Smart Reader 012524

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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 From tornadoes in Florida to floods in Maine, record-setting freezes in Montana to blizzards in Buffalo, extreme weather has battered much of the United States this past week. It left us, along with many Americans, wondering: What, exactly, is going on? To get some answers, we called up Jeff Masters, the meteorologist who cofounded the online weather forecasting service Weather Underground – and who used to chase hurricanes for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He told us that some of the winter weather is just, well, winter. But there’s also a lot that has been unusual, like those tornadoes. Indeed, meteorologists are expecting the unexpected these days, he says, and are feeling increasing pressure to predict, explain, and protect their followers from the weather. “The role of meteorologists has become more important because the climate is changing in unprecedented ways,” Dr. Masters says. “And we really need to understand what’s going on.” Here’s what else he told us, with edits for length and clarity. Is it us, or has the weather just been crazy this week? You had a lot of hazards going on all at once. I mean, you had freshwater flooding due to heavy rain. You had coastal flooding due to these storms. And, of course, inland you had heavy snow. Buffalo got, I think, 40 inches of snow. And then down South you had tornadoes and severe storms, a lot of power outages, strong winds. So, we had the full gamut of extreme weather over the past week. And cold, too. I mean, it’s pretty darn cold here in Michigan where I am. How much of this extreme weather is because of climate change? There’s more heat in the atmosphere. And more heat means energy. So that means the energy to evaporate more water from the oceans and create heavier rains. We can ascribe some of the extra precipitation we’ve been seeing from these storms to climate change. The other way that climate change can influence extreme weather is through changes in circulation patterns. The jet stream, for instance, is not behaving like it used to; it’s not going straight west to east like it normally does. It’s been contorting into these unusually strong ridges and troughs, which tend to amplify extreme weather events. Does that mean that last week’s snow storms, with their record low pressure systems, were caused by climate change? It’s really impossible to say what percentage of that was due to climate change. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a study you could do showing that there was a significant influence. But you really would have to do the work. It could also be that most, or all, of the extremity that we saw with the jet stream over the past week was natural variability. One of the more active debates in the climate science community is just how much climate change is affecting extreme winter weather outbreaks. And that is definitely not decided at this point. We have a lot more confidence about how climate change is affecting things like summertime drought, heat waves, heavy precipitation events. Do you think the wild weather is going to continue? It’s gonna be a bonkers year. This summer, in particular. We’ve got a record amount of heat in the oceans right now. That means this coming summer should be a record warm summer, globally. And when you’ve got record heat in the atmosphere, that means a lot of energy to power extreme weather events. So, we’re going to see record heat waves, we’re going to see record droughts and record rainfall events because you can evaporate more moisture into a warm atmosphere. And I’m really concerned about the Atlantic hurricane season, too. If you look at the region of the tropical Atlantic where hurricanes form, right now it is the same temperature as we typically see in late July. So that’s pretty insane that in January, we’ve got July-like ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic. So what does this mean for us as a society? Until we go to zero emissions and the planet stops heating up, the weather is going to get more extreme. We’ve really got to up our game as far as responding to this new climate we’ve created. Our infrastructure in the U.S. was built for the climate of the 20th century. And the climate of the 21st century is a completely different thing. If you’ve got a city where the levees are built to withstand a one-in-100- year flood, what happens if that flood occurs every 20 years? We’ve exceeded the capability of our 20th century climate infrastructure. You’ve written about this and have suggested large-scale changes we need to make, such as no longer building in areas prone to floods or wildfires. But what can everyday people do today to adapt to this 21st century climate? If you go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency website, they’ve got recommendations on how to flood-proof your home. It makes sense to spend some dollars to make sure your home is flood-proof. You should also understand what your flood risk is. One tool I would recommend is a website called floodfactor.com. It basically gives you a 1-to-10 rating of what your risk is from weather hazards. There’s a flood rating, a wind rating, a wildfire rating, and a heat rating. It would be smart to do some flood-proofing if you do live in a flood zone. Consider buying more flood insurance if you are in a flood zone. If you’re living in a wildfire zone, there’s a lot you can do to make your home more resistant to fires, like creating a defensible space around it so you don’t have a pile of wood next to your house or a wooden deck or eaves where embers can get under. There are a lot of smart things you can do. By Stephanie Hanes The weather is wild. One meteorologist on why, and what we can do Smart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael Communications Editor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale Sales/Kim Carmichael Editorial Manager/Jason Hedman Ad Design & Layout/Kristin Monticelli, Glen Kelly Reception/Sarah Coleman Carmichael Communications 1420 63rd St. Kenosha, WI 53143 January 25, 2024 Volume 22 Number 2 262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 • www.hap2it.com The Atlantic Ocean spills over the seawall and flows into an intersection on Ocean Boulevard in Hampton, New Hampshire, Jan. 10, 2024. 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4 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Over the past few days, extremely cold Arctic air and severe winter weather have swept southward into much of the United States, breaking daily low temperature records from Montana to Texas. Tens of millions of people have been affected by dangerously cold temperatures, and heavy lake-effect snow and snow squalls have had severe effects across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions. These severe cold events occur when the polar jet stream -- the familiar jet stream of winter that runs along the boundary between Arctic and more temperate air -- dips deeply southward, bringing the cold Arctic air to regions that don't often experience it. An interesting aspect of these events is that they often occur in association with changes to another river of air even higher above the jet stream: the stratospheric polar vortex, a great stream of air moving around the North Pole in the middle of the stratosphere. When this stratospheric vortex becomes disrupted or stretched, it can distort the jet stream as well, pushing it southward in some areas and causing cold air outbreaks. The current Arctic cold blast fits into this pattern, with the polar vortex stretched so far over the United States in the lower stratosphere that it has nearly split in two. There are multiple causes that may have led to this stretching, but it is likely related to high-latitude weather in the prior two weeks. Cold and global warming After Earth just experienced its hottest year on record, it may seem surprising to set so many cold records. But does this cold snap contradict humancaused global warming? As an atmospheric and climate scientist, I can tell you, absolutely and unequivocally, it does not. No single weather event can prove or disprove global warming. Many studies have shown that the number of extreme cold events is clearly decreasing with global warming, as predicted and understood from physical reasoning. Whether global warming may, contrary to expectations, be playing some supporting role in the intensity of these events is an open question. Some research suggests it does. The February 2021 cold wave that severely disrupted the Texas electric grid was also associated with a stretched stratospheric polar vortex. My colleagues and I have provided evidence suggesting that Arctic changes associated with global warming have increased the likelihood of such vortex disruptions. The effects of the enhanced high latitude warming known as Arctic amplification on regional snow cover and sea ice may enhance the weather patterns that, in turn, result in a stretched polar vortex. More recently, we have shown that for large areas of the United States, Europe and Northeast Asia, while the number of these severe cold events is clearly decreasing -- as expected with global warming -- it does not appear that their intensity is correspondingly decreasing, despite the rapid warming in their Arctic source regions. So, while the world can expect fewer of these severe cold events in the future, many regions need to remain prepared for exceptional cold when it does occur. A better understanding of the pathways of influence between Arctic surface conditions, the stratospheric polar vortex and mid-latitude winter weather would improve our ability to anticipate these events and their severity.The Conversation By Matthew Barlow Extreme cold in a warming world: Climate instability may be disrupting polar vortex Pedestrians walk in Central Park as snow falls accompanied by cold temperatures in New York City on January 16, 2024 EU climate service: 2023 confirmed as hottest year on record The European Commission's climate agency said last week that 2023 was the hottest year on record, beating the old record set in 2016. The Copernicus Climate Change Service, run by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, said heat spikes around the world from June through the end of the year led to an average temperature of 14.98 degrees Celsius, or 58.98 degrees Fahrenheit, about 0.17 degrees Celsius higher than in 2016. The 2023 average also was 0.60 degrees Celsius hotter than the 1991-2020 average and 1.48 degrees Celsius more than the 1850-1900 pre-industrial level. In all, 50% of the days in 2023 were more than 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than the 1850-1900 level. Two days in November were more than 2 degrees Celsius hotter than the 1850-1900 level for the first time ever, the service said. Last month, the service said November 2023 turned out to be the hottest on record, beating the old record set in 2020 by onethird of a degree Celsius at 14.22 degrees, or 57.59 degrees Fahrenheit. "The annual data presented here provides yet more evidence of the increasing impacts of climate change," Mauro Facchini, head of Earth observation at the Directorate General for Defense, Industry and Space with the European Commission, said in a statement. "The European Union, in line with the best available science, has agreed on an emission reduction of 55% by 2030 -- now just six years away. The challenge is clear." Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said the string of high monthly temperatures is the most obvious evidence of how the climate has changed and the challenges against human civilization. "This has profound consequences for the Paris Agreement and all human endeavors," Buontempo said. "If we want to successfully manage our climate risk portfolio, we need to urgently decarbonize our economy whilst using climate data and knowledge to prepare for the future." By Clyde Hughes FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER January 25, 2024 4 Kenosha Funeral Services and Crematory Prepay for your funeral now and the price will be guaranteed. 8226 Sheridan Rd. 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Like me, you may live where it gets cold in the winter. Even if you’re blessed to live in the South or Southwest, occasional cold waves force you to put on a sweater. With inflation raging out of control, it’s so very important to spend as little as possible to be comfortable. I can help you do just that. I could write a book about this topic. I know I’ll get emails about having left this or that idea out of this column, but my aim here is to serve up the juicy lowhanging fruit. Let’s get started. As crazy as this sounds, the easiest way to save money and stay toasty warm inside your home is to wear more clothes and turn down your thermostat. I do this each winter. I wear flannel-lined jeans and sometimes insulated coveralls. It’s not uncommon to find me donning a hoodie sweatshirt. I often put the hood up to keep my head and neck warm. I wear wool socks. You may think this is nuts, but when I’m dressed like this indoors I’m toasty warm with my thermostat set between 62 and 65 F. Think about how you can compress your lifestyle in the winter. Can you close off rooms and just direct your heating to a few rooms instead of your entire house? If you are lucky enough to have zoned heating, it’s easy to send heat to the rooms you live and sleep in, as well as to the rooms that have plumbing water lines that must remain above 35 F to prevent them from bursting. Several years ago, I converted some attic space above my garage to a man cave. I decided to heat it using a fiberglass mat that has electric cables built into it. The mat was custom designed at no extra cost to match the size of the room and the heat loss of my space. It’s vital you do this. If my man cave was in southern Tennessee instead of central New Hampshire, far fewer cables would have been installed in the mat. Another simple way to take the chill off a room is to use an oil-filled portable electric radiator. I’ve tested several that cost less than $100, and they do a remarkable job of heating an unheated space. Many of these are programmable, so you can turn them down when you’re not in the space and then have them turn on magically 90 minutes before you come into the room so it’s up to temperature. The largest source of heat loss in the average home is air infiltration. Check all your doors and windows to make sure they’re locked. Locking them pulls the sash tight against the weatherstripping. If air is leaking under a door, consider using a felt weatherstrip that attaches to the bottom of the door with small nails, screws or adhesive tape. You have the skill to install this in minutes. Stopping cold drafts can significantly lower your heating costs, and you won’t feel like you’re in a wind tunnel. Keep in mind that the placement of insulation is vital to ensure all the heat produced by electric coils or radiant heat tubing is directed into the living space. Years ago, while I was helping build my daughter’s new home, I educated an insulation crew leader. He was the rare person that listened to me and hours later admitted he had been installing insulation wrong in hundreds of houses for over 20 years. When he arrived at my daughter’s house to install the fiberglass batts under the radiant floor tubing, he asked me: “How much air space do you want between my insulation and the tubes? We normally do 1 to 2 inches.” I responded: “I don’t want any air space. Put the insulation in direct contact with the radiant heat tubes and do whatever is necessary to ensure it never falls down.” This middle-aged man just looked at me and said, “Okay, but we’ve never done it that way before.” I politely said: “Are you the same crew that put the insulation in the walls here? I see that there’s no air space between the warm drywall and your insulation. If an air space is so important, then why did you eliminate it in all the walls?” He just blinked at me and walked away. Hours later he came up to my son-in-law and said: “Your father-in-law taught me something. I’ve been installing insulation under radiant tubes wrong my entire career.” The reason you want the insulation to be in contact with the tubing or the OSB subflooring under an electric mat is simple. You want to drive all the heat up into the living space. If you have an air gap, some of the heat goes down, not up. If you’re planning on building a room addition or a new home soon, you have a unique opportunity to design a zoned heating system that will allow you to keep your heating bills to a minimum. If you can’t find a pro to talk to about this, I’m happy to consult with you. Imagine using a simple water heater to create all the heat you need for a room addition. I can’t begin to tell you how comfortable a floor is that is heated by hot water. It’s dreamy heat. If you lay down on the floor, you don’t want to get up. How to spend the least money to stay warm Ask the Builder with Tim Carter Subscribe to Tim’s FREE newsletter at AsktheBuilder.com. Tim offers phone coaching calls if you get stuck during a DIY job. Go here: go.askthebuilder.com /coaching Tim Carter joins Happenings Q&A on Thu. Feb. 22nd at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP South Korea's gender imbalance brings bleak marriage prospects for men South Korea's bachelor time bomb is about to really go off. Following a historic 30-year-long imbalance in the male-to-female sex ratio at birth, young men far outnumber young women in the country. As a result, some 700,000 to 800,000 "extra" South Korean boys born since the mid-1980s may not be able to find South Korean girls to marry. As a demographer who over the past four decades has conducted extensive research on East Asian populations, I know that this increased number of South Korean boys will have huge impacts throughout South Korean society. Coincidentally, similar trends are playing out in China, Taiwan and India. The reasons In most countries, more boys are born than girls -- around 105 to 107 boys per 100 girls. That sex ratio at birth is a near constant. The gender imbalance is likely an evolutionary adaptation to the biological fact that females live longer than males. At every year of life, men have higher death rates than women. Hence an SRB of between 105 and 107 boys allows for there to be roughly equal numbers of men and women when the groups reach childbearing ages. The SRB in the United States in 1950 was 105 and was still 105 in 2021; in fact, it has been stable in the United States for as long as SRB data has been gathered. In contrast, in South Korea the SRB was at the normal range from 1950 to around 1980, but increased to 110 in 1985 and to 115 in 1990. After fluctuating a bit at elevated levels through the 1990s and early 2000s, it returned to the biologically normal range by 2010. In 2022, South Korea's SRB was 105 -- well within the normal level. But by then, the seeds for today's imbalance of marriage-age South Koreans was set. Preference for sons There are several reasons why South Korea's SRB was out of balance for 30 years. South Korea experienced a rapid fertility decline in a 20- to 30-year period beginning in the 1960s. From six children per woman in 1960, fertility fell to four children in 1972, then to two children in 1984. By 2022, South Korea's fertility rate had dropped to 0.82 -- the lowest fertility rate in the world and far below the rate of 2.1 needed to replace the population. Yet, South Korea's longheld cultural preference for sons did not shift as quickly as childbearing declined. Having at least one son was a strong desire influencing fertility preferences in South Korea, especially up through the early years of the 21st century. And the declining fertility rate posed a problem. When women have many children, the probability that at least one will be a boy is high. With only two children, the probability that neither will be a son is around 25%, and when women have only one child, it is less than 50%. In order to ensure that families would continue to have boys, many South Koreans turned to readily available techniques to identify the gender of the fetus, such as screening in the early stages of pregnancy. Abortion, which is legal and socially acceptable in South Korea, was then often used to allow families to select the sex of their child. Sex by the numbers In South Korea, beginning in around 1980 and lasting up to around 2010 or so, many more extra boys were born than girls. When these extra boys reach adulthood and start looking for South Korean girls to marry, many will be unsuccessful. The extra boys born in the 1980s and 1990s are The number of newly married couples fell more than 6% to around 1 million in 2022, and the proportion of the couples having no children reached an all-time high of 46%. story continues page 5 5 SMART READER January 25, 2024

6 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 China's population falls for second straight year China's population declined for a second consecutive year, according to statistics released last week. The data from Beijing's National Bureau of Statistics states the population was 1.409 billion as of the end of 2023, marking a decline of 2.08 million from a year prior, which was the first decline the Asian nation experienced in six decades. The decrease is due to a dropping birth rate, which hit a record low of 6.39 births per 1,000 people, a decrease from 6.77 births in 2022. The number of deaths for the year was 11.1 million. The announcement comes after the United Nations earlier this year said India had surpassed China as the world's most populated nation with some 1.428 billion people. "It's not a surprise," Prof. Stuart Gietl-Basten, an expert in population policy at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, told the BBC. China is undergoing a deindustrialization. Other Asian nations, such as South Korea and Japan, which have undergone the same transition, are experiencing a similar population trend. China is "kind of locked in now," he said. "This is just the next year in this new era of population stagnation or decline for China." The dropping birth rate comes despite national efforts to bolster the number of babies being born as there are fears that a decrease in the number of working-age people will sap the economy. President Xi Jinping has called for women in China to return to more traditional homemaker roles, and in November at the opening of the National Women's Congress called for the fostering of "a new type of marriage and childbearing culture," The New York Times reported. By Darryl Coote The population of China experienced its second consecutive decline, according to statistics South Korea continued from page 4 now of marriage age, and many will be looking to marry and start a family. Many more will be reaching marriage age in the next two decades. I have calculated that owing to the unbalanced SRBs in South Korea between 1980 and 2010, approximately 700,000 to 800,000 extra boys were born. Already this is having an effect in a society where over the centuries virtually everyone was expected to marry, and where marriage was nearly universal. Recent research by Statistics Korea showed that in 2023, over 36% of South Koreans between the ages of 19 and 34 intended to get married; this is a decline from over 56% in 2012. Foreign brides, 'bachelor ghettos' The immigration of foreign-born women might help address the imbalance. Research by demographers Guy Abel and Nayoung Heo has shown that financial assistance from the South Korean government is supporting the immigration to South Korea of Korean women from northeastern China and of foreign women from some less wealthy countries, such as Vietnam, the Philippines and some Eastern European countries. If the extra bachelors do not marry immigrant brides, they will have no alternative but to develop their own lives and livelihoods. Some might settle in "bachelor ghettos" in Seoul and in South Korea's other big cities of Busan and Daegu, where commercial sex outlets are more prevalent. Such "ghettos" have already been observed in other Asian cities where men outnumber women, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China. The consequences for South Korean society of the higher than biologically normal SRBs is a problem of the country's own making. South Korea's high fertility of the mid-20th century was holding the country back economically. Its program to bring down a fertility rate of nearly six children per woman was hugely successful. But its very success has been problematic. The speed of South Korea's fertility transition meant that the evolution to a more modern familial normative structure -- that is, with about two children per family and with less preference given to boys -- lagged behind. Today, the SRB imbalances appear to be a thing of the past. Women in South Korea have greater access to education and employment, and there is less pressure for men to be sole wage earners. Together with the South Korean government's efforts to reduce sex selection beginning in the late 1980s, the premium for boys over girls has dropped. Yet despite the relaxed desire for sons, long-term social issues related to gender imbalance, especially regarding the marriage market, will remain in South Korea for decades to come.The Conversation By Dudley L. Poston Jr. SMART READER January 25, 2024 6 COMEDY EVENTS COMEDY EVENTS5125 6th Avenue, Kenosha If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! f It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 7 SMART READER January 25, 2024 Former President Donald Trump’s ability to entice others toward their own destruction is a welldocumented phenomenon. As president, Trump churned through staff – attorney generals, chiefs of staff, members of his cabinet, military advisors. The list is long and included some who were previously distinguished. Many people in his circle have twisted and turned their ethics inside out so they could go along for the ride, only to be discarded. Trump’s loyalty was only to himself. So you’d think by now people would step gingerly before they get too close to him – that they might heed their own conscience and not glob onto Trump to curry favor. Add President Joe Biden to the list of those stepping too close to the fire. In Biden’s case, it’s not Trump that he is trying to please. It’s the Trump voter. Biden’s Justice Department is going full-in on reversing what had been Biden’s campaign promise to get rid of the federal death penalty. The intention now is to execute Payton Gendron, the white supremacist who killed 10 and wounded 13 in a shooting spree at the Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York. He drove over 200 miles from his home in rural New York state in May of 2022 with the intention of murdering Black people. This is the first time the Biden administration has asked for execution in a new case. Why is Biden doing this? Trump has called for drug dealers and child traffickers to be executed. Not to be left out, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to execute child rapists and eliminate the rule that a jury needs to unanimously agree to a death sentence. Does Biden really want to sound equally “tough” on the bad guys? The Justice Department argued in a January 12, 2024 filing that Gendron deserves the death penalty. Justice Department officials cited Gendron’s intentionality in the killings as well as his blatant racism. But none of that is necessarily in question. Gendron has already received a life sentence in prison without parole after pleading guilty to state charges. His crimes were horrific and understandably pull at the emotions. His act was clearly a hate crime that raised fear among Black people, underling yet again that minorities could be murdered just for existing in America. That’s the very definition of a hate crime. In targeting an entire category of people, Does Biden want to out-Trump Trump on the death penalty? with Mary Sanchez Readers can reach Mary Sanchez at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @msanchezcolumn. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich appeared on Fox News last Monday night as Iowa voters caucused and delivered a decisive victory for Donald Trump in his quest to win the Republican presidential nomination and a second term as president. Gingrich joyfully predicted that Trump would not only win the nomination but would win the White House in November with a minimum of 29 states. Gingrich may be right, but voter turnout in Iowa was down from four years ago and the lowest in more than a decade. Sub-zero temperatures were likely a contributing factor, as might a view by some that Trump had the race in the bag so why go out in freezing conditions? It is also a caution to recall that not every GOP winner of the Iowa caucuses in recent years has won their respective party’s nomination. In his victory remarks, Trump displayed a rarely seen quality – kindness and praise of his opponents Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. Following the vote count, Ramaswamy announced his withdrawal from the campaign and support for Trump. Trump, who has trafficked in division and name-calling for years, suddenly called for unity in a low- key (for him) victory speech. Establishment pundits remain shocked over Trump’s continued appeal to a large swath of voters, including an uptick in support among Blacks and Hispanics. People may have short memories but four years isn’t that long ago when one considers gas prices and mortgage rates were lower during the Trump presidency, the U.S. was not involved in foreign wars, inflation was down, and migrants weren’t flooding over our border in record numbers. It isn’t difficult to understand the reasons Trump continues to have a firm grip on his supporters, despite his rhetoric and legal challenges. They include an establishment that has refused to acknowledge the anger felt by many Americans over a dysfunctional Congress, the $34 trillion debt, and the constant bickering among politicians, though it is largely the fault of we who elect them. They see unequal justice, political agendas instead of addressing the real concerns of voters and what they believe is persecution of Trump by liberal Democrats. Add to the list of outrages felt by Trump supporters who see unequal treatment in th e handling of Hunter Biden’s tax issues and in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade with whom she has been rumored (by the Trump camp) to have had an affair. Willis has vehemently denied the accusation and showed up in an Atlanta church to blame racism for the criticism directed at her. In an extraordinary statement, Gingrich said: “Trump is not a candidate. Trump is the leader of a nationwide movement to take back power from the Establishment.” If that sounds like hyperbole, consider the number of states that have approved a convention of states to invoke Article 5 of the Constitution with the goal of enacting term limits and a requirement for a balanced federal budget. That would be 19 states, according to the Convention of States website with other states either having passed the resolution in one legislative chamber or are considering it. Thirty-eight states are needed. A Trump victory might encourage more states to sign on. Instead of dwelling on Trump’s personality, Washington politicians and the media ought to be examining the reasons behind voter anger and desire to move the country in a different direction. That’s what Trump is promising. It is the reason he won big in Iowa and may run the table in every other primary state. Is it over? with Cal Thomas Readers may email Cal Thomas at [email protected]. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America" my turn A memorial to the dead in the Tops grocery store mass shooting is shown during a March For Our Lives event on June 11, 2022, in Buffalo, New York. Ron DeSantis precinct captain Deborah Stoner, formerly of Huntington Beach, now living in Ames, Iowa, right, speaks with a Trump supporter during caucuses night at Mitchell Elementary School in Ames story continues on next page

8 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER January 25, 2024 8 The World Economic Forum held annually every January in Davos, Switzerland, is considered the global gathering of political, business and other elites. The Financial Times reported that this year a preliminary survey of Davos elites in September showed a "predominately negative outlook for the world .... that is expected to worsen over the next decade." Some 91% see "elevated risks of global catastrophes" headed by "environment, social conflict, cyber threats and misinformation." If the survey were taken at this meeting after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, it would be even more negative. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza are far from over. Little noticed was a nuclear threat sounded again by Russian Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev, former president, on Telegram against the West. Lai Chingte's election as Taiwan's president has roiled relations with China, raising concerns about the threat of a Chinese invasion of the island. In America, Donald Trump's romp to a 30-point victory in the Iowa Caucus, barring an unforeseen event, virtually assures his nomination. Allegations of a sexual relationship between the Atlanta prosecutor and a subordinate could end the trial and one of the most dangerous legal threats to Trump's campaign. President Joe Biden's ratings continue to fall. Congress is still fumbling over the debt ceiling, another Continuing Resolution, the border crisis and aid to Israel and Ukraine. Welcome to 2024! And could this get worse, as the great majority of Davosites fear? Is the world in general in as much trouble as this cursory summary suggests? Is it time for despair? Or is a touch of euphoria possible? These are the questions that must be addressed with obvious care given the quicksilverlike nature of thinking about, not predicting, the future. A nearly 250-year-old caveat is worth repeating. In September and October 1777, British Gen. "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne was defeated at the Battles of Saratoga by Continental Gen. Horatio Gates. The battle turned the tide of the revolution. France would enter on the side of the American rebels. At Edinburgh University, the famous Adam Smith was in residence. Hearing the battle's outcome, a rattled student approached Smith crying out, "Burgoyne was defeated. We are ruined." Smith's understated reply should be heeded today. "My boy, there is a lot of ruin in a nation." The answer to the balance between how despair and euphoria may affect 2024 is how much ruin is there in nations and in the global system. In other words, does some form of innate stability exist to limit the amount of damage that can be done by acts of man if not by nature? Prior history argues no with one exception -- before thermonuclear weapons existed. About acts of nature, extinction took place many millennia ago, when life on Earth was ended by a giant asteroid. Whether climate change will prove catastrophic or not is surely worthy of debate. And disease could run rampant. Suppose COVID-19 had a 95% or higher mortality rate. Assuming away these massive acts of existential disruption and destruction, what will prevent the wars in Ukraine and Gaza or other conflicts from escalating out of control; a massive global economic depression devastating most countries; revolution and civil war accelerating; and other societal endangering scenarios? International organizations such as the United Nations are not capable of assuring the stabilizing influence to prevent wholesale ruin. Can government? In the United States, both sides argue that the opposing candidate, Trump or President Joe Biden, will bring ruin to the nation. It is argued that Trump will do so because, despite his denial, he will pursue a campaign of retribution and revenge. Trump is a bull who brings his own china shop with him and chaos follows. Biden is seen as old and doddery. Suppose the unthinkable happens: Kamala Harris assumes the presidency. Catastrophe! One can argue similar scenarios are present in many countries to different degrees. Yet, we have been there before. Harry Truman was a haberdasher and over his head. Winston Churchill failed at everything before becoming one of Britain's greatest leaders. The contradictory fact is that unlike Robert Oppenheimer's fear that he was the bringer of death, that threat may prove to be humankind's savior. Despite these other frightening scenarios, that thermonuclear war is offlimits may be our salvation and the ultimate stabilizing force enabling the toleration of a great deal of ruin. And that may apply not only to war. Psychologically, this fear could have subliminal effects to ward off the worst of despairs and perhaps allow a bit of euphoria to battle through. 2024 could bring 'a lot of ruin,' but nuclear threat could be a stabilizing force with Harlan Ullman my turn Dr Harlan Ullman is senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and the book "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Harlan Ullman joins Happenings Q&A on Thu., Feb. 1st at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland beyond those who were murdered, it’s meant to send a message. Federal hate crime charges are among the multiple charges Gendron faces. That doesn’t sit well with Biden’s previous statements. When he was a presidential candidate, he ran on eliminating federal executions, an aspect that he saw was part of America’s past, part of a vengeful America. As outlined in his campaign website, he promised not only to push Congress to outlaw the federal death penalty, but to offer incentives to states that still have it on the books to eliminate it. He claimed it was an ethical concern for him as much as it was about justice. But four years have passed. And the 81-year-old Biden is stalked by the insinuation that he’s too old, too feeble for another term. Trump is the loudest voice making that allegation, even though he is four years Biden’s junior, but hardly a picture of health, mentally or physically. Biden is not likely to dispute Trump’s ageism claim. He’d be better off appealing to more reasonable voters. The American public is increasingly and rightfully questioning capital punishment. The death penalty is not a deterrent for criminals. Those who commit the most heinous of acts – those that draw calls for execution – often act in the spur of the moment. And when they do not, as in the very plotted and painstakingly planned actions of the Buffalo shooter, they expect to be caught and criminally prosecuted. Gendron, 20, live streamed the shootings, a horrendous act that meant some family members of those killed watched him carry out his despicable acts. Capital punishment cases are incredibly expensive because the bar is so high, often costing the government far more than even incarcerating someone for life. And the innocent have been swept up. Since 1973, there have been 190 people exonerated while on death row (the majority of them Black), according to the ACLU. In the case of the Buffalo shooter, some of the families of the victims were in favor of the death penalty. But others clearly and publicly were not. There was no consensus, no collective grief that the Justice Department could cite as a reason for calling for Gendron’s execution. Justice, fairly and impartially applied, would never be a political calculation. The White House, when pressed on this issue, will likely insist that the decision lies solely with the Department of Justice – which is true, but only to a point. Biden hasn’t followed through on his plan to eliminate the federal death penalty. He hasn’t done what was within his power by policy, executive order, or even verbal statements. Morally and ethically, either a person believes executions are governmentsanctioned murder or they are not. Biden claimed he believed they were. Maybe he’s decided that the threat of Trump ascending back into the White House calls for drastic measures Still, there’s something backward and ultimately selfdefeating about trying to be more like the person you are trying to counter as an avenue to defeating them – in this case, out-Trumping Trump. Sanchez continued from page 6

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 9 SMART READER January 25, 2024 Debtors’ prisons were abolished by Congress in 1833, which is good news for the millions of Americans According to a recent survey from Bankrate, nearly half of consumers (49 percent) say they carry a credit card balance from one month to the next, up a full 10 percentage points from 2021. And of those who revolve their balances, 58% (56 million people) — have been in debt for at least one year. The recent uptick in borrowing is a big turnaround from the progress that consumers made in the early pandemic period. According to the Government Accountability Office, from April 2020 to December 2021, “many people likely used their pandemic stimulus payments to pay down their credit card balances. Pandemic assistance was also associated with better credit scores and fewer delinquencies.” Of course, it was a lot easier to beat back debt levels when you were stuck in your house and annual inflation was running at a rate of 1.4%, like it was in December 2020. As the economy opened up, consumers unleashed their pent-up demand and spent their savings and then some. Unfortunately, by mid2021, the rise in prices was gathering steam and more Americans turned to credit cards to absorb higher expenses. The Bankrate survey found that about a quarter of respondents said day-today expenses, like groceries, childcare and utilities caused debt to pile up. Another 43% who carried a balance said that it was caused by unexpected or emergency expenses, like medical bills, or necessary car and home repairs. Although the current percentage of people who carry credit card debt is similar to the share seen prior to the pandemic, today’s debtors have a bigger hurdle: as of November 2023, the average interest rate for all credit card accounts was 21.5% vs. 14.5% two years ago. If you are seeking ways to dig out from under the mound of debt, start with the highest interest debt first and work your way down. You should also consider these actions: — Call and ask for a lower credit card APR: A 2023 LendingTree report showed that 76% of people who asked for a lower interest rate on their credit card in the prior year got one. You may be able to get a reduced or waived annual fee, a higher credit limit and a waived late fee. You have nothing to lose, so pick up the phone and ask! — Consider a zero percent balance transfer: This is usually for those with decent credit scores, but if you can snag one, a transfer can provide a year (or more) at 0% to pay off debt, without accruing any interest on the transferred balance. Warning: There are usually upfront fees and a higher interest rate at the end of the term if you can’t pay off the debt. — Carefully weigh bankruptcy: This is a BIG step, but if you are really drowning, it may be time to discuss your situation with a qualified bankruptcy attorney. According to the federal court system, bankruptcy can help those “who can no longer pay their debts get a fresh start by liquidating assets to pay their debts or by creating a repayment plan.” Personal bankruptcy does not erase all debts, like child support, alimony, parking violations and fines, student loans and recent federal and state income taxes owed. Additionally, a bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years and can impair your ability to obtain credit during that time. Before unleashing judgment about bankruptcy, remember that the most common reasons that Americans file are job loss, medical debt, and divorce. Credit card debt resurfaces with Jill Schlesinger jill on money Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBS News business analyst. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, she welcomes comments and questions at [email protected]. A photo illustration shows a display of credit cards on Sept. 12, 2023, in Los Angeles. A year ago, the vast majority of economists were warning that the 2023 economy would be haunted by the letter R, as in RECESSION. As it turns out, the letter was correct, the word, not so much. In retrospect, 2023 was a year of RESILIENCE for the U.S. economy, led by the pundit-defying labor market. Throughout the year, we were waiting for the U.S. economic engine to sputter, which would in turn cause employers to quickly shed positions. But miraculously, in the third year of a postCOVID expansion, the economy was able to produce an average of 225,000 jobs per month, for a total of 2.7 million. The year would have been considered solid in its own right, but following the two phenomenal bounce-back years of 2021 and 2022, where the economy gained 6.7 and 4.8 million jobs respectively, the 2023 performance took economists by surprise. Thankfully, the three-year totals more than made up for the 9.4 million jobs lost in 2020. Before we get too carried away with the 2023 results, there is some evidence that the labor market is cooling down. Monthly job creation averaged 257,000 in the first half of the year, but by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the totals were drifting lower, to 165,000 per month (including the upside surprise of 216,000 in December.) Despite the tapering off, 165,000 is not too shabby. According to Elise Gould, the senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, the Q4 monthly average exceeds “what’s necessary to keep up with working age population growth.” The recent data about job openings reveals a similar pattern of a softening, not cratering labor market. Job openings fell to 8.79 million in November, significantly lower than the peak of 12 million in March 2022, but still above the 7 million seen prior to COVID in January 2020. Additionally, as workers sensed that the job market is not quite as strong as it was, fewer were willing to call it quits. The private sector quits rate has now slid below its pre-pandemic peak. As the labor market slows down, it is expected that wages will eventually follow. But so far, wage growth has remained elevated and through December, average annual wages were 4.1 percent higher from a year ago. Given that the headline inflation rate in November was 3.1%, that means that workers are better able to absorb current price increases. But if you didn’t snag a big raise starting in mid-2021, when global supply chain pressures, along with material and labor shortages, and lots of government stimulus caused inflation to spike, your income likely did not keep pace with the recent sticker shock seen in almost every part of the economy. Prices are still up by almost 20% from where they were at the end of 2019, which has caused many Americans to spend down savings and accumulate credit card debt. There should be better news about inflation in the weeks and months ahead. According to analysts from Capital Economics, “The great inflation surge will end. Inflation cycles are still being driven heavily by pandemicrelated supply distortions… But 2024 is likely to be the year where core inflation finally moves back towards (global) central banks’ comfort zone of around 2%.” There’s one more application of the word resilience and that is to all of us. We have endured a grueling four-year COVID roller coaster and yes, we probably went a little nutty with our spending over the past year, but as we enter 2024, I am hopeful that we are able to moderate and modulate ourselves and adapt to more normal conditions. Resilience, not recession with Jill Schlesinger Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on the last day of trading for the year on Dec. 29, 2023, in New York City.

10 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER JANUARY 25, 2024 10 If your New Year's resolution hasn't lasted any longer than your kids' Christmas toys, here's a way to get started again. Consider the Mediterranean diet to make some lasting healthy changes. For the fourth year in a row, it ranked as the best overall diet by U.S. News and World Report. It also claimed the top spot in five other lists -- best diets for healthy eating, easiest diets to follow, best diets for diabetes, best plant-based diets and best heart-healthy diets. Just in case you're wondering, the DASH diet and "flexitarian" diet tied for the No. 2 spot on the Best Diets Overall ranking list. The keto diet? Bottom of the list, ranking 37 out of 39 for Best Diets Overall and 39th in Best Diets for Healthy Eating. The rankings are made by an expert panel of 24 of the country's top nutritionists and specialists in diabetes, heart health and weight loss. But back to the Mediterranean, which seems to be the best way to eat healthy and get to your healthy weight. How do you get started eating Mediterranean? It's based on the traditional foods that people used to eat in countries around the Mediterranean, such as Italy and Greece, back in the 1960s. Those Italians and Greeks were exceptionally healthy compared with Americans and had a low risk of many diseases. So, researchers began studying what they were eating. The Mediterranean diet focuses on plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, breads, legumes, potatoes, nuts and seeds. The main dietary fat is extra-virgin olive oil, and the diet also includes moderate amounts of red wine, fish, poultry, dairy and eggs. Red meat typically plays a small part, often only at Sunday dinner. That pattern has found to improve health and prevent disease, especially heart disease. A large study, called the Predimed study, looked at 7,447 individuals with a high risk of heart disease. For five years, participants followed one of three different diets -- a Mediterranean diet with added extra-virgin olive oil, a Mediterranean diet with added nuts and a low-fat diet control group. The risk of combined heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease was lower by 31% in the Mediterranean and olive oil group and 28% in the Mediterranean and nuts group. And dropout rates were twice as high in the control group compared with the two Mediterranean groups. Results like that have been repeated over and over. Other studies are showing that the Mediterranean diet can help with weight loss, Type 2 diabetes and premature death. The bottom line is this is a diet worth looking into. Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Ill. food & recipes The Diet for Health Nutrition News with Charlyn Fargo Servings: 6 1 medium red onion 4 medium tomatoes 1 cucumber, partially peeled 1 green bell pepper, cored 1/4 cup Greek pitted Kalamata olives 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1-2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 ounces Greek feta cheese 1/2 Tablespoon dried oregano Cut the red onion in half, and thinly slice into half-moons. Cut the tomatoes into wedges or large chunks. Cut the partially peeled cucumber in half length-wise, and then slice into thick halves (at least 1/2-inch in thickness). Thinly slice the bell pepper into rings. Place everything in a large salad dish. Add the pitted kalamata olives. Season with dried oregano. Pour the olive oil and red wine vinegar all over the salad. Give everything a very gentle toss to mix, and then add the feta. Serve with crusty bread. Per serving: 102 calories; 7 grams protein; 4.7 grams carbohydrates; 9.5 grams fat (1.3 grams saturated fat); 1.1 grams fiber; 28 milligrams sodium. Traditional Greek Salad Serves 4 4 jalapeño chiles, stemmed and sliced thin 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt, divided 1/2 cup ice plus 3/4 cup water 1 pound 85% lean ground beef 2 tablespoons taco seasoning 1/4 cup tomato paste 12 ounces American cheese, chopped coarse 3/4 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce 12 ounces tortilla chips 1. Bring jalapeños, 1/4 cup sugar, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until jalapeños are just softened, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and stir in ice. Refrigerate until needed. 2. Combine beef, taco seasoning, remaining 1 teaspoon sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until beef is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until paste begins to darken, about 1 minute. Stir in water and cook until sauce thickens and coats beef, about 4 minutes. 3. Microwave American cheese, milk, and chipotle in a large bowl until cheese is fully melted, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Arrange half of the chips on a serving platter. Drizzle half of the cheese sauce over chips. Repeat with remaining chips and cheese, then dollop beef mixture over top. Drain jalapeños and scatter over nachos. Serve. Ground Beef Nachos with Sweet Pickled Jalapeños Who says nachos can’t be dinner? When they’re loaded with seasoned ground beef and pickled jalapeños, they’re sure to be plenty filling. We made a simple microwave cheese sauce, so you don’t even need to turn on your oven to make these easy nachos.

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 11 SMART READER January 25, 2024 Dear Cathy, Recently I adopted a seven-year-old yellow lab who led quite a precarious life. When his original owner died, he remained with the body for three days. He was placed at the animal shelter, and I responded to an ad for adoption. He jumped into my car. He is a great dog, but is incredibly needy. He follows me wherever I go, from room to room, inside and outside. I must be in his sight and cannot leave him alone for fear he will hurt himself (I either get a pet sitter or leave him with my wife.) He is very loving, gets along with people, and literally pays no attention to other dogs. I know he loves to stay in the yard, but comes inside whenever I do. How do I make him less dependent on me? He's been with us for 11 months. — John, Virginia Beach, Virginia Dear John, Your dog has already proven to be an exceptionally loyal friend. As such, his grief may have manifested into anxiety and a genuine fear of losing you, since he lost his previous owner. But the clinginess is not good since it likely increases his anxiety when you are away from home. The goal is to build his confidence and reward him for self-soothing or spending time apart from you. To start, get him a pheromone collar to wear for the next 60 to 90 days while you try the following suggestions. Begin working on his "stay" command. Be sure to praise him each time he “stays.” Build the distance and time in a “stay” position gradually, so his confidence grows with each success. You also can introduce games, like fetch and hide and seek, that encourage him to be comfortable at being a little distant from you. Next, teach him, "Go to your place," which can be an open kennel, floor mat, or dog bed. You need a successful "stay" command to make this work. Initially, give him treats for staying on the mat with you in the room. As his comfort level grows, give him a special treat or toy that he only gets when you leave the room. Then, tell him to stay and leave the room. Make sure you are gone for only a few seconds to start. Build on the length of time as his confidence grows. When you return, retrieve the toy. That way, he learns good things happen when you leave the room. Use baby gates to keep him from following you into certain rooms but still allow him to see you. Finally, desensitize him a little every day. Get up and leave whatever room you are in repeatedly, but return quickly to start. He will follow you initially, but he may tire and stay put when he finally realizes you aren't really going anywhere. The first time he stays and doesn't follow you, be sure to praise and reward him when you return. These things take time and practice but will help you bond with your amazing dog while reassuring him he can be alone without worry. Dear Cathy, Your response that collars, tags, and microchipping are essential is true. But now, Apple AirTags are available and can be attached to the collar to help you locate a lost loved pet. We found a dog with an AirTag just last week, and an ID tag with a phone number. When we called, the owner didn’t even realize he was gone yet, but then knew exactly where we were located. The collar seemed made to accommodate the AirTag. — Joanne, Williston Park, New York Dear Joanne, I agree that an AirTag seems like a very easy way to keep track of our pets. Except, the Apple website and some veterinarians don't recommend them for people or pets. Apparently, the AirTags runs on a CR2032 3V Lithium Battery, which can leak when damaged. Dogs have been known to chew and ingest them, causing stomach and other organ damage. But GPS trackers made for dogs and cats also run on batteries. So, what's the difference? The design, perhaps. AirTags dangle from a collar like an ID tag. GPS trackers slide over the collar, allowing it to sit flush against the neck, preventing it from falling off. It seems like a no-brainer for Apple to develop a similar device to secure it to a pet’s collar. In the meantime, though, if you use an AirTag to keep tabs on your pet, it’s considered off-label use. So, you will have to find a way to secure it to the collar so it won't fall off. Pet World with Cathy Rosenthal How to build confidence with a clingy dog As well as being a recuring guest on Happenings Q&A, Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to [email protected]. Female lesser kudu born at Cincinnati Zoo Officials at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in Ohio announced the birth of a female lesser kudu calf currently being cared for by zoo staff. The zoo said in a news release that zookeepers decided to step in and care for the newborn after first-time mother Sabi appeared uninterested in the baby. "We didn't see nursing or much interest from first-time mom Sabi, so we stepped in and fed the calf," Eric Byrd, zoological manager at the Cincinnati Zoo, said in the news release. "We were also able to give the baby plasma that had been collected from her mom and saved when she had a hoof procedure. This will provide passive transfer of antibodies." Officials said the baby is being kept close to her mother in the hopes that the pair will bond. "She's receiving six bottle feedings a day right now and spending days with her dam and the other female, Sabi's mom Fjorda," Byrd said. "The care team gets daily weights, socializes with her, and makes sure that she stays safe with the adults." Dog helps rescue Michigan man who fell through ice into lake A Michigan man who fell through the ice into a frigid lake can thank the efforts of his obedient dog for his successful rescue, Michigan State Police said. The MSP said in a news release that Motor Carrier Officer Kammeron Bennetts responded to a call reporting a 65-year-old Traverse City man had fallen through the ice into Arbutus Lake in East Bay Township. Bennetts had a rescue disc in his car, but was unable to reach the man due to the conditions of the ice. The man's dog, Ruby, was on the ice next to the hole made by her owner, and the man sent the canine over to Bennetts. Bennetts attached the rescue disc to Ruby's collar and her owner called her back to him. The man was able to take the rescue disc from Ruby so he could be pulled back to safety by Bennetts and a firefighter from Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department. The man, who was in the water for about 16 minutes, was transported to Munson Medical Center and was later released without serious injuries. Record 932 manatees gather at state park Florida's Blue Spring State Park said cold weather brought a record number of manatees there to stay warm. The park said in a Facebook post that 932 manatees were counted in the park's comparatively warm waters Sunday, breaking the previous record of 736 set on New Year's Day. Officials said the manatees are drawn to the park when other waters become cold, as the springs are at a constant temperature of 72 degrees. Wildlife officials said manatees can face health problems if they remain for too long in water colder than 68 degrees, and cold stress can lead to death for the mammals. Deputies round up rampaging bull on the loose Sheriff's deputies in Florida put their cowboy skills to the test when a call led to them spending two hours chasing after a loose bull. The Indian River County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a call about a loose bull in Vero Beach. "Although the animal was still on its property, it was unsecured and headed towards the street," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. Deputies spent about two hours chasing after the bolting bovine, and during the pursuit the bull "would charge at them and their vehicles." The rampage was finally brought to an end when the bull was successfully tranquilized and returned to its paddock. "Thanks to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office Ag Unit and their special tools, no one, including the bull, was injured in this incident," the post said. Amorous fish blamed for mysterious sound in Florida bay A Florida scientist said a mysterious bass sound reported by residents in the Tampa Bay area might be coming from mating fish. Area residents reported hearing the low-pitched sound periodically since 2021, and so far no concrete answers have been found as to its origins. James Locascio, a senior scientist with the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, said the sound could be coming from black drum fish in the bay. He said the fish produce throbbing sounds during their mating season when muscles vibrate against their swim bladders. He said the sound could reach as far as a mile away from the water. "It's a low frequency sound, and so they travel much better and go further distances, and they go through dissimilar media more efficiently," Locascio told WTVT-TV. ttg

12 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Comeback college: How Morris Brown kept its doors open Kevin James once heard a sermon in church that gave a name to his mission: The Hard Reset. That pretty much sums up his efforts to turn around a historically Black college in Atlanta. When he first started as president of Morris Brown College in 2019, there were only 20 students left. The college had lost accreditation in 2002 due to financial mismanagement. Morris Brown had filed for bankruptcy and sold 30 acres to pay down debt. The water had been shut off. Then, in Dr. James’ first semester, the administration building literally caught on fire. No one donated money to fix it. In fact, many potential donors thought the school had closed. “No one would give me any money, but someone donated a can of paint,” Dr. James recalls. “And so the staff, we painted the walls ourselves. We did the Sheetrock work the best we could by ourselves.” Today, 342 students are enrolled at Morris Brown – still just a fraction of the 3,000 who attended during its heyday. But the water is back on, debts have been paid, and in a rare outcome, the school won back its accreditation. “One day they’ll film a movie about this, kind of like ‘Lean on Me’ or ‘Coach Carter,’ something like that – a real story of how Morris Brown was resurrected,” says Dr. James. Morris Brown’s is a rare tale of survival. Closure – particularly after losing accreditation – is by far the more likely outcome for struggling smaller schools. Places such as 181-year-old Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, and 154- year-old Holy Names University in Oakland, California, ceased to exist in 2023. Faltering enrollments, which the pandemic exacerbated, helped shut many campus doors, according to a study done by Bloomberg News. According to Fitch Ratings, 20 to 25 schools with fewer than 5,000 students will close annually going forward. That’s double the previous 10-year average for private nonprofit schools. “The loss of accreditation is a death knell for most institutions,” says John Drea, an assistant professor at Illinois State University who has written about what small colleges need to do to survive. “I’m pleasantly surprised Morris Brown has remained open. Unless a school has an enormous endowment or a network of donors to sustain it while it tries to regain accreditation, the loss of accreditation is what pushes a struggling college under. If a college is highly dependent upon tuition revenues from year to year to survive, one to two bad years can push you towards the precipice.” There is some good news, and not just for Morris Brown: Overall undergraduate enrollment in the U.S. was up 2.1% in fall 2023 for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, a report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found. Historically Black colleges and universities, such as Morris Brown, saw even higher growth, with a 6.1% increase in undergraduates over 2022. Making Morris Brown affordable and restoring students’ access to financial aid were two key tasks. (No accreditation meant no federal financial aid.) Typically, 70% of HBCU students qualify for aid. With only 20 undergraduates, one of Dr. James’ first steps was halving the 60-person staff. “We weren’t making payroll,” Dr. James remembers, “and I had to make the very, very difficult decision of rightsizing the organization and living within our means.” He asked the mostly adjunct faculty to volunteer and issued a call to action for alumni with Ph.D.s or master’s. More than 150 alumni raised their hands. From that number, volunteers taught for free for 2 ½ years, allowing the school to lower tuition. Currently, it stands at $4,250 a semester. By 2022, the president had paid down debt, made new partnerships, and applied for accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. It was granted. The U.S. government then offered a $2.9 million grant to help grow enrollment. “Just thinking about if they would have closed, what would the impact of the closure have been is huge,” says Stephanie Hall, acting senior director for the Center on American Progress who specializes in college accountability. Schools often just shut down operations and leave students without a plan or place for them to go. Less than half of students at schools that close finish their degree, according to a 2020 study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Shy’Quon Rudolph is a senior at Morris Brown. He sought out the school after initially enrolling at Tuskegee University in Alabama and dropping out after two years. Then he moved to Atlanta, where he was working full time. “I can 100% say that if Morris Brown hadn’t had their accreditation, I probably wouldn’t have enrolled,” says Mr. Rudolph, who also works as an enrollment specialist and one day wants to be director of enrollment. Mr. Rudolph, 28, describes himself as a nontraditional student. “By me just working in enrollment, I see the applications that we’re getting, the students actually interested in Morris Brown,” he says, predicting brighter days ahead for his school. In 2023, Goldman Sachs released a study that showed that HBCUs had outperformed Ivy League schools in paving a way for upward social and economic mobility for Black Americans. After winning back accreditation in spring 2022, Morris Brown saw the largest first-year student class in decades in fall 2023, totaling 150. Last semester, 342 enrolled. Alumni returned to celebrate homecoming. More people gave money. The first fraternity on campus in 20 years, Alpha Phi Alpha, restarted its chapter in October. “I felt strongly that I would work to save the institution and that I would build a team for us to do it,” Dr. James says. Now The Hard Reset has a $10 million capital campaign. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation recently donated $3 million, and Chick-fil-A gave a $500,000 grant. Other schools are looking at Morris Brown as a comeback model. BarberScotia College, an HBCU in Concord, North Carolina, lost its accreditation in 2004. Businessman and former Spring Lake mayor, Chris Rey, was hired as president last July. The school only had four students, so Mr. Rey suspended classes for fall 2023. Classes resumed online this January. As with Morris Brown, instructors are volunteering. Tuition has been lowered to $1,500 a semester, down from more than $7,000. Students can download all their books for $250. “We’ve had an opportunity to really observe how [Dr. James] has leveraged his marketing and social media to bring attention to the story of Morris Brown College. That’s what we began to do,” Mr. Rey says. He’s taken mental notes on rebranding, communicating with stakeholders, and getting Barber-Scotia’s finances in order. The work isn’t over for Dr. James, but he often reflects on the Sunday service that inspired him. His pastor used the analogy of doing a soft reset on a cellphone, where you turn it off to get things to work correctly. “But then he was talking about if you need to restart ... you can do what’s called a hard reset. And you can wipe your entire cellphone clean, all the apps, everything would come off, and it would go back to factory settings. And that mindset came back to me as I was walking around the campus, and I was like, wow, what Morris Brown needs is a hard reset.” By Ira Porteri Morris Brown President Kevin James speaks about new funding for the historically Black college in Atlanta, Jan. 17, 2023. Under his tenure, Morris Brown won back its accreditation and had its largest first-year student class in decades. Spelman College has received a $100 million donation from a businesswoman and philanthropist, the largest such gift in the history of a historically black college or university, the Atlanta-based school announced Thursday. The donation was made by Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston, chairman of Greenleaf Trust. "We are invigorated and inspired by this incredible act of generosity," said Dr. Helene Gayle, president of Spelman College. "This gift is a critical step in our school's mission to eliminate financial barriers to starting and finishing a Spelman education. We can't thank Ronda Stryker enough for her selflessness and support as both a trustee and friend. There's no doubt that Spelman College is better because of her." The $100 million gift coincides with the 100 year anniversary of Spelman's official naming in 1924. Stryker has been a Spelman College Trustee since 1997 and has worked to "empower women through higher education and advance opportunities for additional marginalized groups," a statement from Spelman said. $75 million of the $100 million will be used create endowed scholarships for future students, and the remaining $25 million to bolster the school's focus on public policy and democracy, improve student housing and meet what the school calls other "critical strategic needs." Spelman said it will focus on removing financial barriers that currently prevent qualified students from enrolling. The institution was founded in 1881 and named Spelman College in 1924. It is considered a leading liberal arts college and is widely recognized as focused on "the education of women of African descent," the college said in its statement. With an enrollment of 2,300 students, Spelman bills itself as the country's leading producer of Black women who complete Ph.Ds. in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Well-known alumni include Children's Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman, former Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer, and political leader Stacey Abrams. By Mark Moran Spelman College receives record $100 million donation from longtime trustee SMART READER January 25, 2024 12

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 13 SMART READER January 25, 2024 How Denver met a goal to shelter 1,000 people One Colorado mayor rang in the new year checking off a resolution from 2023. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced that his team had moved 1,000 unsheltered people indoors by Dec. 31, fulfilling a pledge from his first days in office last year. He had initiated a state of emergency on homelessness that surged city resources, spending some $45 million last year on this House1000 plan. Some critics contend the plan doesn’t always prioritize the most vulnerable people for shelter. The arrival of over 37,000 migrants to his city over the past year – many ineligible for work permits, at least initially – has also strained Denver’s bandwidth. Still, supporters of House1000 see seeds of progress on tackling homelessness that other cities can consider. “I have been really impressed with Mayor Johnston’s focus and urgency,” says Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Sustaining this work, he adds, will mean curbing the pipeline into homelessness. A three-pronged approach, says Mr. Olivet, should involve prevention, the scaling up of stable housing anOne Colorado mayor rang in the new year checking off a resolution from 2023. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced that his team had moved 1,000 unsheltered people indoors by Dec. 31, fulfilling a pledge from his first days in office last year. He had initiated a state of emergency on homelessness that surged city resources, spending some $45 million last year on this House1000 plan. Some critics contend the plan doesn’t always prioritize the most vulnerable people for shelter. The arrival of over 37,000 migrants to his city over the past year – many ineligible for work permits, at least initially – has also strained Denver’s bandwidth. Still, supporters of House1000 see seeds of progress on tackling homelessness that other cities can consider. “I have been really impressed with Mayor Johnston’s focus and urgency,” says Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Sustaining this work, he adds, will mean curbing the pipeline into homelessness. A three-pronged approach, says Mr. Olivet, should involve prevention, the scaling up of stable housing and services, and ongoing street-level crisis response for those who are unsheltered. Denver officials, meanwhile, say they’re committed to expanding House1000 in 2024. Hotels and a microcommunity Homelessness is a persistent and growing problem in Denver as in many metro areas across the United States. The Denver County annual point-in-time count – a one-night snapshot replicated across the country – reported 5,818 people experiencing homelessness last January. Of that group, 1,423 were unsheltered. Experts say those figures are likely less than reliable, subject to factors like inclement weather and missed “shelters’’ like hospitals and jails. The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative reports that around 28,000 people in the metro area accessed homelessness related services between July 2021 and June 2022. A new report is expected this month. For House1000, the Denver mayor’s team targeted large street encampments to close first. Of around 1,150 people served so far, most were sheltered in converted hotels and micro-community units. The city says wraparound services like mental health and substanceuse support are provided, along with employment assistance. The point was to move “people to housing, rather than just sweeping them from block to block,’’ says Mr. Johnston. “We can then close those encampments and keep them closed.’’ Moving groups en masse “helped us recognize how people that are unhoused build community,” he adds. “That encampment of folks you’re living with is a real source of support.” Denver’s efforts were partly inspired by Houston, whose encampment decommission model coordinates the entry of unsheltered people into housing. Limited affordable housing is considered a key barrier to reducing homelessness nationwide. The Mile High City, home to some 700,000 people, isn’t an exception. By one analysis, rent in Denver rose by 82% between 2009 and 2021 – double that for the national median. Who benefits? Christine Marie Oviedo says she’s getting used to four walls and a roof after living in a Denver street tent, homeless for about six years. Difficulty with securing disability benefits and a maze of casework have been barriers to stable housing, says Ms. Oviedo. In midDecember, outreach workers helped her move from an encampment into a hotel off a highway. With her bundle of blankets and clothes, she gained access to one of hundreds of units that the city has converted into transitional housing for House1000. The hotel isn’t perfect; Ms. Oviedo, who uses a walker, says it’s hard to access the shower. But after some adjustment to her temporary room, six hours of sleep at night is now possible, she says. A person collects items from a tent as Denver Parks and Recreation rangers string police tape during a city-sponsored closure of an encampment, Nov. 1, 2023, in Denver. A new micro-community in Denver is seen from an aerial view provided by the city. The transitional housing units are part of Mayor Mike Johnston’s House1000 plan, which has brought more than 1,000 people off the street since last July. story continues on page 15 5125 6th AVE. KENOSHA April 4 • 7:30pm Sinatra, Sammy, Soul & Such Valentine’s Day Dance Tickets On Sale Soon! February 10th 7:00pm • $10 Yesterday’s Children S o o 6:30pm - 9:30pm 7:00pm - 9:00pm All Star Join Us Every Wednesday! Karaoke S S o Yesterday’s Children ROCK & ROLL BINGO FREE February 10 at 5:00pm Bill Serritella & Elliot Wimbush 011824 FOR EVENT TICKETS VISIT HAP2IT.COM STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 10AM-4PM OR CALL 1-262-564-8800 RRICK “ELVIS” SAUCEDO ICK “ELVIS” SAUCEDO Bill Serritella & Elliot Wimbush

14 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 The 37th edition of the Official Kenosha Area Visitors Guide is now available – and it’s the largest guide to date at 116 pages. Kenosha Area Tourism Corporation, doing business as Visit Kenosha, has published a Visitors Guide each year since 1987 except for 2021 (due to the pandemic). The guide includes over 20 businesses that are new to our tourism partner family, as well as over 100 businesses and attractions that have been with us for some time now! The Kenosha Area Visitors Guide is divided into these sections: Things To Do, Recreation, Shopping, Food & Drink, Accommodations, Event Planning & Services, and Our Communities. There are articles/itineraries, photos, maps, directory listings, ads, and more valuable information that people visiting the Kenosha Area, relocating here, going to college here, or already living here will appreciate. Articles in this edition of the guide include: Top Four of the Four Seasons, Act Your Age, Let The Games Begin, Accessible & Inclusive Experiences, On Exhibit: Five Outstanding Museums, Outdoorsy Vibes: Hidden Gems for Nature Lovers, Spend the Day at the Market(s), It’s a Brunch Thing, Fish Fry Fridays, On Tap & Extra Cheesy, and much more! The cover of the guide shows a family enjoying a picnic at Petrifying Springs Park. Visit Kenosha is a private, not-for-profit corporation – a destination marketing organization – whose sole purpose is to promote the Kenosha Area as a travel destination, and thereby contribute positively to Kenosha County’s economy. The Official Kenosha Area Visitors Guide is the only publication of its kind in our community. Guides are distributed locally, by direct mail to individuals requesting information, at welcome centers and rest stops throughout Wisconsin, and in brochure racks in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Here’s a fun fact: this year’s guide has a new designer! Following production of the 2023 Kenosha Area Visitors Guide, long-time designer Bob Hoot announced his retirement. A request for proposal was issued early in 2023 and Visit Kenosha selected Janette Hill of Janette Hill Art, LLC to be the guide’s new designer. Go t o VisitKenosha.com/GuideBlo gPost for a behind-thescenes look at the making of this year’s guide. Local residents use the guide while making their own leisure plans – to “Be A Tourist In Your Own Town”! Have friends or family planning to visit Kenosha? Send them a guide! Planning a wedding, meeting, sports event, or other gathering in Kenosha? Be sure the attendees have a guide! Did you know that upon request, Visit Kenosha supplies complimentary welcome bags for groups staying at Kenosha Area hotels? Orders can be customized; each bag contains at a minimum the Kenosha Area Visitors Guide. Go to VisitKenosha.com/Guide to view the digital version of the 2024 Kenosha Area Visitors Guide or to request a FREE copy to be mailed to you (or someone else). The guide is also available at our Visitor Information Centers, as well as hotels, restaurants, attractions, shops, and other businesses throughout the Kenosha Area. These are the places that are listed in our guide and on our website. Here are two more ways to Be A Tourist In Your Own Town: Enjoy the Snow Daze Festival in Downtown Kenosha on January 27 and celebrate our community’s delicious dining scene during Kenosha Restaurant Week. This happens February 24 to March 3 at participating businesses throughout Kenosha County. As the week approaches, go to VisitKenosha.com/RW for the venues and menus. Find fun faster! Be sure to use our website VisitKenosha.com when looking for #KenoshaFun. Go to VisitKenosha.com/Winter to learn more about winter activities in the Kenosha Area. Visit Kenosha has been Kenosha’s official travel resource since 1986. New year, new Visitors Guide by Meridith Jumisko, Visit Kenosha Meridith Jumisko is Public Relations Director at Visit Kenosha. Contact her at [email protected] SMART READER January 25, 2024 14 $ 20 OFF SR012524 YOUR CERTIFIED GM SERVICE CENTER... WE USE GENUINE GM PARTS WE ALSO SERVICE ALL VEHICLE MAKES AND MODELS PALMEN BUICK GMC CADILLAC Cannot be combined with any other coupons. See advisor for details. Expires 02/25/24. 7110 74th PL, Kenosha, WI • (262) 694-1500 “Located next to Menards” SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN’S LARGEST TIRE DEALERSHIP! Transmission or Coolant Flush 10% OFF PALMEN BUICK GMC CADILLAC Cannot be combined with any other coupons. See advisor for details. Expires 02/25/24. Parts & Labor on any add-on GM Accessory $ 10 OFF PALMEN BUICK GMC CADILLAC Cannot be combined with any other coupons. See advisor for details. Expires 02/25/24. 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FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 15 SMART READER January 25, 2024 DEAR MAYO CLINIC: For the last 20 years, I’ve worked a physically demanding job. As a result, chronic back pain has been an issue. I’m ready to retire and want to enjoy activities, such as traveling, golf and playing with my grandkids, pain-free. I’ve been told I’m not a candidate for back surgery. What options are available to help alleviate and manage my pain? ANSWER: The field of pain medicine has traditionally been a specialty associated with palliative treatments. Therapies were designed to treat a symptom or pain rather than correct an underlying condition causing the symptom. Over the last decade, a shift in focus has transitioned to include minimally invasive treatments to improve or correct an underlying painful condition. Among these new treatments, one of the most exciting involves restorative neuromodulation. In the past, neuromodulation in pain medicine has been defined by implanted electrical devices. These devices “scramble” pain signals traveling through the spinal cord to the brain. The devices addressed various painful conditions, including persistent low back pain in people for whom spine surgery is unlikely to be successful or beneficial. The purpose has been not to correct the underlying condition but to reduce the painful symptoms. This works very well in many cases, but in some patients, the response is neither substantial nor long-lasting. So, what is restorative neuromodulation? Restorative neuromodulation distinguishes itself from other forms of neuromodulation by correcting an underlying problem that results in pain reduction. With a condition such as knee arthritis, the body can respond to a painful joint by inhibiting or "shutting down" the surrounding muscles. This process, known as arthrogenic inhibition, ultimately worsens the problem by creating instability in the joint. A similar process can take place in the spine. An injury or stress to the tissues in and around the spine, including soft tissues, muscles, bones and joints, can result in persistent low back pain. As a result of this pain, there can be a loss of control of the multifidus muscles, the largest stabilizing muscles of the spine. The failure of control in those essential stabilizing muscles can result in instability and misalignment. This can compound ongoing pain and risk for further injury. Treating pain caused by muscle instability or misalignment is important and can be identified during physical examination. Loss of muscle control can be confirmed using MRI. Once these muscles have lost control, they atrophy and become replaced by fat. Fat within the muscle is easy to identify by MRI. Unfortunately, until now, an effective way to regain control of these stabilizing muscles, restore lumbar stability and reduce low back pain has been challenging to achieve. Previously, the only treatments for this type of "mechanical" low back pain have been preventing normal biological function through surgically fusing the spine, ablating spinal nerves, or blocking painful sensations with opioids and spinal cord stimulation Using an implanted restorative neurostimulation device can cause repeated contraction of the multifidus muscles to reestablish their strength and restore stability in the spine. This results in pain reduction and prevention of further injury. The implanted restorative neurostimulation device treats the cause of pain and not just the symptoms. Because this is a restorative therapy, it takes some time for the effect to reduce pain and improve function. Scientific evidence shows that patients treated with the implanted restorative neuromodulation device experience long-lasting progressive improvement in pain and function over time. — Richard Siegfried, M.D., Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin Mayo Clinic Targeting pain with restorative neuromodulation health Teens with high stress levels may be at risk for heart disease later Stressed-out teens are likely to have more heart health risk factors in adulthood, a new study says. Teens with elevated stress levels tended to have high blood pressure, obesity and other heart risk factors as they aged, compared to those teens with less stress, researchers found. "Our findings suggest that perceived stress patterns over time have a far-reaching effect on various cardiometabolic measures, including fat distribution, vascular health and obesity," said researcher Fangqi Guo, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. "This could highlight the importance of stress management as early as in adolescence as a health protective behavior," Guo added in a university news release. For this study, researchers analyzed data from 276 participants in the Southern California Children's Health Study, an ongoing research project that included followup health assessments at average ages 13 and 24 for participants. The participants' stress levels were measured using a perceived stress scale, and they were placed in one of four categories - consistently high stress, decreasing stress over time, increasing stress over time or consistently low stress. Researcher found that teens who had higher levels of stress into adulthood were more likely to have higher total body fat, more fat around the belly and a higher overall risk of obesity as adults, researchers found. They also tended to have worse blood vessel health and higher blood pressure in adulthood. "Although we assumed that perceived stress patterns should have some association with cardiometabolic measures, we did not expect such consistent patterns across various risk factors," Guo said. Guo suggests that doctors and pediatricians should consider screening for stress during check-ups. "This way, those with higher stress levels can be identified and receive treatment earlier," Guo said. By Dennis Thompson Pancreatic cancer is known as a 'silent killer' because it's usually only detected in its later stages. But there's a glimmer of good news for patients: The five-year survival rate for people with the disease has crept up to 13%, according to 2024 statistics from the American Cancer Society released Wednesday. That's more than double the 6% five-year survival rate of a decade ago, noted experts at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). The organization credits the improvement to better detection and management of patients with cancers that have not spread beyond the pancreas. "We have seen better management of people who are considered high risk and better survival of those with localized disease, most likely due to the increased use and improvements in treatments available before [neoadjuvant] and after [adjuvant] surgery," Lynn Matrisian, PanCAN's chief science officer, said in an an organization news release. All of this is "good news," said PanCAN President and CEO Julie Fleshman, who added that, "We are seeing more patients being diagnosed at earlier stages and they are living longer." However, the latest ACS numbers predict that about 66,400 Americans will receive the grim news this year that they have pancreatic cancer. Another 51,750 are expected to die from the illness in 2024. Both of those numbers reflect a rise in new cases and deaths. So, despite the uptick in five-year survival, "not enough progress is being made for patients diagnosed with metastatic disease and we need to continue to find better treatment options for those patients," Fleshman said. Pancreatic cancer also appears to be on the rise among younger women, PanCAN noted. That could be tied to rising obesity rates and changes in racial/ethnic demographics. "PanCAN's research priorities are to find an early detection strategy and accelerate treatments for [pancreatic cancer] patients. And we are dedicated to increasing awareness of symptoms and risk factors of pancreatic cancer," Matrisian said. By Ernie Mundell Survival rate for pancreatic cancer improves

16 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER January 25, 2024 16 A lingering shortage of medications to treat attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder is forcing patients to scramble to obtain the prescription drugs they need. The shortage of ADHD medications "has caused some strain on patients and families," Dr. Lisa Spector, division chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Nemours Children's Health Florida in Orlando, told UPI in a telephone interview. "They often have to wait for weeks, sometimes months, to get their medication refills, which is challenging," said Spector, who also is co-director of the Central Florida Behavioral Health Hub at Nemours. Such delays make it difficult for children with ADHD to function in school, she said. ADHD is one of the most frequently occurring n e u r o d e v e l o p m e n t a l disorders of childhood, and it often continues into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention and controlling impulsive behaviors or be overly active, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A child with ADHD might daydream, forget or lose things a lot, squirm or fidget, talk too much, make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks, have a hard time resisting temptation, have trouble taking turns and have difficulty getting along with others, the CDC said. Adderall in short supply The ADHD medication shortage began with Adderall, an amphetamine, although it has had an impact on other stimulants, although generally to a lesser degree, Dr. Will Cronenwett, a psychiatrist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, told UPI via email. Other stimulants include methylphenidate (Ritalin) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). They all have short-acting and long-acting forms, and have been impacted by the shortage, Cronenwett said. The Adderall shortage occurred for several reasons: supply constraints, manufacturing problems and markedly accelerated demand during the pandemic, he said. Cronenwett estimated that the number of adults taking amphetamines has gone up by about 15% since 2020, which led to a mismatch between demand and supply. "Some people have had to make phone calls or trips to multiple pharmacies to look for places that had their medications in stock," Cronenwett said. "Other people have had to switch to alternative medications, and some people have had to go without." He added that "people started to feel the effects about 2022, and things have rippled outward from there. As the supply of amphetamines started to dwindle, people looked to switch to other drugs similar to amphetamines, which then began to experience their own supply issues." Pandemic cited An original investigation published in JAMA Psychiatry last week revealed that prescriptions for stimulant and nonstimulant ADHD medications accelerated during the pandemic, particularly among young people and women. In October 2022, the Food and Drug Administration officially announced a shortage of Adderall existed. The study, prepared by researchers at the FDA, found that prescriptions for stimulant and nonstimulant ADHD treatments during the pandemic were much more pronounced than before the pandemic, possibly as a result of the number of adults working from home. Overall, stimulant prescriptions for those 20 to 39 years old ratcheted up 30%, while nonstimulant ADHD prescriptions for this age group jumped 81%. The medications also have become more accessible to a greater number of people, as the Drug Enforcement Administration began permitting clinicians to prescribe treatment for ADHD via telemedicine. These prescribing flexibilities are in effect through this year. The shortage of ADHD medications is "pretty severe and it has been for the last 18 months or so," Manali Patel, a pharmacist who is the manager of retail/specialty purchasing and inventory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, told UPI in a telephone interview. "Some of the strengths of the shortage medications don't have any available substitute options on the market," Patel said. "We've seen prescribing changes to accommodate for the strengths that are available at the time of need." P r o d u c t i o n discontinued But problems persist as "many manufacturers have discontinued production, so there are fewer manufacturers available to fulfill the demand," she said. According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in Washington, D.C., which represents many of the nation's biopharmaceutical research companies, "drug shortages can occur for many reasons, with manufacturing quality issues being a primary driver." PhRMA added that "other sources of drug shortages may include production delays and delays in receiving raw materials and other components from suppliers, natural disasters and/or other public health emergencies, as well as significant changes in demand to due to shifts in clinical practice." For several months, retail pharmacies across the country have experienced shortages of ADHD medications, without an expected availability date for many of them, Trisha A. Jordan, chief pharmacy officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, told UPI via email. "Switching medications can have an impact as patients often have found a specific medication that works best for them," said Jordan, who also is assistant dean for medical center affairs at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. Possible alternatives "We try to offer as many solutions to our patients as possible if alternatives are available, so they do not have to go without medication." If a different strength of the same medication is in stock, the pharmacy offers to obtain the provider's approval to change the strength and quantity to fill the same total daily dosage, Jordan said. For instance, if the 30-milligram strength of Adderall is out of stock, but 15 mg. is in stock, the patient can take two tablets. "If there are not alternative strengths, we recommend that the patient reach out to the provider as soon as possible to discuss alternative options that are available so they don't have to go without medication," Jordan said. But Spector, who also is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, said part of the difficulty in managing this shortage stems from "pharmacies not always being forthcoming in telling patients and providers what other formulations of stimulants they have in stock, as it is a controlled substance." "When we asked why they will not tell us or the families what stimulants they have in stock, pharmacies have told me that they fear that if they say out loud what stimulants they have in the pharmacy, it might prompt people to break in to steal them," Spector said. "They have told me they have a policy against telling people what stimulants they have in stock." At Ohio State, Jordan noted that "the pharmacy team has dedicated staff focused on medication shortages and sourcing. Medication shortages cause significant strain on the healthcare system, pharmacies, patients and providers." By Susan Kreimer Shortage of ADHD drugs continues as patients scramble to find medication Denver homeless continued from page 12 On the street, she says, “I was freezing to death.” Other people have moved into one of the city’s emerging microcommunities, where oneroom units share communal bathrooms and laundry. Yet who gets to shelter in these spaces is a point of contention. “All along we were telling [the mayor] we wanted to prioritize the most vulnerable people, not the most visible people,” says Terese Howard, an organizer with Housekeys Action Network Denver. She’s called for more consideration of unhoused people with severe health conditions, not just people in large encampments. Other observers question the cost of homelessness efforts. Colorado has spent nearly $2 billion on these initiatives concentrated in metro Denver over the past three years, according to a report by the Common Sense Institute, a Colorado think tank. “Leaders should implement a new system of accountability and transparency to address the crisis,” the report concludes. And a spokesperson for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless calls for more information about the city’s plan to move people into long-term housing. The initial goal, says the mayor, was to scale up transitional housing “quickly and affordably.” Now, his administration aims to add 3,000 permanent housing units this year, but their source remains unclear. Mr. Johnston also cites the challenge of managing incoming migrants from the southern border. Without immediate access to federal work permits, many are housing-insecure. Migrants seek shelter, too For thousands of migrants who’ve arrived in Denver since late 2022, sometimes bused in overnight from Texas, the city has offered temporary, time-limited shelter and travel tickets elsewhere. The mayor is asking municipal agencies to find ways to trim spending, Denverite reports, to avoid the migrant response swallowing a tenth of the city’s annual general fund budget. That’s on the mind of unhoused locals on a recent chilly afternoon downtown Bundled in an olive-green coat, one woman waits in line to enter a homeless shelter for the night. “We stand out here every day,” says the woman, who declined to give her name “The migrants coming in, they get housing first. ... It doesn’t make any sense.” That morning, across town, the city began to shut down a large migrant tent encampment. Many individuals have been placed into congregate shelter and offered help with rental assistance. Desireet Mujica, from Venezuela, regards the street of newly abandoned migrant tents beside her teenage son Their 37 days at a migrant shelter ends early next month. By Sarah Matusek Shortages of ADHD drugs occurred for several reasons: supply constraints, manufacturing problems and markedly accelerated demand during the pandemic.

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 17 SMART READER January 25, 2024 books The Waters, by Bonnie Jo Campbell Bonnie Jo Campbell is one of the chief practitioners of Midwestern Gothic, and the National Book Award finalist’s first novel in a dozen years is reason to rejoice. “The Waters” is an indelible portrait of rural Michigan and the women tough enough to live there, with writing so evocative it practically sprouts in your hands. Lush, brackish, and bracing, “The Waters” is not so much read as steeped in. Wild and Distant Seas, by Tara Karr Roberts This inventive historical novel is spun from a minor female character in “Moby-Dick.” Melville’s narrator, Ishmael, and his sidekick, Queequeg, are served chowder in Mrs. Hussey’s inn before they sail off on the Pequod with Captain Ahab. Ishmael’s short stay has lasting ramifications on the lives of the innkeeper and her female descendants. The Curse of Pietro Houdini, by Derek B. Miller Sheltering in a hilltop abbey southeast of Rome, a maverick and a 14-year-old orphan hatch a plan to save the abbey’s priceless paintings from the Nazis. Even as the pair endure war’s horrors, they refuse to abandon their crusade. Derek B. Miller delivers an irresistible story of defiance. My Friends, by Hisham Matar A teenager leaves his cherished family in Libya to pursue higher education at the University of Edinburgh. Protesting against the Qaddafi regime results in exile from his homeland. Hisham Matar provides insights into life under revolution and in exile. Beautyland, by Marie-Helene Bertino Adina, a human-looking alien growing up in 1980s Philadelphia, adores astronomer Carl Sagan. “He is looking for us!” she enthuses to her otherworldly superiors in a one of many life-on-Earth dispatches. Adina navigates human childhood while her single mom, unaware of her daughter’s true identity, struggles to keep them afloat. The Wharton Plot, by Mariah Fredericks In this mystery set in early 20th-century New York City, Edith Wharton, the arch, imperious novelist of “The House of Mirth” takes center stage. When an American writer gets shot, Edith agrees to shepherd his finished manuscript to publication. Censorship, corruption, and class privilege brush up against jealousy and regret in Mariah Fredericks’ pitch-perfect tale. The Survivors of the Clotilda, by Hannah Durkin Historian Hannah Durkin’s gripping account uncovers the stories of the 110 enslaved people kidnapped from what is now modern-day Nigeria and forced onto the last Wild seas and alien wonder: Get carried away with January’s best books In our polarized world, discussions about complex topics are often reduced to simplistic arguments based on ideology. And in the list of issues that seem impervious to rational analysis and discussion, immigration policy is surely near the top. In How Migration Really Works: The Facts About the Most Divisive Issue in Politics, Dutch sociologist Hein de Haas identifies 22 common “myths” about migration and subjects these myths to a clear and evenhanded analysis. Drawing on global data, he finds that almost all the arguments – made by both sides – represent “partial, simplistic, and often outright misleading views ... which crumble in the face of evidence.” The book is an impressive, authoritative achievement on an issue about which it’s difficult to even agree on the questions that ought to be asked. De Haas debunks the idea that migration is at an all-time high, and concludes that “current levels of migration are neither exceptionally high nor increasing. In fact, over the past decades, global migration levels have remained remarkably stable.” But what about illegal immigration? He argues that, according to the evidence, these numbers are also “relatively stable.” Even in the United States – which experienced “a fast increase between 1990 and 2005” – the total number of unauthorized immigrants in the country has hovered around 11 million for the last 20 years. What about the claim that the world is facing unprecedented refugee and asylum crises? Again, not true, according to de Haas. While “Western societies have experienced levels of immigration and settlement that are higher than most expected a few decades ago,” most of the increase is due to legal immigration, “largely driven by labour demand.” He does not minimize or trivialize the problems that sudden surges of story continues on page 17 story continues on page 17 Facts never got in the way of a good Viking legend Viking traders and warriors roamed the globe from Central Asia to the Mediterranean to North America for several hundred years, from A.D. 800 to 1066. They hailed from present-day Norway, Denmark, and Sweden and used oceans and rivers to raid, conquer, and trade. Historians have long concurred that these explorers made their way to North America but there is no agreement about how far they journeyed or how long they stayed. In the absence of definitive evidence, the Vikings’ legacy has become the province of myths and legends. Martyn Whittock, an English historian and writer, explores the many unknowns and ambiguities in American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed Into the Lands and Imaginations of America. Thoroughly researched, carefully presented, and written with a wry humor, the book starts with a basic question: Were the Vikings the first European explorers to reach North America? Other groups have claimed that achievement. The Irish long believed that St. Brendan came over in the sixth century. The Welshman Madoc ap Owain Gwynedd is said to have landed near what is now Mobile, Alabama, around 1170. The stories that surround the Irish, Welsh, and other claimants are tenacious, but Whittock makes clear that there is no archaeological or historical proof to support them. There is, by contrast, plenty of evidence that the Vikings settled in Iceland around 870 and soon pushed west to Greenland. But did they go further? This is where things get murky. Several of the so-called Icelandic sagas claim that the Vikings voyaged farther west and discovered a new territory that they named “Vinland.” But nobody knows where this was. The only archaeological evidence related to the Vikings comes from a small settlement called L’Anse aux Meadows, located at the far northern tip of the Canadian Atlantic province of Newfoundland. While the site is fairly complete and complex, it is still not clear when the Vikings arrived, what the site was for, how long it was occupied, or why it was abandoned. There is, however, enough evidence to suggest that the Vikings did venture beyond this small outpost. This is where myth and legend take over. One hypothesis is that the Vikings journeyed west and eventually reached Minnesota or even further. Another theory posits that the Vikings turned south and explored the East Coast of what is now Canada and the United States. A coin, called the “Maine Penny,” suggests that Indigenous people who lived in what is now the state of Maine knew and traded with the Vikings. Regardless of the facts, the Vikings have become deeply embedded in American culture. Entities as varied as a professional football team and a kitchen appliance company have made Vikings a part of their brand. Some of the ways we think of the Norse might not actually have a connection with reality. Whittock makes it clear that the most familiar symbol – the helmet with the animal horns attached – is a 19th-century invention. But not all of the modern connections are benign or humorous. Whittock, like many other observers, finds Viking symbols, references, and mythology have become common among white supremacists. One of the best-known photographic images of the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, shows one of the rioters standing in the Senate chamber with “three ‘Viking’ tattoos clearly visible on his body,” writes Whittock. Vikings “were very much in the mix on that dramatic day.” In the end, Whittock cannot answer definitively the question he starts with, but he has produced a deeply researched and engrossing book that fully explores the multiple dimensions of the Viking story in the Northern hemisphere. Any reader who wants to know more about their legacy will find Whittock’s book full of anecdotes and insights. By Terry Hartle ‘How Migration Really Works’ brings calm rigor to a heated issue

18 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 How to catch alligator poachers? Become one. Florida wildlife officer Jeff Babauta was nearing retirement when he went undercover to infiltrate the world of alligator poachers in the Everglades. He changed his name, adopted a freewheeling persona, and started an alligator farm on a rundown property in south Florida. The story of Babauta and Operation Alligator Thief is the subject of “Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades,” Rebecca Renner’s engrossing account of a two-year sting mounted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2015. Babauta’s efforts led to the arrest of 11 poachers in a single day, one of the biggest hauls in the agency’s history. The book’s author, a Florida native, leads the reader through the complexities of Operation Alligator Thief as well as the intriguing, often murky, biological and cultural environment of the Everglades. She has a gift for storytelling and enriches her narrative with a wealth of Florida history, local lore, nature writing, and personal anecdotes. “I wanted to understand what it was like to be a poacher in the glades,” Renner writes. “I wanted to live the lives of rangers and wildlife officers, too. I wanted to tell a story of people. No heroes, no villains, just the desperate choices that make us who we are.” While alligators are so plentiful today in Florida as to constitute a nuisance, they nearly became extinct in the 1950s. Their populations are sensitive, dependent on precise temperatures and water levels to assure viable egg production. Even small fluctuations in weather can have a harmful impact, leaving the species vulnerable to flooding, sea-level rise, and habitat destruction. Flooding in the early 2010s along the Lower Mississippi Delta caused thousands of alligator nests to become unviable. To maintain their hatchling stocks, alligator farmers in Louisiana, as in Florida, relied on permits to harvest wild alligator eggs legally. With the price of eggs soaring and farmers in Louisiana turning to other sources, it was widely suspected that some farmers were buying from poachers. Infiltrating the crime ring was no simple task for Babauta. Alligator farmers in south Florida were a notoriously closed group, suspicious of outsiders. To get information on poachers, Babauta had to become one, which meant setting up a working farm stocked with full-size alligators, about which he knew absolutely nothing. His department was tight with money, so Babauta was required to show a profit from his farm from the start. And he had to do all this while not blowing his cover, a mistake with potentially fatal consequences. Renner’s passion for her home state is palpable and much of “Gator Country” is devoted to pushing back on misconceptions of Florida. “I was tired of reading stories that treat the glades, and all of Florida, really, as a wild and wacky backdrop where characters and tall tales abounded, where ‘normal’ folks vacationed but where real people didn’t live.” Renner displays a genuine compassion for the people living in the Everglades, one of the poorest areas in the country. Ironically, she notes, the establishment of Everglades National Park in 1947, a worthy effort to protect the vast wetlands, came at the expense of the people who lived there, as it “pushed whole communities into crime. It pitted environmentalists against hunters, against the working-class people who lived there, the people who were already stewards of the environment in the first place. In removing the glades’ keepers, and removing their livelihoods as well, the parks struck a false wedge between the gladesmen, the Natives, and the wild.” Part true-crime story, part memoir, part hymn to “nature’s savage beauty,” “Gator Country” makes for a rewarding reading experience. By David Conrad PRINT & E-BOOKS NONFICTION PRINT & E-BOOKS FICTION 1. Fourth Wing (Yarros) 2. Iron Flame (Yarros) 3. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (McBride) 4. Holmes, Marple, & Poe (Patterson/Sitts) 5. First Lie Wins (Elston) 6. Icebreaker (Grace) 7. The Housemaid (McFadden) 8. Sanctuary of the Shadow (Ascher) 9. House of Earth and Blook (Maas) 10. Lessons in Chemistry (Garmus) 1. Oath and Honor (Cheney) 2. The Boys in the Boat (Brown) 3. Killers of the Flower Moon (Grann) 4. The Wager (Grann) 5. Outlive (Attia/Gifford) 6. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk) 7. The Woman In Me (Spears) 8. Elon Musk (Isaacson) 9. Friends, Lovers, and the Big... (Perry) 10. Everything I Know About Love (Alderton) NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS refugees create, but argues that “there is no scientific basis for the claim that ... asylum systems are on the verge of collapsing.” What about the notion that tighter border restrictions reduce immigration? This seems like a no-brainer: If we build more walls, fewer people will be able to cross borders. But, says de Haas, “this is not how migration works in reality,” and such efforts are counterproductive. In response to new restrictions, migrants find “legal loopholes, adjusting the timing of their migration or deploying new ways of crossing borders.” More importantly, efforts to further block migration “can paradoxically produce an increase in net migration, and push temporary migrants into long-term settlement.” De Haas has a scholar’s comfort level with migration as a long-standing human activity and makes clear that he sees migration “not as a problem to be solved, or as a solution to problems, but as an intrinsic part of broader processes of social, cultural and economic change that affect our societies.” But he is no starry-eyed idealist. He frequently criticizes liberal organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for “alarmist overtones,” and takes issue with the trope that conservatives are tougher on immigration than liberals. If anyone is to blame, in de Haas’ view, it is politicians on the left and right who consistently ignore available evidence about the trends, causes, and impacts of migration. In his words, “This does not reflect a lack of information or innocence, but a conscious refusal to acknowledge the facts. Politicians ... perpetuate a series of myths as part of deliberate strategies to distort the truth about migration.” But in doing so, they sow fear and misinformation and cover up their failures to address the problems. De Haas presents the evidence clearly and effectively. An open-minded reader will find a fresh perspective on the nature of the immigration challenges on every page of this timely book. It ought to be required reading for politicians. A skeptic might despair that this careful, evenhanded analysis will make no appreciable difference in the debate over immigration. But de Haas hopes that a wider understanding of the issues will lead voters to demand more informed and thoughtful public policies. By Terry Hartle Migration continued from page 16 slave ship to transport captives to America. The Clotilda landed in Alabama months before the start of the Civil War; Durkin, with a focus on its female survivors, compellingly reconstructs their lives post-emancipation. Our Enemies Will Vanish, by Yaroslav Trofimov Yaroslav Trofimov, the Ukrainian-born chief foreign affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, spent the early days of the war in Ukraine watching as ordinary citizens turned what looked like a certain defeat into a stalemate that inspired the world. Told with empathy and sensitivity, the story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The MAGA Diaries, by Tina Nguyen Political journalist Tina Nguyen uses her own comingof-age story to explain how conservatives play the long game by providing intellectual training and professional guidance to young people. Her chronicle is entertaining yet unsettling. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer Jonathan Blitzer traces the roots of the immigration crisis back to what he terms America’s misguided Cold War-era interventions in El Salvador and Guatemala. The author’s powerful, compassionate account highlights individual stories, creating an epic portrayal of migration’s human stakes. Best of January continued from page 16 SMART READER January 25, 2024 18

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Steelmaker is latest South Korean company to adopt 4-day work week In a country notorious for long working hours, more and more South Korean companies are adopting a fourday work week. Korea's leading steelmaker POSCO announced Friday it would introduce a four-day work week on a bi-weekly basis for its office staff beginning next week. The new plan, however, requires POSCO employees to still work the same number of hours as they would in a five-day week. Basically, they would work an hour more for nine working days from Monday to the next Thursday then have a day off on Friday. Other Korean companies have offered similar scheduling options. In 2022, the world's secondlargest memory chipmaker SK hynix began allowing workers to take a Friday off each month, with its rival Samsung Electronics doing the same in 2023. Other Korean firms like Kakao and CJ ENM run a similar program. South Korean businesses used to be able to work their employees up to 68 hours a week, but that was reduced to 52 hours in 2018 - 40 basic work hours, plus a maximum 12 hours in overtime. The country's maximum weekly work hours are still long compared to other advanced economies. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data, South Korean employees worked an average of 1,901 hours in 2022, the fifth-highest among the member countries. This compares to 1,341 hours in Germany, 1,532 hours in the United Kingdom, 1,607 hours in Japan and 1,811 hours in the United States. The OECD average was 1,752 hours. "Korea's younger generation is more keen about work-life balance. To retain top talent, more and more Korean companies will have to brace for a four-day work week, at least partially," consultancy Leaders' Index CEO Park Jugun told UPI News Korea By Jeong Hyeon-hwan & Kim Tae-gyu. In a word: All CAPS or none, It’s a free-for-all on social media Looking through news articles, you might assume that the way we capitalize words hasn’t changed since it was codified in the 19th century. The first letters of proper nouns go in uppercase; job titles are not capitalized unless they come directly in front of a name; seasons are not capitalized unless they are part of a proper noun (“this spring” versus “the Winter Olympics”); etc. On the internet and in social media, however, capitalization is returning to its medieval roots and entering another free-forall era in which anything and everything can be capitalized – or not. While the Associated Press style guide would categorize many of these new uses as “incorrect,” they are far from meaningless. Capitalization, as it is used online, can help readers interpret texts. Putting a word in all caps suggests that IT is the important one. All caps also signals “emotive arousal,” according to linguist Maria Heath. Texting your son “I want you to clean up your ROOM” suggests frustration and anger about the state of said room, while “It’s your BIRTHDAY!” suggests happiness or perhaps surprise. Writing a single word in all caps highlights importance, but WRITING EVERYTHING IN ALL CAPS IS GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD AS YELLING. Alternating caps – which are supposed to confuse large language models like ChatGPT but don’t – convey a mocking tone. These erratic uppercase letters are also known as “SpongeBob case” or “SpongeMock” because the association began in a 2017 meme featuring the eponymous cartoon sponge. If a man on an online dating site writes “i won’t waste your time. i’m different from these other guys” and receives in response “iM dIfFeReNt FrOm ThEsE oThEr GuYs,” it’s clear that his interlocutor doesn’t believe his clichéd assertion and is making fun of him for being unoriginal and fake. Writing without uppercase letters entirely, as the man did in the above exchange, is now the default for Generation Z on social media. Some people have adopted the all-lowercase style because they have moral objections to the standard rules of capitalization, in which the egoistic “I” is capitalized, while “we” and “you” are not, and in which “President Biden” is uppercase, while “plumber Biden” wouldn’t be. Others use it because they feel it communicates intimacy, informality, and warmth, saving “proper” capitalization for professional settings. Increasingly, in fact, employing formal, “correct” capitalization seems aggressive, just like putting periods in your text messages or SENDING THEM IN ALL CAPS. By Melissa Mohr South Korean steelmaker POSCO is adopting a four-day work week every other week. 19 SMART READER January 25, 2024 REMINDER: PLEASE RESUBMIT AD TO RUN FOR EACH ISSUE. Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISC MODEL TRAIN SWAP Meet. Sunday, February 11, 9am To 1pm. Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39th Ave. For More Information Call Bill @ 262-331-0392 G E R M A N CONVERSATIONALIST GROUP - KENOSHA/RACINE If you speak German or are enthusiastic about the German language and culture, come and join us. There are no membership fees and attendance is whenever you are available to join. Meetings will be held in the Kenosha and Racine area. This is an excellent group to practice speaking German as members' language skills are from beginners to advance and we all have a good time. Please contact me if you are interested in joining - Susan Blust at [email protected]. LIONS CLUB BINGO Come have some fun! Doors open at 4:00. Raffles, pull-tabs and pregames start at 6:45. Bingo 7:00-9pm. Wednesdays. 2700 9th St., Schlader Building, Winthrop Harbor. Food Sales. FOR SALE Four Wheeled Walker by NOVA in Kenosha. Asking $50 or best offer. Call or Text 808-359-8474. Sears sewing machine. Model 1750. Zig zag. All attachments included. $99.00. Joan Pucazo 262-656-6048, Kenosha, WI 53140 [email protected]. CHRISTMAS TREES: FAUX Christmas Tree $100; Ceramic Christmas Tree $50; Faux Christmas Tree $5. Many Christmas Items. Just inquire by calling or texting 262-902-5663. WINTER SPORTS: Women's Edelweis ski pants $25; Women's ski pants $60; Women's Salomon SX52 Lady ski boots $235; Women's ELAN Downhill skis $140; Tingley Men's Medium Size Rubber Over The Shoe Boots $10; Men's Boots$10; Jeep Jacket $200; Boy's Figure Skates $10; Men's Figure Skates $10; Cross Country Ski Poles- 2 pairs $10 each; Men's Snow Pants $10. Call or text 262- 902-5663. Snow Blower 24” Like New 262-771-7860 Beer Cans For Sale 262-694-7573, Leave A Message. Crystal round platter 12 inch diameter $10.00 perfect condition Great for the holidays 317-764-7662 BEADS. Boxes and boxes Of New Beads. All Sorts And Sizes. $49.00 For All. Phone 262-657-6049 CHILDREN'S VINTAGE ITEMS: Riding Wonder Horse-$100; Eddie Bauer Beach Sport Bag With Many Sand Play Toys Included-$8; Speedo Dive Snorkel And Mask (Unopened) $15; Mini Indoor Basketball Hoop- $3; Plastic Kitchen Toys- All For $2; Many Legos- All For $3; Star Trek, The Motion Picture Vhs SeriesAll 8 Tapes-$25; Many Toys (Call With What You Are Looking For!) Call Or Text: 262-902-5663. Two Bicycles, Schwinn $100 OBO and Autobike by CSA, 6-speed $175 OBO Call 262-654-6485 Please leave message Original $15 Rockwell Plates $10 each Air Fryer, new $50 Call 262-771-8764 Save 50% ON Burial Plots! Private Owner Of Two (2) (Side By Side) Section H Sunset Ridge Memorial Park Kenosha, Wi. Dont’ Pay $11,390.00... I’ Selling For $5,695.00 Obo! (262)914-5977 Ed Barbie doll, remote control corvette, that fits two Barbie dolls, about 25 in long x 10 in wide, best offer. Other small auto models available from classic days. Ron 847-340-3446. Beanie Babies - large inventory, includes McDonald's line, price varies. Call 262-654-6485 - please leave message Sony Reel To Reel Tape Decks! TC-630 & TC-580 $200 OBO for both. Call Kent 262-960-0621 [email protected] Two side-by-side burial plots at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, section H, privately owned. Willing to negotiate on price. Please call Ed - 262-914-5977 WANTED. Experienced Grill Cook Flexible Hours, Fun Atmosphere. Lakeside Deck At The Wyndham Hotel Call Kim 262-496-7182 Singer and narrator wanted for Roger Miller tribute.Call 262-554- 8205. Ask for Marv. WANTED TO BUY: Vintage Movie Posters, Comic Books, LP Records, Vintage Toys, Horror VHS, Horror Memorabilia, Science Fiction Pulps & Magazines, Video Store Promotional Items. PH 262-237- 0318. WANTED TO BUY: Old Post Cards, B&W Photos, B&W Photo Albums, Vintage Advertising, Old Hunting Licenses & Advertising, Scrapbooks, Old Misc.Paper, Old Automobile Advertising, Fountain Pens, Gillette Razors & More. Local Collector/Neutral Safe & Secure Site to meet if desired. Cash Paid. Call or Text Stan 262- 496-1822 ARCADE DRIVERS SCHOOL is looking for classroom & driver instructors. Starting pay $17.00 per hour. If interested please call 262-637-9193 or email us at [email protected] LOOKING FOR NURSES Aid for in home care. Call Barbara 262-455-3953 SERVICES. “Tax Preparation & Advisory Services. 20+ Years Experience. Virtual Or In-Person. For Appointment Call Or Text 262-496- 2208. I Will Do Seamstress Work, Run Errands, Do Shopping & Dr. Appointments., Etc.If Interested Please Call Gayle At 262-748-4748 I'M LOOKING FOR house to share for reasonable rent in exchange for household needs for a senior vet consideration. 847-340-3446 Ron. Kenosha/Union Grove area. LAWN MOWING SERVICES Reliable lawn care services in Kenosha & Pleasant Prairie. call/text 262-914-9796 [email protected] TAX & MEDICARE EXPERT. Appointments only. Se Habla Español. 262.833.7070 CHINESE LANGUAGE / CALLIGRAPHY LESSONS: Fun, fascinating and very cool. Beginning and advanced - all ages! Text Dr. Tim at 520.704.3832. FOR RENT Finished Suite private, in-home entrance, in Kenosha. For details call between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, 262-843-1630. DRUM LESSONS Private instruction. Band, orchestra, marching and drum set. Rock and many other musical styles. Learn to read music. Call Tom for details. 262-818-2869. PROFESSIONAL LED TEETH WHITENING for a fraction of the price! $99 at cabana tan spa. call to book: 262-843-2411. 20 minute session = a bright white smile! mycabanatan.com NURSING CARE /CONSULTATION: $35.00/hour. Call or text to (262)758-1974 FAST COMPUTER SERVICE including network support, spyware removal, upgrades and PC repair. For friendly service with a smile, call Vikkex today! Phone 262-694-7746 BABYSITTING YOUNG LADY good with kids can watch 1 or 2 children call 262-620-4745 House cleaning woman + a bucket - reliable, dependable. Also clean vacant houses. Call for estimates - Sandy 262-221-2289 Houses And/Or Business Sun Shine Klean Is Having A Special This Month For First Time Customers Free Upholstery Cleaning With At Basic Cleaning For Only $39.95 262-287-5103 CNAS TO JOIN wellness team at Barton of Zion, five star assisted living. Send resume [email protected] apply within at 3500 Sheridan Road Zion, IL 60099 847-872-1500 FREE HOME HEATING Fuel Oil Removal I will remove your unused home heating fuel oil for free..clean and safe . Inquire about tank removal also ... 262 818 1967 ..ask for Dave TYPING. I am an experienced legal secretary with excellent typing skills wanting to type for you at home. Please contact Alicia at 2 6 - 6 5 8 - 4 4 8 4 . VEHICLES0 2011 FORD F150 143K MILES SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-237-1343 CALL OR TEXT. NEWER TIRES AND BRAKES. READY TO DRIVE ANYWHERE $7950 NICE TRUCK 2008 HONDA CRV One Owner Well Maintained See In Kenosha At 4121-7th Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 Call Or Text Very Nice Car $5750 1994 Nissan Leopard J Ferie similar to the Infiniti J30 Asking $8500 OBO Low miles and very good condition Text 808-359-8474 with questions SEE IN KENOSHA At 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 Call Or Text. Awd 190k Miles 3 Row Seating $9495 3.5 Liter 6 Cly 2003 soft tail Harley Davidson 18000 miles $5000 worth of chrome added in 2006. Perfect condition Asking $7500 Call Lloyd at 262 694 7359 or 262 515 1366. Located In Pleasant Prairie 95 CAMERO convert green/tan top. many newer parts best offer will trade for other vehicle, negotiate price. 847-340-3446 Ron - dealers welcome to participate. 1997 Jaguar XK8 Convertible 75K in great condition Contact Bob: 262-484-4848 or text 262-945-9224 1973 FORD F250, Camper Special2wd,California Original, Rebuilt Motor/Trans, Auto, Ac, New Interior, Can Send Pics. $13,500 Obo. 630-945-8320. 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA See In Kenosha At 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 262-237-1343 Russ Call Or Text 212k Miles $2950 FREE CLASSIFIEDS! E-mail your 170 character classified to: [email protected] Please include your contact information in the classified. (Name and Phone number / e-mail address) First 3 words will be boldface type. NO ANIMALS. • NO PERSONALS ALLOWED. CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2023 AT 12 NOON FREE CLASSIFIEDS! Employment/Opportunities • Lost & Found • Miscellaneous Real Estate • Rentals • Rummage Sales • Vehicles • Wanted

20 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER January 25, 2024 20 health lifestyle community Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center news January 25, 2023 Your Kenosha ADRC Update Kenosha County ADRC to Offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers Online Class Next free, six-week course to begin March 13 The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is now accepting reservations for its next Powerful Tools for Caregivers course, to be conducted online. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a free, sixweek educational series designed by Stanford University, intended to teach skills for how to take care of yourself while caring for a loved one. The class helps family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources. The 6-week online classes will be held Wednesdays, beginning March 3 – April 17, 2 – 3:30 p.m. To participate, caregivers will need internet access and access to a computer, iPad or other tablet. They will receive a brief phone call from the program leader prior to the first session on how to use the Zoom video conference program. Registration is required by Friday, March 8. To register, call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 Memory Café Memory Café is a place for persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment, early-stage Alzheimer’s, or related dementia, and their care partners to socialize and have fun. Join the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center’s Dementia Care Specialist, Susan Johnson, on the second Tuesday of every month, 1-2 p.m. The next meeting will be on February 13, 2024, Kenosha Southwest Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Avenue. Registration is required for new members. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646. Going on Medicare? Learn about the decisions you’ll need to make The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers no-cost, unbiased, Medicare workshops for those who are new to Medicare, or those who want to learn more. Trained benefit specialists will be available to answer your questions and discuss the decisions you’ll need to make, including the basics of Medicare coverage, options for private health and drug coverage, and public benefits that can help with health care costs. Upcoming Medicare Workshops: • Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Road, Entrance North A, Room N2 Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 10 a.m. – noon Thursday, February 29, 2024, 10 a.m. – noon • Bristol Village Hall, 19801 83rd Street, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 10 a.m. - noon Due to limited seating, reservations are required. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make a reservation or to learn more. Free Healthy Living with Diabetes Class offered online! The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is offering a free online class for those who have diabetes or care for someone who does. Healthy Living with Diabetes is a 6-week evidence-based program from Stanford University that has helped people world-wide: • Be in control and feel better • Have more energy • Use new tools to manage their diabetes • Create new goals Healthy Living with Diabetes will be offered virtually, Thursdays, 2 – 4 p.m., March 21 – April 25. If you are a Kenosha County resident, age 55 or older, and have diabetes or care for someone who does, call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to learn more or to register. A Zoom link will be provided for the class. Registration closes on March 14.

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 21 SMART READER January 25, 2024

22 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER January 25, 2024 22 Spring Elections are February 20 and April 2 Free rides available The Spring Primary for Kenosha County residents will be Tuesday, February 20. The Spring Election and Presidential Preference vote is April 2. Free rides are available for adults 65+ and adults with disabilities who need a ride for voting purposes. Rides will be provided by the following services with advance registration: • Care-A-Van: 262-658-9093 • Link Western Kenosha Transportation: 888- 203-3498 • Volunteer Transportation: 262-842-7433 Persons with disabilities can request special voting accommodations, such as curbside voting. To learn more call Disability Rights WI Voter Hotline: 844-DIS-VOTE. The website myvote.wi.gov  is also an excellent resource to register and request an absentee ballot. For those unable to access the MyVote website, Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center staff can provide direct assistance. To learn more, call the ADRC at 262- 605-6646. Be a Volunteer Guardian!  Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity? You could be a Volunteer Guardian! The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center provides training for community members to advocate in health, welfare and/or financial issues for vulnerable adults. Volunteers are then court appointed as the legal decision maker. The program provides training, support and on-going assistance for the volunteer guardian to successfully and capably perform their responsibilities. In as little as one hour each month, you can positively impact the quality of life of an at-risk adult. For more information or to apply, call the ADRC at 262-605-6646. Online Learning Platform for Family Caregivers Offered Free The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is offering registration support for Trualta. Trualta is a free online educational tool for family caregivers in Wisconsin. Trualta helps caregivers learn about health issues, care techniques, and managing care for loved ones. If you provide care for a loved one, friend or even neighbor, you are a family caregiver. As a family caregiver, it can be hard to find the right resources. Even harder when your time is limited. Trualta’s collection of professional content is designed for the family caregiver to make it easier to manage care at home. Trualta is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 364 days a year. With lessons as short as 5 minutes, Trualta makes it easy for you to fit caregiver training in whenever it works for you. Trualta provides practical caregiver tips and techniques that you can start using right away. With Trualta, you can also learn alongside other caregivers in your area and learn from others’ experiences. In addition to learning skills to manage your loved one’s current care, Trualta’s learning library can help you prepare and plan for what the future holds. Discover ways to connect with your loved one and be confident you’re doing your best. To participate, caregivers will need internet access and access to a computer, iPad or other tablet. Participants will receive an email with a link to register. To register, call Margaret Ricchio at the ADRC, 262-605-6650 or email [email protected] Kenosha Mayoral Forum coming to the Rhode On Sunday, February 4th at 2 p.m., Ktown Connects Podcast presents the Know Your Vote 2024 Mayoral Forum, sponsored by About Time Moving Systems, Casey Family Options Funerals & Cremations, and Franks Diner, at the Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th Street. Get to know our nine upcoming Kenosha mayoral candidates before the February 20th primary election and make an informed vote! This will be a Q&A program moderated by Pete Serzant of AM1050 WLIP where all candidates are able to deliver their concepts for a better Kenosha! Lobby doors open at 1 p.m. and admission is a $2 suggested donation to the Rhode Center for the Arts. Free popcorn, snack and gift bags to the first 100 guests. For more information, visit ktownconnects.com Your Kenosha ADRC Update A & L TAX SERVICE 7506 22nd Avenue, Kenosha (262) 652-2592 Tax Preparation @ Reasonable Prices!012524 82 Years and Counting! Founded in 1942 by A. James Faraone, my father. Started with Building of Homes 82 years ago. Added Real Estate Sales in the 1950s Anita Faraone Licensed Real Estate Broker 59 years. Tax preparation services were added 25 years ago. Check A & L Tax Service out on Goggle. We are ready to serve you now. Call us you won’t be disappointed. 2024 Kenosha Military Show At The American Legion Post 21 504 58th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140 Public Welcome January 27, 2024 • 8AM-3PM Admission: $3 / Kids 12 & Under FREE ~FREE Parking~ BUY • SELL • TRADE • APPRAISALS Historical Artifacts From All Periods And Wars Vendor Information: $25 per 6’ Table Set Up At 6:30AM Day Of For More Information Contact: Matt Christiansen (847)293-6695 [email protected] 012524

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 23 SMART READER January 25, 2024 It has been my custom for most of the past 27 years to write a year-end column that summarizes the Social Security updates scheduled to take place the following year. I already discussed some of these updates in a column back in October when they were first announced, but it doesn't hurt to repeat them here. (They all grow out of the annual c o s t - o f - l i v i n g adjustments that have been part of the program since 1973.) But before I go on, I've got to address a related and totally misleading ad that pops up every day on my cellphone and iPad, and I'm sure it does on your devices, too. The headline goes something like this: "Here are 6 major changes to Social Security coming in 2024 that you probably don't know about." If you open it up (and maybe get sucked in by all the other ads on the site), you will learn that those "major changes" are just the routine COLA adjustments that have been part of the program for over 50 years now. I'm sharing those routine adjustments with you today -- without all the hype. Almost all Social Security beneficiaries are familiar with the most popular and publicized upcoming change: the increase in monthly benefit checks for 2024 due to the automated cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. As all of you are already aware, that increase will be 3.2%. I always dread mentioning COLAs in this column because every single time I do, I am flooded with emails from readers complaining that the increase is not enough. Yet here's the rub: Many economists and social planners believe Social Security COLAs are too generous! (I've explained why in past columns, but don't have the space to get into that argument today.) That's why most discussions of long-range reform for Social Security include proposals to reduce cost of living increases. OK, back to the 2024 Social Security COLA. Due to these increases, the average monthly retirement check will be $1,907 in 2024, a $59 increase from the 2023 level. The maximum Social Security check for a worker turning full retirement age (FRA) in 2024 will be $3,822, compared to $3,627 in 2023. And please note that $3,822 is the maximum for someone turning full retirement age in 2024. That does not mean it is the maximum Social Security payment anyone can receive. There are millions of Social Security beneficiaries who get much more than that, primarily because they worked well past their FRA and/or delayed starting their benefits until age 70. Here's another important point about the COLA. Many readers have been asking me if they must file for Social Security benefits in 2023 in order to get the COLA that's paid in January 2024. The answer is no. The COLA will be built into the benefit computation formula. So even if you don't file for Social Security until next year, or some subsequent year, you'll still get the 3.2% increase. Although this is a Social Security column, I must mention the upcoming increase in the Medicare Part B premium, which is deducted from Social Security checks for most people. In 2024, the basic Part B premium is projected to be $174.70. That's $9.80 more than the 2023 rate. And as has been the case for 20 years now, wealthy people will pay more than the basic premium. I don't want to get into the complicated issue of Medicare premiums other than to make this quick point. Even though they are linked in the minds of most senior citizens, Social Security and Medicare are entirely separate programs, administered by entirely separate federal agencies, and they have entirely separate rules and regulations regarding their benefit and payment structures. For example, the Part B Medicare premium increase has nothing to do with the Social Security COLA. Instead, by law, it must be set at a level that covers 25% of the cost of running the program. Taxpayers pick up the remaining 75%. (And again, wealthy people pay more than the 25% share.) Another measuring stick called the "national wage index" is used to set increases to other provisions of the law that affect Social Security beneficiaries and taxpayers. Specifically, this includes increases in the amount of wages or selfemployment income subject to Social Security tax; the amount of income needed to earn a "quarter of coverage"; and the Social Security earnings penalty limits. The Social Security taxable earnings base will go up from $160,200 in 2023 to $168,600 in 2024. In other words, people who earn more than $168,600 in 2024 will no longer have Social Security payroll taxes deducted from their paychecks once they hit that threshold. This has always been a very controversial provision of the law. (Bill Gates pays the same amount of Social Security tax as his plumber!) I think it's a pretty good bet that any eventual Social Security reform package will include an increase in that wage base. Most people need 40 Social Security work credits (sometimes called "quarters of coverage") to be eligible for monthly benefit checks from the system. In 2023, people who were working earned one credit for each $1,640 in Social Security taxable income. But no one earns more than four credits per year. In other words, once you made $6,560, your Social Security record was credited with the maximum four credits or quarters of coverage. In 2024, the one credit limit goes up to $1,730, meaning you will have to earn $6,920 this coming year before you get the maximum four credits assigned to your Social Security account. People under their full retirement age who get Social Security retirement or survivor's benefits but who are still working are subject to limits in the amount of money they can earn and still receive all their Social Security checks. That limit was $21,240 in 2023 and will be $22,320 in 2024. For every two dollars a person earns over those limits, one dollar is withheld from his or her monthly benefits. There is a higher earnings threshold in the year a person turns full retirement age that applies from the beginning of the year until the month the person reaches FRA. (The income penalty goes away once a person reaches that magic age.) That threshold goes up from $56,520 in 2023 to $59,520 in 2024. A couple other Social Security provisions are also impacted by inflationary increases. For example, people getting disability benefits who try to work can generally continue getting those benefits as long as they are not working at a "substantial" level. In 2023, the law defined substantial work as any job paying $1,470 or more per month. In 2024, that substantial earnings level increases to $1,550 monthly. Finally, the Supplemental Security Income basic federal payment level for one person goes up from $914 in 2023 to $943 in 2024. SSI is a federal welfare program administered by the Social Security Administration, but it is not a Social Security benefit. It is paid for out of general revenues, not Social Security taxes. social security Social Security Update for 2024 with Tom Margenau If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast. net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. and you

24 SMART READER March 23, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Dear Amy: “Leonard” and I have been married for 47 years. We have raised three kind, independent children with lives of their own. We have both changed from the lusty and adventurous people of our younger days to what we are now. I lead a life filled with faith, friends, and love of travel.  He is an angry, volatile, unpredictable and overreactive man. He has cut dozens of people out of his life when he perceives an offense — often over ridiculous things. Whenever I have called him on it, he only digs in.  He has NEVER apologized to me or anyone else. Never. I have always said that if he ever cuts any of our children out of his life, I am out of here. Well, he blew up at my daughterin-law and said some horrible things.  The result: My husband and son have not spoken to each other for over a year. He has not seen the grandchildren. My heart is broken. I have talked to counselors, friends, and priests about it. Everyone asks me if I am safe.  He has never been violent with me, but his words hurt more than anything. I know that my husband needs help, but I cannot make him get it. I am so sad. I walk on eggshells most because I don’t know what will set him off. I spend a lot of time with my kids, sisters, and friends. They know I am sad. I run our household and handle all the finances, meals, etc. He spends his days outside, alone, working on his projects. He shares very little with me.  I feel so sorry for him. I know I have to make some changes because we are both miserable. — In a Bad Place Dear In a Bad Place: You told your husband that if he ever cut off one of your children, you would be “out of here.” Your friends and family members are so concerned about you that they ask if you are safe. You are miserable. I think it’s time for you to be out of there. You have good relationships with your children. Your friendships are active and intact. I assume that if you approached almost anyone in your circle and asked if you could stay with them while you work on your own next steps, they would be happy to offer you temporary housing (and possibly be relieved for you). If you don’t want to divorce your husband because of issues related to your faith practice or your combined finances, then stay legally married and treat him with compassion by telling him, “I wish the best for you. I invite you to the table, but I will only live with you if you are willing to make some big changes for the sake of our family.” Before making any longer-term moves, it is vital that you receive professional legal and financial advice concerning your property, your finances, and future. ask amy Miserable wife contemplates next steps You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook. seniors edition Someone in Your Life has Dementia A Roadmap for Care – Now offered virtually and in-person The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center offers a regularly scheduled educational program, Someone in Your Life has Dementia: A Roadmap for Care. The presentation is for anyone caring for an individual living with a form of dementia and will be offered every other month, with the options for both virtual and inperson meetings. Dementia is a general term used to describe memory loss and the impaired ability to process information and make decisions which interferes with daily life. There are many subtypes of dementia, with Alzheimer’s Disease being the most common form, followed by Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal degeneration, mixed dementia and others. Dementia is not a part of normal aging; however, 50 million people worldwide are living with some form of this syndrome. Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist with the ADRC, has developed and will facilitate this new presentation. Johnson has a master’s degree in Gerontology and has a passion for improving quality of life for caregiving families. The presentation will help prepare and guide caregivers, while building confidence for the road ahead. It will address common caregiver concerns, such as: • Whether recently diagnosed or not, what do you need to know about caring for someone living with dementia? • How do you know what to expect and what your person needs, as the disease progresses? Someone in Your Life has Dementia: A Roadmap for Care, will be offered virtually and in-person, the second Wednesday, every other month, noon – 1 p.m. The next class will be offered on February 14, 2023. For more information and to register, call the ADRC, 262- 605-6646. In-person or Virtual Caregiver Coffee Club ADRC offers support group for those caring for someone with dementia Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers a support group to help family caregivers who care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia. Join others engaged in helping their loved ones manage day to day living. Relax, chat and learn helpful tips and strategies. The Caregiver Coffee Club meets the first Wednesday of each month from 10-11 a.m., the next meeting will be on February 7. The support group is available in-person or virtually. Facilitated by Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist with the Kenosha County ADRC. To register call 262-605-6646. Your Kenosha ADRC Update SMART READER January 25, 2024 24 KNOW YOUR VOTE! 2024 MAYORAL FORUM Moderated by PETE  SERZANT of • Get to know our nine upcoming Kenosha mayoral candidates before the February 20th primary election and make an informed vote! • Free snack and gift bags to the first 100 guests! • Admission: $2 suggested donation to the Rhode Center for the Arts. Lobby opens at 1 p.m. • Meet and greet the candidates in the lobby after the show. more info: ktownconnects.com presented by SCAN IT! Sunday, February 4th • 2 p.m. Rhode Center for the Arts 514 56th St

FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 25 SMART READER January 25, 2024 CAN YOU SELL? Happenings Magazine is looking for a motivated, outgoing individual to sell advertising & event sponsorships. Mail your resume to 1420 63rd Street, Kenosha 53143 or email [email protected] 012524 Saturday, February 10 • 7 aturday, February 10 • 7:00 pm YESTERDAY’S CHILDREN YESTERDAY’S CHILDREN 5125 6th Avenue Kenosha For advance tickets visit hap2it.com, or stop in at 1420 63rd St., Kenosha between 10am - 4pm Monday-Friday To be assured a good seat, purchase tickets early. However, limited tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show. 011124 For advance tickets visit hap2it.com, or stop in at 1420 63rd St., Kenosha between 10am - 4pm Monday-Friday To be assured a good seat, purchase tickets early. However, limited tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show. GGlloriaoria && JJaayy Our Family has been serving great food and offering warm hospitality here for 50 years. Yes, it’s true the building is for sale... but we are absolutely here to serve you well into 2024. Please stop by & cozy up to the fireplace for a delicious meal, or give us a call to book your next gathering or holiday party! The Tradition Continues - 090723 34 YEARS Use These Coupons For Great Savings During Our 34th Anniversary Celebration January 4th Through February 12th, 2024 Hours Sun-Thur 11am-2am • Fri & Sat 11am-2:30am 2135 31st St. • 658-8450 BUY ONE LUNCH OR DINNER & 2 BEVERAGES & GET ONE LUNCH OR DINNER FREE OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE Dine In Only Not Valid On Pizzas Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Please mention coupon when ordering. 15% Gratuity Will Be Added. Valid through Feb. 12th, 2024 FREE BUY A LARGE PIZZA GET A SMALL PIZZA FREE SMALL THIN CRUST, CHEESE ONLY Dine In, Carry Out or Delivery Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Please mention coupon when ordering. 15% Gratuity Will Be Added To Dine In Orders. Valid through Feb. 12th, 2024 FREE SR011124 Senior Citizens Receive a 10% DISCOUNT SR121720