks. I also hope you are upfront with these women about what you want. I still think that sex without a relationship would be like eating dry toast. OB

Dear Old Bag: My mother-in-law, 80, still insists on having the family Thanks-giving dinner. She has a big family and a little house, and she has refused all offers of moving the dinner to one of her four children’s homes. Even though we all bring food, it is so hectic and obviously hard on her. How do we change her mind? Signed, In-Law

Dear In-Law: This is a touchy sub-ject for many families. Offer again to take this responsibility off her hands. Let her know that others would like a turn. If she still refuses, make the best of it, and go to her house again for Thanksgiving. She may not be able to do this physically/mentally for much longer and it sounds like it brings her much joy and happiness, so I think it’s well worth the effort. I have been hinting like crazy for one of my kids to take over Thanksgiving dinner, but so far no takers! Tell her the Old Bag would love to give up that task. OB ■

NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com10 LAUGHING MATTERS

LAUGHING MATTERSLovely dog Submitted by Bob Breazeale

A man driving through a small rural town pulls into the only gas station in town. He notices a boy sitting on a chair whittling on a stick and a dog asleep by the soda machine.

He rolls down the window of his car and says, “Hey kid, does your dog bite?”

Without looking up the kid replies, “Nope.”

The man gets out of his car and starts walking toward the soda machine when the dog wakes up and makes a beeline toward him. The man runs for his car but the dog rips out the seat of his pants just as he gets inside.

The man yells, “Hey, you punk kid! I thought you said your dog doesn’t bite!”

The kid stops whittling, looks at the

man and says, “He doesn’t.” Then he looks over at the dog and says, “But that’s not my dog.”

Small brown bottle Submitted by Del Owens

The other day I went to my nearby pharmacy. When I got there, I went straight to the back of the store to where the pharmacist’s counter is lo-cated. I took out my little brown bottle along with a teaspoon and laid them both on the counter.

The pharmacist came over, smiled and asked if he could help me.

“Yes,” I said. “Could you please taste this for me?”

Being that I’m a senior citizen, I guess the pharmacist decided it was safe to go along with me. He picked up the spoon and put a tiny bit of the liquid on his tongue and swilled it around.

Then with a stomach-churning look on his face, he spit it

out on the floor and began coughing.

When he finally finished, I looked him right in the eye and asked, “Now does that taste sweet to you?”

The pharmacist, shaking his head back and forth, said, “Hell no.”

So I said, “Oh, thank God! That’s a real relief. My doctor told me to get a phar-macist to test my urine for sugar!”

Lemonade Submitted by Bob Breazeale

A real old timer who grew up in Ten-nessee during the Great Depression is about to take his first plane ride. Now this old timer lives in moonshine coun-try and always carries a flask of it in his back pocket.

When the TSA agent discovers it, he holds it up and asks, “What might this be?”

The old man says, “It might be lemon-ade, but I wouldn’t light any matches near it if I were you.”

Country-western song Submitted by Bob Breazeale

Being retired sure is great. Now I can do some of the things I’ve always want-ed to do. Like write a country-western song. I haven’t written any music or lyr-ics, but I do have a theme. My girlfriend is leaving me for another guy. What else? I’ve also got a title. I’m going to call it “I kissed her sweet lips and left her bee-hind for you.”

Growing business Submitted by Bob Breazeale

The other day I noticed a panhandler on one of the corners with a hat in each hand asking for money.

“Why two hats?” I asked.

He replied, “Business is so good in this town that I decided to open a branch office.”

COMFORT. SECURITY.COMMUNITY.Live fully at Brookdale.Don’t just live longer — live better. Reward yourself with the carefree lifestyle you deserve. Enjoy recreation in a community of neighbors, and truly relax knowing care is close at hand. At Brookdale, living well is an important part of aging well.

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NOVEMBER 2015 11www.BeaconSeniorNews.com LAUGHING MATTERS

Make Us

Laugh!Make Us

Laugh!

Hahaha

Send your JOKES to Beacon@pendantpublishing.com or

P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

Bill Heddles Recreation Centeroffers something for everyone.For more information on all ourprograms and amenities please visit our web site at www.cityofdelta.net or call 874-0923

Basketball GymnasiumAerobic ClassesWater & Fitness Classes Silver Sneaker ClassesRacquetball CourtsWeight & Cardio Rooms Pickleball Leagues Tot Pool 25 yd. (6) lane Pool & SaunaWarm Water Wellness Pool & Lazy River

Salute to our Veterans...

Past and Present!

Marilynn Huseby

A klutz’s first day of hunting season Submitted by Ralph Bickel

2 a.m. Alarm clock rings. I hit the snooze button.

3 a.m. Hunting partners arrive and drag me out of bed. We throw every-thing in pickup.

3:30 a.m. Leave for the deep woods, and beautiful backcountry and moun-tains.

5 a.m. Furiously drive back home alone to pick up my gun and license. Drive like mad to get back before daylight.

6:30 a.m. Set up my camp.

7 a.m. Head into the deep woods. Spot eight elk moving toward me. Now within range.

7:37 a.m. Take careful aim at lead bull, hold breath and gently squeeze trigger. Click!

7:38 a.m. Frantically load gun while watching trophy bull and seven elk go over the hill.

9 a.m. Head back to camp for coffee break.

10 a.m. Still looking for camp. Realize I don’t know where camp is.

11:58 a.m. Fire three shots, the signal for help. Notice wild berries. Eat wild berries.

12:05 p.m. Fire three more shots. Run out of shells. Eight elk come back.

12:45 p.m. Strange feeling in stomach. Realize I must have eaten poisonous berries.

1:35 p.m. Rescued! They rush me to nearest hospital to get stomach pumped.

3:30 p.m. Arrive back in camp. Leave camp to go after elk again.

3:50 p.m. Return back to camp for shells. Load gun. Leave camp again.

4:30 p.m. Empty gun on squirrel that is bugging me. Miss every shot.

5 p.m. Arrive back in camp. See eight elk grazing right near camp.

5:01 p.m. Load gun. Fire gun. One dead pickup.

5:35 p.m. Hunting partners arrive back in camp, both dragging elk.

5:36 p.m. Repress desire to shoot hunt-ing partners. Stumble and fall into campfire.

6 p.m. Change clothes. Throw burned ones into campfire.

6:05 p.m. Take pickup, leave hunting partners and elk in camp. Pickup boils over because of the hole in the radiator.

6:16 p.m. Start walking. Stumble and fall and drop gun in mud.

6:25 p.m. Meet bear! Take aim. Fire gun. Blow up barrel plugged with mud.

6:26 p.m. Run fast, run very fast! Climb nearest tree, bear climbs…bear climbs higher…and returns to the ground.

6:29 p.m. Bear circles the bottom of the tree.

7:30 p.m. Holler loudly for hunting partners.

9:38 p.m. Bear leaves.

9:46 p.m. Cautiously climb down tree.

10:18 p.m. Hitchhike a ride with farmer into town.

11:49 p.m. Home at last.

Noon the next day. Watch football game on TV, slowly tearing up hunting license into small pieces. Place pieces in envelope and mail it to local fish and wildlife department with detailed instructions on what to do with it. ■

n Safe and secure adult day program for seniors affected by memoryloss or who are medically frail.

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H I L L T O P ’ S S E N I O R D A Y B R E A K

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com12 SALUTE TO VETERANS NOVEMBER 2015

By Kevin K. VanGundy

M any refer to the Korean conflict as the “forgotten war,” which is

certainly a misnomer. From the U.S. point of view, we never declared war on North Korea—instead we declared it a “policing action” in support of the United Nations. But it was one hell of a police action leading to the deaths of over 33,000 U.S. soldiers in just

Life was cheap therethree short bloody years. How do you forget that?

“Life was cheap there. It didn’t amount to anything,” said Dean Van Gundy.

At 17 years young, Van Gundy en-listed with the Unites States Marine Corp. After basic training and his 18th birthday Van Gundy was sent to fight at the 38th Parallel.

“Our lieutenant instructed us to make contact with the enemy,” he recalled, “and we did. His throat was ripped out by a piece of shrapnel. He died right there.”

Van Gundy earned his first Purple Heart in early October of 1951.

Mostly recovered from his flesh wound, he was reassigned the slight-ly less risky job of guarding a base. His new job proved much safer until the base came under fire in a sur-prise attack. Hit by shrapnel from a grenade, he awoke from a concussion to find the man next to him dead and himself paralyzed from his lower back down. He chuckled to lighten the mood. “They didn’t like me over there. I lucked out,” he said. “I got wounded twice and got out of there.”

From the front lines, he was sent to recover at a hospital in Japan. There, he was pinned with his second

Purple Heart.

More impressive was his near full recovery. His paralysis faded and he regained full use of his legs.

Eventually shipped home, Van Gun-dy finished his time in the military as a supply sergeant. Given an honor-able discharge in 1954, he returned to his hometown of Grand Junction. He briefly attended Mesa College, married, raised a family and worked at the family’s salvage yard. Today he spends most of his time at the VA Hospital in Grand Junction. Speaking of which, he has nothing but praise for the staff of the local facility.

“It’s the best,” he said. “It’s better than either of the VA’s hospitals in Denver or Salt Lake City.”

One more thing he added: “I’m proud of defending my country.” ■

In a note home to his mother Veta, Van Gundy wrote, “Arrived just in time to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa.”

Van Gundy, second from left, spends time at the VA Hospital with his daughters Jana and Cindy and his brother, Eldon

Regardless of whether or not he or she saw war, a veteran is someone who

at one time wrote a check to the United States of America in the amount

of up to, and including my life.” It’s hard to give more than that. Indeed, some veterans gave all,

but all veterans have given some of themselves to protect our freedom.

13www.BeaconSeniorNews.com SALUTE TO VETERANSNOVEMBER 2015

VETERANSRESOURCES

November 5Eagle Head Cane presentationsBeautiful eagle head canes created by Black Canyon Wood Carvers and Wood Workers Guild of Western Colorado are presented to veterans at 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Warrior Re-source Center, 11 S. Park Ave. in Montrose. The presentations are open to the public.

November 11Veteran’s Day AssemblyMontrose High School hosts a special Veterans Day Assembly at 9:50 a.m. in the Lloyd McMillan Gym. The public is welcome to attend. There will be special performances by the MHS band, choir, JROTC drill team and more. For more information, call 249-6636.

Veterans OrganizationsAmerican Legion, Post 73 .............................................................................417-2804Delta County Veterans Services ....................................................................641-7919Montrose County Veterans Services .............................................................249-2115VA Caregiver Support ............................................................................ 855-260-3274VA Community Clinic .....................................................................................249-7791VA Medical Center ........................................................................................242-0731Veterans Service Officer, Montrose ..............................................................252-5000Vocational Rehabilitation ..............................................................................249-4468Warrior Resource Center, Welcome Home Montrose ....................................765-2210

November 11Veterans Pancake BreakfastVeterans and their family members are invit-ed to a special pancake breakfast, complete with bacon and sausage, from 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m. at the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Drive. Veterans are admitted for free, but must show proof of service. Family members who attend will be charged $1.50. For details, call 249-4852.

November 11Free entrance to National ParksIn honor of Veterans Day, the National Park Service waives fees for the public to enter National Parks.

November 11Free entrance to Colorado State ParksColorado Parks and Wildlife offers all military men and women free admission to Colora-do’s State Parks on Veterans Day. To obtain free admission, veterans, active duty military personnel and their families must show a valid active, discharge papers, DD214, re-serve or retired military ID card, or an ID card from a Veterans Administration, Veterans of

Foreign Wars or the American Legion. The ID should be presented at the parking gate.

WARRIOR RESOURCE CENTER EVENTS FOR VETERANSThe Warrior Resource Center, 11 S. Park Ave. in Montrose, has the following events scheduled for veterans this month. Most events are free to veterans and their spous-es. If you have not previously registered with the Warrior Resource Center as a veteran, bring a form of military ID with you. For more information, call 765-2210.

• Mondays and Wednesdays: Traveling Gym (3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.)

• Tuesdays: Tae Kwon Do (5 p.m.-6 p.m.) and Tai Chi (6 p.m.-7:15 p.m.)

• Thursdays: Veterans Coffee & Social (8 a.m.-10 a.m.), Veterans PTSD Support Group (10:30 a.m. to noon) and Tae Kwon Do (5 p.m.-6 p.m.)

• Fridays: Wives of Warriors Support Group (2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.) and Music Jam Session (6 p.m.-9 p.m. and open to the community.)

WE HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE.

SOURCEGAS SALUTES ALL OF OUR VETERANS.

| sourcegas.com

NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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27 Stuffed favorite28 Oscar winner for “Reversal of Fortune”29 “Educating Rita” star30 Pianist’s exercise31 Arrests34 Woolly mama37 Bashful birds of the marsh39 Lab42 Memo writer’s need44 Precious instrument, for short47 Earth mother49 Night light show52 Duped group53 Nope54 Guesstimate55 Sad to say56 College credit57 Jack-up58 James or Kett61 First name in college football coaching

NOVEMBER 2015 15www.BeaconSeniorNews.com FAITH MOVES

Montrose UMC makes a joyful noiseBy Erica White

Music and worship truly go together at Montrose United

Methodist Church, where making a “joyful noise unto the Lord” is taken seriously. During worship, music is one of the main ways God is praised at church.

“Music is such an important part of worship because it adds spontaneity to worship and is a wonderful way to praise God,” Music Director Kelly Thompson said.

Members of the church and its music groups demonstrate their love for God with several styles of music performed throughout the three worship services offered on Sunday mornings. There are two choirs, a handbell choir, two teams that pro-vide more contemporary music and a children’s choir.

“Some people love music so much they sing or play in multiple groups on Sunday,” Thompson said.

Thompson has a long relation-ship with church music. He started playing the piano at age 7 and started playing at church at age 12, where his father was a pastor. Thompson started playing the piano at Montrose United Methodist Church in 2000,

Montrose United Methodist Church19 S. Park Ave., Montrose, CO

970-249-3716 • montroseumc.org

and became the director of music in 2010.

“We are abundantly blessed with musicians,” Thompson said.

Laurie Ranum is the church’s regular pianist and Connie Stoutt is the church organist. On any given Sunday, between 30 and 35 people are involved in providing the music for worship.

Sunday worship at Montrose United Methodist Church takes place at 8:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The early service tends to have a more blended musical style and the mid-morning service is more contem-porary. The later service provides traditional worship music.

Taize, a contemplative worship ser-vice, also takes place at 7 p.m. on the first Thursdays of each month.

The annual Lessons and Carols concert takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, December 4 and 6 p.m. Sunday, De-cember 6, and is open to the public.

Come join us in praise and wor-ship! Montrose United Methodist Church is located at 19 S. Park Ave. in Montrose. For more information, visit www.montroseumc.org or call 249-3716. ■

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On any given Sunday, 30-35 people are involved with providing music for worship.

Did you know the BEACON has a Facebook page? Like us! www.facebook.com/BeaconSeniorNews

NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com16 MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

Clubs, volunteer info and support groups• The Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances at the Montrose Pavilion from 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. On November 14, music will be provided by Country Plus. On November 28, music will be provided by Knuckleheads. Admission is $5 per person. Call 252-7172.

• Vestafjell Lodge of the Sons of Norway will celebrate Thanksgiving at 2 p.m. November 8 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3133 F Road in Grand Junction. Elections for 2016 officers and a ceremony to honor our veterans will take place. Charles Barth will also tell us about his recent fishing trip to Iceland and Norway. Please bring a generous side dish, salad, or dessert, and a canned food item for Community Food Bank boxes. To RSVP, call 245-5649.

• Western Slope 4 Wheelers’ monthly meetings are at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesdays at the Montrose Rod & Gun Club’s indoor range, 1211 6450 Road in Montrose. Call 275-0754.

• Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the third Fridays at the Olathe Community Center. Call 417-6142.

• Black Canyon Camera Club meets monthly at noon on the second

Tuesdays at the First Church of Christ, 1102 Howard St. in Delta. Call 399-3674.

• Black Canyon Classics is open to all ages interested in classic cars, street rods, trucks and other vehicles. For times and locations, call 249-6051.

• Black Canyon Audubon Society members are committed to the conservation of natural resources through birding, conservation and educational activities. For dates and times of meetings, call 249-6761, ext. 14.

• Wild Bunch 4WD club’s bimonthly meetings are the second Mondays of “odd months.” For dates, times and locations, email desertrat27@hotmail.com.

• Black Canyon Twirlers Square Dance Club meets monthly at 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. the second and fourth Saturdays at the Lions Clubhouse, 602 N. Nevada Ave. in Montrose. Call 596-4252. They dance Main Stream and Plus and welcome visitors.

• Alpine Photography Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesdays at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Montrose. For more information, email alpinephotoclub@aol.com

• Delta Hubwheelers dance at 7:15 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month at Bill Heddles Recreation Center’s Aerobics Room. All dances are mainstream with plus tips and one round dance between tips. Potluck dinners start at 6 p.m. Rerounds/instructions begin at 6:30 p.m. Upcoming meetings will be November 7 (Mainstream and plus and ’50s dance and food drive) and November 21 (Dark - Turkey Tromp). Call 856-3735 for details.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

• HopeWest in Delta and Montrose is seeking volunteers for a variety of positions. In Delta, call 874-6823 for more information. In Montrose, call 252-2642.

• RSVP in Montrose is seeking volunteers. Volunteers who register with RSVP receive supplemental insurance and recognition for their service. Call 249-9639.

• Senior CommUnity Meals needs volunteer meal delivery drivers in Delta. It takes about an hour to deliver three or four meals to a homebound senior. Call 835-8028.

• Volunteers of America seeks volunteers for a variety of positions in Montrose and Delta counties. Volunteers can assist with resident outings, events or fundraisers, delivering meals or light office work.

Home appointments availablePlease call for an appointment

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NOVEMBER 2015 17www.BeaconSeniorNews.com MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

VOA also accepts donations of books, craft supplies, nail polish, plants, quilts, music devices, headphones, iTunes gift cards and more. Call 1-844-VOA-4YOU.

SUPPORT GROUPS

• Stroke Support Group meets 11 a.m. to noon twice a month at Montrose Memorial Hospital’s Acute Rehab Unit. For details and meeting days, call 318-2028.

• Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group meets from noon to 1:15 p.m. Wednesdays at 645 S. Fifth St. in Montrose.

• Caregiver Support Group meets 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays at Crossroads Assisted & Independent Living model cottage at 1380 Aspen Way in Delta. Call 773-4214.

• Caregiver Support & Networking Group meets at 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. on the first Wednesdays and third Thursdays of each month at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade Ave. in Montrose.

The meetings are structured to be an all-inclusive group for caregivers who care for someone with dementia, or any disability or illness. For details and to register, call 249-2436, ext. 203.

• Alzheimer-Dementia Support Group meets monthly at 6 p.m. on the second Thursdays at Valley Manor Care Center, 1401 S. Cascade in Montrose. For details, call 249-9634.

• Caregiver Support Group meets at 1 p.m. on the first and second Mondays of each month at the United Methodist Church, 19 S. Park Ave. in Montrose. For details, call 249-3716.

• Validation Dementia support group meets monthly at 6 p.m. on the second Thursdays in Montrose and in Eckert. For details, call 252-3118.

• Kinship Connections for Kids meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade Ave. in Montrose. This group is structured for persons raising children that are not their own. For details, call 765-3127. ■

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NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com18 MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

Delta/Montrose CalendarNOVEMBER 6 & 7 Women’s Club Hobby & Craft Bazaar Shop for holiday gifts and more at the Montrose Women’s Club annual Hobby & Craft Bazaar from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Enter for chances to win door prizes. For more information, call 275-3336.

NOVEMBER 7 Altrusa Autumn Affair The Altrusa Autumn Affair will be from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. in the Lark & Sparrow Historic Venue, 511 E. Main St. in Mon-trose. The evening will feature live jazz by The House Blend, delicious appetiz-ers and desserts catered by The Bistro, and a silent auction with a fun twist. Along with gift baskets and centerpiec-es, the auction will include two special collections of gift cards and gift certif-icates from local merchants for a wide range of goods and services. Altrusa Clubs develop and fund specific service projects to meet community needs and are recognized internationally for their significant contributions. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased at Fabula, 317 E. Main, or online at www.altrusa.bpt.me

NOVEMBER 9 Nordic Council Kids Pasta Project Come join the Kids Pasta Project as they prepare and serve a homemade dinner to help raise money for the Grand Mesa Nordic Council from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at 39126 CO-133 in Hotchkiss. The mission of the Kids’ Pasta Project is for youth to

serve their local community by preparing and selling freshly made, healthy meals, with the profit going to local causes. When possible, the ingredients for the meals are provided by local producers and businesses. The Kids’ Pasta Project provides the opportunity to learn the value of service to community as well as relevant life skills. To reserve your seat and for details, call 985-9200.

NOVEMBER 12 AARP SMART Driver Safety Course (Montrose) Montrose County Health and Human Services will host the AARP SMART Driver Safety Program from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1845 S. Townsend Ave. in Montrose. Save money on insurance and keep up on newer traffic laws. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required. For more information and to register call 249-2436, ext. 203.

NOVEMBER 14 Grand Vin Wine Tasting & Auction The Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia is proud to host the third annu-al Grand Vin Wine Tasting & Auction from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Blue Sage Curtis Hall, 226 Grand Ave. in Paonia. Modeled after the annual wine auction in Beaune, France for the benefit of the Hospices de Beaune, this event benefits the West Elks AVA and the Blue Sage Center for the Arts. Guests will be pre-sented with over 20 different wines and hard ciders to taste and will be given the opportunity to purchase case lots of

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NOVEMBER 2015 19www.BeaconSeniorNews.com MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

the wines and ciders at live auction. All guests will receive a free souvenir glass engraved with the date and name of the event. Admission is limited. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door, and can be purchased at the Blue Sage Gal-lery at 226 Grand Ave., online at www.bluesage.org, or by calling 527-7243.

NOVEMBER 14 Down Home Country Bazaar The Down Home Country Bazaar, spon-sored by the Montrose United Methodist Women, will be at 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at 19 S. Park Ave. in Montrose. The coffee shop will be serving all day and the delicious hot lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for $5. There will be tables of

wonderful crafts, plus the great bargains in Granny’s Attic. The Bake Shoppe will also have homemade goodies. Fresh pecans will be available for sale. For more information, call 240-3616.

NOVEMBER 21 Colorado Adventure Sweet Adelines style The Del-Rose Chorus of Sweet Adelines International presents their annual show “Colorado Adventure: Sweet Adelines style” at 3 p.m. at Delta Christian Church, 795 1600 Road. An afterglow reception will follow the show. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Children 6 and under are free. For de-tails call 256-9763.

NOVEMBER 21 San Juan Weaver’s Show and Sale San Juan Weaver’s Guild annual Show and Sale will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 1391 S. Townsend Ave. in Montrose. The show will have exhibits, items for sale, and educational opportunities to learn to weave and spin. For details, call 249-2981.

NOVEMBER 21 A Night to Honor Israel Praise Him Ministries presents “A Night to Honor Israel” at 7 p.m. at the Mon-trose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive. This free meeting is held in association with Christians United for Israel. For more information, call 626-3140.

NOVEMBER 28 Art Partners Chili Bowl Fundraiser The eighth annual Chili Bowl Fundraiser to benefit Art Partners will be hosted by the Lark & Sparrow Historic Venue, 511 E. Main, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Purchase a bottomless bowl of chili and the hand-made/hand-painted bowl is yours to keep. Bowls start at $15. Enjoy art and endless chili donated by local restau-rants and chefs, while also supporting Art Partners. Vote for your favorite. Paint a bowl at Amazing Glaze, 219 E. Main St. by November 21 to donate to the fundraiser and you will receive a 15 percent discount. For more information, call 249-1116. ■

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NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com20 MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

Delta/Montrose Beacon BitsRegion 10 Education SeriesEvents will be held at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade in Montrose. Registration is required. All sessions are free. For details and to register, call 360-6090.

• November 9, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. - “Understanding long-term care plan-ning: Avoid being underprepared and overwhelmed.” Learn about payment sources including private pay, long-term care insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and more.

• November 17, noon to 1 p.m. - “Hospice and Palliative Care Options.” When do you start palliative care? When do you start looking at hospice options? Who pays for what? What does palliative and hospice cover? Don’t wait to find out what your options are.

“Mary Poppins” at Magic Circle TheatreMagic Circle Players brings the magic of “Mary Poppins” to the theatre stage, with its infectious songs fueled by daz-zling choreography. The Magic Circle stage will be awash in color, light and spectacle. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 6 at Magic Circle Theater, 420 S. 12th St. in Montrose. The show will continue at 7:30 p.m. on November 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. on November 8, 15 and 22. Purchase tickets online at www.magiccircleplayers.com or call 249-7838.

Free Medicare helpNow is the time to enroll in or switch Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans

and Medicare Advantage Plans during Medicare Open Enrollment October 15 through December 7. Certified State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors provide free help with your Medicare questions or problems. The local location at the Region 10 offices at 300 N. Cascade in Montrose serves Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Hin-sdale, San Miguel and Ouray counties. SHIP counselors are at 147 Fourth St. in Delta on the second and fourth Mon-days of the month. Call 765-3132 with questions and to make an appointment at either location.

MMH staff honored at annual Fall ClinicsThe medical staff of Montrose Me-morial Hospital honored general and vascular surgeon Dr. K. Michael Jay, and community leaders Don Gladwell and Nancy Hoganson at this year’s 44th annual Fall Clinics. Dr. Jay was rec-ognized for bringing many firsts to the surgical services and trauma programs at MMH and for the excellent care he has provided to many people in the Montrose community. Gladwell served on City Council, MMH Board of Direc-tors, MADA and more. He and his wife are actively involved in the Hearing Loss Association of America and are Cochle-ar Americas volunteers. Nancy Hogan-son was recognized for her leadership at HopeWest Colorado.

Gabrielle Louise in concert Musician, songwriter and storyteller Gabrielle Louise will stop in Montrose and Paonia on her current tour. She will

Funeral Service & CrematoryMesa View Cemetery

682 1725 Road • Delta (970) 874-9988

105 S.E. Frontier, Suite F • Cedaredge (970) 856-3232

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Trust isknowing someone is there to catch your fall.It’s knowing someone will bethere when you need a shoulder to cry on. It’s knowing a promise madeis a promise kept. Trust issomething we earn everyday.

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NOVEMBER 2015 21www.BeaconSeniorNews.com MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

Delta/Montrose Beacon Bits perform at The Lark & Sparrow Venue, 511 E. Main in Montrose at 7:30 p.m. November 14, and at Fresh n’ Wyld Farmhouse, 1978 Harding Road in Pao-nia at 7 p.m. November 15. She will be accompanied by David Kaye on dobro, mandolin and guitar. For the Montrose show, tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door, and can be purchased at eventbrite.com. For the Paonia show, seating is limited and tickets are $25, which includes a dessert plate, coffee and tea. Paonia show tickets can be purchased at Backcountry Bistro, The Rose in Hotchkiss or online at www.gabriellelouise.com.

MMH recognized as five-star hospitalFor the fourth year in a row, Montrose Memorial Hospital has been recognized as a top-ranked Community Value Provider by Cleverley + Associates. Cleverly + Associates, a leading health care financial consulting firm specializ-ing in operational benchmarking and performance enhancement strategies, released the findings as part of its new publication: “The State of the Hospi-

tal Industry – 2015 Edition.” Only two hospitals in the state of Colorado were honored with this award. According to Cleverley + Associates, issues of pricing and community benefit have been well publicized but little has been offered to measure the broad scope of value. In response, the Community Value Index (CVI) was created to provide an assessment of a hospital’s performance in four areas: financial strength and reinvestment, cost of care, pricing and quality of care. While a large number of hospitals may perform well in one or two of the cores areas of the CVI, MMH achieved strong performance in each of the four areas, which ranks them in the top 20 percent of hospitals nationwide.

Tax volunteers neededAARP Tax Aide seeks volunteer tax preparers for the Delta and Cedaredge sites during tax season. Volunteers work six to 10 hours a week from Feb-ruary through April 15, 2016. Training will be provided. Call 856-3007. ■

n Post-hospitalization and surgery care

n IV therapy, medication management and injections

n Physical, occupational and speech therapists

Hilltop - the name you trust At Hilltop Home Care we know remaining safe, secure and independent in your own home can bea primary worry as you age. Aging well in your home may require a wide-range of personalizedservices to help you achieve your optimal independence. At Hilltop Home Care we offer:

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n Chronic disease managementn Personal caren Companionshipn Housekeeping, pet care

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Ask about our Geriatric Care Managers and how they can help you navigate the complex issues of aging at home

Home Care Beyond the Expected

n Transportation and errands n Meal preparation n Emergency Response

Monitorsn All caregivers screened

and insured

What’s your planwhen you have a long-term event?

Who will care for youand how will you pay for it?

Phyllis Hoffman, CLTCLong-Term-Care Specialist

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Western SlopeLTC Solutions

PARKWAY DENTALOur prices will help you smileSingle Crown ........................................................ $525Complete Denture ...................................... (plate) $425Complete Dentures ........................................ (set) $850Implant & Crown ..................................starting at $1500Implants to Hold Denture .......................... (arch) $1200

Dr. Brian Hanson, DDS970.208.8046 • www.smilehelper.com • 1300 N. 7th Street #3

NOVEMBER 2015www.BeaconSeniorNews.com22 CLASSIFIEDS

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HELP WANTED

sales person wantedThe Beacon Senior newspaper is

growing and we’re looking for a mature, loving sales person to grow with us.

Send your letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com

writers wantedThe Beacon Senior newspaper is looking for writers in Mesa, Delta

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NOVEMBER 2015 23www.BeaconSeniorNews.com KUDOS & KVETCH

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By Jerry L. Ginther

P ain and poverty are always prod-ucts of war. Daily necessities are

in short supply or nonexistent. Hun-ger and disease are often constant companions during and in the after-math. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is sometimes unseen for years. These were the realities often reflected in the stories we hear and read about in the accounts of our ancestors.

My grandparents on both sides of the family were born 20 to 30 years after the Civil War. They lived through two world wars, the Great Depression and the Korean War, but what they talked about the most was surviving the Depression years.

My parents were both born shortly after the turn of the century, my dad in 1904 and mother in 1910. They, too, remembered the struggles of those infamous years. Their accounts of those hard times helped me appre-ciate how those struggles affected their lives going forward. The lessons they learned about thrift and survival were so arduous that they continued to practice and teach them to their children and grandchildren even when times were much improved. Today, I’m thankful for the lessons that my grandmother, and others of that era, tried to impart to my gener-ation.

After World War II, improvements in the infrastructure started to appear in our little town. As a sec-ond grader, I remember watching as city crews cut deep trenches in the intersecting streets in front of my grandparents’ home to lay gas mains. Another trench was dug from the new gas main to the west side of Grandma’s house where a gas meter was installed. Then new appliances began to appear in the old house.

About that same time water was hooked up to the house and indoor plumbing became a reality. Prior to gas and water being piped to the house, water had to be heated on a coal-fired, cook stove in the kitchen. In summer or winter a fire had to be

built in that stove for cooking meals,

making coffee or heating water to do

laundry. On Monday morning, a big

brass boiler was placed on the stove

and filled with water for the old May-

tag wringer washer.

Other new appliances were quickly

added. However, the Maytag and the

cook stove remained, as well as the

coal stove in the living room. Their

thinking was that you just never

know when the gas would go off like

the electricity did and you would

need to build a fire.

Finally, they removed the heating

stove from the living room after

installing a gas furnace in the base-

ment. Then a funny thing happened.

The first time the electricity went off,

the thermostat for the furnace ceased

to work and Grandma was quick to

say, “I knew it would happen. I told

you we should never have gotten rid

of the stove.”

Of course, she didn’t realize that

the gas supply had not failed, and

that it was the electricity that had

failed again.

Earlier I mentioned the lessons

learned by the folks who went

through the years of the Depression

and how it affected the rest of their

lives philosophically. Waste, no

matter how small was not tolerated.

Grandma was still boiling her coffee

grounds twice in the ’50s and scold-

ing her grandchildren for not drink-

ing all of their milk.

“Waste causes want,” she told us.

She, and many others of her day, nev-

er fully recovered from those harsh

years and continued to live as though

they were near penniless even when

times were much better. I suspect

that no matter where the children of

pre-World War II parents lived, they,

likewise, heard the same stories and

were taught the consequences of

being wasteful. ■

Waste causes want