Smart Reader 072723

"Thankful for the expertise and guidance, so needed during our loss." -JAMES K. "Thankful for the expertise and guidance, so needed during our loss." -JAMES K. Visit us at 3016 75th St. Kenosha SR102022 Volume 21 - #15 July 27, 2023 PICKLEBALL OUR AREA HAS EMBRACED IN A VERY BIG WAY!

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2 SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 F Cover photos credit: Waynes: Mike Wallace & Chad Greenway; Gordon: UPI Smart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael Communications Editor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael • Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale • Sales/Kim Carmichael, Donny Stancato Editorial Manager/Jason Hedman • Ad Design & Layout/Glen Kelly, Kristin Monticelli • Reception/Sarah Coleman Carmichael Communications 1420 63rd Street, Kenosha, WI 53143 July 27, 2023 - Volume 21 Number 14 262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 • www.hap2it.com Not long after 8 a.m. on an overcast Saturday, the Darby Park tennis courts under the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport come alive with a remarkable mix of people in workout clothes. Young and old; Black, Latino, Asian, and white; and singles, couples, and siblings crowd around courts, converted to a smaller size, to play the nation’s fastest growing sport: pickleball. The steady roar of traffic and jets overhead doesn’t dampen the sport’s trademark welcoming spirit. For the next three hours, the thwack of whiffle balls on paddles – in a game described as a cross between pingpong and tennis – punctuates the laughter on each of eight courts taped off to 44-by20-foot pickleball court dimensions. There are powerful backhand volleys; soft, short “dinks”; and long rallies that finish with a clean drive down the middle and shouts of “Good shot!” Games end with paddle taps at the net. The crowd rotating onto the courts here is an example of the nationwide enthusiasm for the sport, which is showing up at school playgrounds, country clubs, community rec centers, college campuses, and parks with underused tennis and basketball courts. Some California prisons have started offering it as an alternative to basketball. The global online community platform Meetup lists 92 pickleball groups with nearly 27,000 members. Developers are opening entertainment complexes, like Chicken N Pickle in Kansas City, Missouri, that offer pickleball and other activities in a sports bartype atmosphere. And in March, it became the official sport of Washington state, where pickleball was invented with badminton and pingpong equipment in 1965 by three dads trying to amuse their children. “It is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. And we definitely see that trend continuing,” says Laura Futterman, spokesperson for the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). Pickleball surged by nearly 40% between 2019 and 2021 to 4.8 million players, she says. Not just “older folks” No one is more aware of pickleball’s charm than Kelvin Hodrick, the Inglewood resident who brought it to Darby Park four years ago and has seen crowds grow hoping for a rotation onto a court. Mr. Hodrick lobbied the city four years ago for courts to use for pickleball after he grew tired of driving to Santa Monica 10 miles away to play. Back then, recalls Sabrina Barnes, Inglewood’s director of parks and recreation, “no one knew what pickleball was,” but it wasn’t long before it became “standingroom only.” The city provides paddles and portable nets, and Mr. Hodrick teaches anyone who wants to learn. Pickleball is easy enough that new players can immediately participate, and free open-play sessions for players of all skill levels here lure otherwise inactive residents. Dolores Vasquez, a 30- something office worker who never cared for sports as a kid, now rarely misses a Saturday. Johnathan Lee, a retired state worker, says he spent his days “drinking coffee and watching ‘SportsCenter’ reruns” before discovering pickleball. He now plays five or six times a week. And when the pandemic closed courts, he used spray chalk to create a backyard court. “We went underground in the name of pickleball,” he chuckles. Part of the sport’s appeal is that it’s easy to learn and accessible (a paddle costs as little as $18). Pickleball courts are about a quarter the size of tennis courts. Rules are straightforward: Serves, at the baseline, are underhanded, and the ball must bounce once on each side before volleying can begin. Serves can’t land in the no-volley zone known as “the kitchen.” And the game typically ends at 11 points. “Anyone can pick up a paddle,” says Hope Tolley of the USA Pickleball Association, the governing body of the sport. Plus, she adds, “it’s a welcoming culture that sets itself apart from other sports.” Yet despite the sport’s exponential growth, players remain predominantly white and high-income – 73% of pickleball participants are white and 45% report incomes of $100,000 or higher, according to a 2021 SFIA report. The diverse pickleball scene in Inglewood – where 90% of residents are Black or Latino – is unique, observers say, though that is starting to change. Joe Johnson, a program analyst for United States Space Command and president of the Pikes Peak Pickleball Association in Colorado Springs, Colorado, says he and his wife, Zina, were the only Black members when they joined in 2013; he estimates there now are 10 people of color, out of 1,500 members. He says it’s been a “challenge” that has motivated him to help launch pickleball at an afterschool program in a majority Latino neighborhood. USA Pickleball launched a grant program in 2019 to make pickleball more accessible to schools, rural communities, and other areas. One recipient was the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, which introduced the sport in several after-school programs this year. It was so successful that they’ve added the game to summer camp programs, says spokesperson Shuntae Shields Ryan. “There tends to be a myth that it’s just older folks playing pickleball,” says SFIA’s Ms. Futterman. In fact, SFIA’s data show that in 2021, only 30% of participants were over 55 years old, 50% were between 18 and 54, and 20% were 6 to 17 years old. Pickleball’s ability to move beyond niche sport might lie in its ability to capture the youth market, says Tim Delaney, director of sports studies at State University of New York-Oswego. “There are some high schools that offer pickleball as a sport and pickleball has been recognized as an official sport at many colleges,” he says. Silly but healthy Pickleball offers an encouraging range of possibilities from a public health perspective, notes Jonathan Casper, a professor of sport management at North Carolina State University who has studied the fitness and social benefits of pickleball. “While it seems lowimpact, you get quite a bit of physical activity from it,” he explains. Plus, while it’s easy to learn, it’s not easy to master. “That’s why there’s such a strong commitment to the sport,” he says. Of course, it’s also fun, fans say. “It’s wonderfully silly,” gushes Kerry Baker, a writer from Richmond, Virginia, who lives part time in Mazatlán, Mexico, and took up pickleball as a social outlet. In contrast to the hushed seriousness of tennis, the perforated balls pop and clatter, and the courts are small enough that banter among players is easy, even encouraged. Open play allows players to lay down rackets at the court they want. So an experienced player can be paired with a novice, or active 30-year-olds can partner with slower seniors – yet all bets are off as to who wins. The name, itself, loosens things up. The sport takes its name, not from a family dog as often reported, but from the rowing sport of crew, explains Pickleball Magazine. In a crew race, the random leftover rowers are put in a just-for-fun “pickle boat” race. With growth comes challenges Despite its carefree origin and skyrocketing growth, pickleball has its challenges. Turf wars with tennis players and noise complaints from neighbors are common. There’s an entire Facebook group devoted to pickleball sound mitigation (a pickleball paddle on a hard plastic ball can be up to 25 decibels higher than a tennis ball on strings). More venues are requiring fees and resident-only reservations for use of the courts, raising exclusivity concerns. There are protours with big prize payouts, branding rights and sponsorships, and even a plan in the works to make it an Olympic sport. All that stirs up concerns that pickleball’s success will cause it to lose sight of its humble backyard roots. “I hope they don’t forget what made [the sport] unique in the first place,” notes Professor Casper, “and that’s the welcoming nature of it.” By Laura Randall Noisy, silly, friendly pickleball – America’s fastest growing sport Ramona Cobbs tosses the ball to teammate Darnel Edmond during a pickleball game at Darby Park in Inglewood, California last month. J

“It is easy to learn and play, has a very low cost to entry, is very healthy, and most importantly it is extremely fun and social!” This is how Kenoshan Chaz Bartucz describes pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the nation. This game resembles tennis, but get ready to trade in your racket for a paddle. With over 36 million players in the U.S., according to the APP Pickleball Participation Report, you probably have heard the buzz, or have even played. However, for nonplayers like me I was left wondering why the sport is so popular. With that question in mind, I headed to the Pennoyer Park tennis courts to see for myself. To my surprise, all courts were retrofitted for pickleball, there wasn't a tennis player in sight. After watching for a few minutes, I started to understand the appeal. This wasn't just a sport or hobby, this was a social outlet. When I asked Chaz, a frequent pickleball player, about the social aspect he told me, “It gives participants the opportunity to socialize and make many new friends on and off the pickleball court!” Despite a hot Monday morning didn't deter this group from getting together and creating a sense of community. Even with the heat and business of everyday life, these players were committed as Susan Tenuta told me, “I wouldn't miss this.” Not only is this sport great for socialization, but it also has many health benefits. Jonathan Casper, a North Carolina professor of sports management states, “While it seems low-impact, you get quite a bit of physical activity from it.” As you age, pickleball can be an effortless transition from tennis for the senior who aims to stay active. With the court being smaller than a tennis court (44 by 20 feet) this allows for less running and less stress on the knees. After witnessing the sport firsthand, I see why the city of Kenosha is on board with permanent instalment of pickleball courts. I'm excited to pick up a paddle and try it out, you should too! By, Brooke Carmichael Closer to Home Home is where the court is Injuries related to pickleball rise with popularity of sport Pickleball is a hot trend and it's getting folks exercising who haven't been so active in a long time. It's also racking up injuries -- both overuse type and acute traumas -- often in those aged 50 and up. A new poll suggests these players are forgoing care when they hurt their knees, wrists and rotator cuffs. Sports medicine experts are urging them not to ignore their nagging pain. Dr. Luis Gandara, a specialist in sports medicine at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Florida, sees a few types of pickleball injuries, including those that are acute from a fall and those in which someone has aggravated chronic pain issues, such as existing arthritis in a hip or other joint. "Then [there are] the other ones who enjoy it so much that they play either too many hours or play too many games in a row," Gandara said. "And those are the ones that we see having the overuse type of injuries due to the time and span, or the improper use of the equipment, like the paddle's too heavy, improper mechanics or they may be using the wrong shoes to play." About one-third of people surveyed last month in a new Harris Poll for Orlando Health reported avoiding sports or a hobby because of a nagging injury. Nearly half said it wasn't worth seeing a doctor for a sports injury they thought would heal on its own. About 44% of respondents said it was too much work to make a doctor's appointment for an injury that wasn't too painful. "In situations like a person, for example, had an acute injury and they cannot put weight on it, they cannot walk on it immediately or take more than three steps, in those situations it is recommended the patient be seen -- just to make sure they don't have a bad injury," Gandara said. Doing nothing can make that worse, he warned. With a less acute injury that becomes more painful over time, a person may treat it with medication or ice for a week. If it persists, however, it's important to seek treatment so the injury doesn't worsen. Robbin Murray turned to Gandara when she experienced knee pain that kept her off the pickleball court. Murray initially found a love for pickleball a decade ago, but her pain began as she played more often and in competition. "I was hooked right from the start and would play as much as I could, all day long, eventually traveling to compete in senior tournaments," Murray said in an Orlando Health news release. "It all added up and I started experiencing sharp pains that would take me down to the ground in the middle of a game." She has been able to keep participating thanks to a specialized brace, antiinflammatory injections and physical therapy that helped strengthen and stretch the area around her knee. Dr. Jeffrey Berg, who practices sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery at Town Center Orthopaedics near Washington, D.C., said he, too, is seeing an uptick in pickleball injuries, especially About one-third of people surveyed last month in a new Harris Poll for Orlando Health reported avoiding sports or a hobby because of a nagging injury. story continues on page 8 0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 3 Kenosha Funeral Services and Crematory Prepay for your funeral now and the price will be guaranteed. 8226 Sheridan Rd. 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A g w c b o a F a k S U i t g s f f w h w d c n p T g t C i n a e t d c w b f c t e T f a k t c F 4 SMART READER JULY 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Health officials are fighting to convince people that one of the latest Tik Tok trends -- adding borax to their drinking water to reduce inflammation and ease joint pain -- is dangerous and can kill. Borax is found in laundry detergents and in cleaning supplies. Another formulation of boron, boric acid, can kill cockroaches and other insects. But borax is banned from U.S. food products, and poison control centers have advised that ingesting it can cause stomach irritation, rather than detoxify the body. Taken often, it can cause seizures and anemia. A borax bath could cause skin to turn bright pink and fall off, medical experts said. Borax also has been associated with nausea, diarrhea, convulsions and vascular collapse, according to the National Institutes of Health. "There's really nothing to support the use of borax in humans for inflammation or reduction of oxidative stress or anything like that," Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor told NBC News. Johnson, co-medical director at the National Capital Poison Center, frequently writes articles for her center's website that debunks health fads, some of which appear on Tik Tok and are promoted by several influencers. But one video by @chem.thug, who says he is a chemist working on his doctorate in organic chemistry, has gone viral with over 1.8 million viewers hearing him explain why eating Borax is a bad idea. He calls it "patently dangerous." U.S. Borax also has cautioned about ingesting its product, saying the company "does not offer any product that we approve nor intend for use as a dietary ingredient, pharmaceutical and/or over-the-counter active ingredient, nor food additive or direct additive to foods. "Our ... products are labeled as 'not for internal use' and thus are not intended for internal related applications nor as an active ingredient." Just like many online trends, no one is sure how "the borax train" started down the tracks, though some observers say the idea stemmed from nutritional consultant Rex Newnham of Australia, who published findings in the 1990s. Newham was an advocate of adding boron -- and not borax -- to the diet because an essential mineral that many diets lacking. He and others said it was an important trace mineral that promotes bone growth and maintenance, improves wound healing, boosts magnesium absorption, and a dozen more uses. The National Institutes of Health notes that foods with the highest boron content are prune juice, raw avocados, raisins, peaches and grape juice. Experts warn that Tik Tok trend of eating borax is highly dangerous Health officials are fighting to convince people that one of the latest Tik Tok trends is dangerous and can kill. A g Nuclear fallout from Manhattan Project's Trinity test reached 46 states The nuclear fallout from the Manhattan Project's test, codenamed Trinity, of a plutonium-implosion device in July 1945 reached 46 states and crossed into Mexico and Canada within just days of detonation, a new study has found. It was the nation's first nuclear weapon test. Researchers sought to examine the fallout from nuclear tests in New Mexico and Nevada from 1945 to 1962. More than 101 atmospheric nuclear weapon tests were conducted in the United States, which led to environmental contamination and exposed people to radiation. The study was led by Sébastien Philippe, a researcher and scientist at Princeton University's Program on Science and Global Security. "It's a huge finding and, at the same time, it shouldn't surprise anyone," said Philippe. Of the 101 atmospheric nuclear tests, 94 generated mushroom clouds but the pursuit of understanding radioactive fallout then was "limited in time and scope." Physicists and doctors underestimated the reach of atmospheric nuclear explosions and national systems to track such things were not in place. The researchers believe the limited understanding of the nuclear fallout had consequences for people seeking compensation from the government under the 1990 Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act. "For example, the Trinity test, which is now believed to have been about 24.8 kilotons of TNT equivalent in yield, is not included as a source of possible exposure in this legislation,"the study reads. The team poured through U.S. government data, high-resolution reanalyzed historical weather fields, and atmospheric transport modeling to reconstruct heat maps and graphs of the nuclear fallout. "Our estimates indicate that there are locations in New Mexico and other states, including federally recognized tribal lands, where radionuclide deposition reached levels higher than that in counties covered by RECA," the study reads. It's not yet known whether the U.S. Congress will once again take up legislation to compensate those affected. By Adam Schrader FOR TICKETS & MORE INFO VISIT HAP2IT.COM OR CALL 800-568-6623 WE’VE GOT YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC COVERED! WE’VE GOT YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC COVERED! THE NATION’S LARGEST TRIBUTE BAND FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR IT’S 6TH YEAR! THE NATION’S LARGEST TRIBUTE BAND FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR IT’S 6TH YEAR! 072723 ISLAND STAGE Fri. Aug 4 Sat. Aug 5 Sun. Aug 6 BEACHSIDE STAGE DOCKSIDE STAGE HARBORSIDE STAGE LIGHTHOUSE STAGE 6:30-8:30PM. . . . . . . . . TAROT WOMAN Tribute to DIO 9-11PM . . . . . . . . . . . . SINS N’ ROSES Tribute to Guns N’ Roses 6:15-8:15PM . . . . . . .RED’S HOT CHILI PEPPERS Tribute to Red Hot Chili Peppers 8:45-11PM . . .FUELED BY EMO Tribute to Emo & Pop-Punk 6:30-8:30PM . . . . . . MY METAL HEART Tribute to Monsters of Metal 9-11PM . . . . . . . . BLACKENED Tribute to Metallica 6-7:30PM . . . . . . . . . . . . TORN Tribute to CREED 8-9:15PM . . . . . . . . . . . . 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Amid record heat wave, Texas grid powers through With an extreme heat wave gripping half the country, this summer has been less one to enjoy than one to endure. Temperatures averaging above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and in the 90s at night have kept Americans in the Southern and Western United States sheltering inside whenever they can, as the country’s aging electrical grid works overtime to support air conditioners fighting Saharan heat. And for Texas, prolonged heat waves in June and then July had the potential for widespread disruption, if not disaster. Unlike the rest of the country, which is part of a network of interconnected power grid systems, most Texans live on an isolated grid. That grid, operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), is also supporting a growing number of people and facing a growing frequency of extreme weather events. If that grid fails, the state goes dark – as it did with tragic consequences during a winter storm in 2021. But in the crucible of a blazing summer, Texas is forging a reputation as a clean energy leader. As each new week seems to bring a new record for electricity demand, the Texas power grid has held firm. Lights have stayed on and air conditioning has kept running, thanks in part to a significant increase in clean energy hooked up to the ERCOT grid. No state produces more wind power, and solar capacity has been doubling year over year. Battery storage – critical to buttressing intermittent renewables like wind and solar – is poised for a similar boom. This transformation has occurred despite broad antipathy, and at times hostility, from the state’s mostly Republican lawmakers. How the state weathers this summer of extremes may be educational as power grids around the country seek to decarbonize. “The energy transition is here, and Texas is among the states that are leading the way,” says Ryan Wiser, a senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The Energy State Modern Texas has been built on fossil fuels. Since the Spindletop gusher in 1901, Texas has led the U.S. in oil and gas production. The U.S., in turn, has been among the top oil and gas producers in the world. Natural gas continues to meet the majority of electricity demand in Texas, but in the past decade or two, renewable energy has begun to rival it. The state has led the country in wind power for 15 years. It could soon take the top spot in solar power as well, having more than tripled its capacity between 2020 and 2022. Battery storage in the state is projected to grow rapidly in the next few years as well, according to Reuters. The geography of the state – vast and windy plains, bright sunshine – the pricing mechanisms of the ERCOT market, and the business-friendly regulatory environment have all helped drive the Texas clean energy boom. The state installed more utility-scale wind, solar, and battery storage than any other last year, and accounted for one-third of the entire country’s new capacity, according to Dr. Wiser. Over the past decade Texas added more wind, solar, and battery storage than any other state, and twice as much as runner-up California. “Not only do you have a state that is just generally friendly to development activities, but it also has the land to support those development activities,” says Dr. Wiser. “It’s phenomenally windy and sunny,” he adds. And “it’s just an easier place to do business.” This increased renewable energy capacity has been put to good use, particularly this summer. The ERCOT record for daily peak electricity demand has been broken six times in the last four weeks alone. (Last summer the same record was broken 11 times.) Over the past five years, renewables have saved the average Texas ratepayer $200 a year, according to a report from Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. As dangerous heat waves become more common – Texas saw at least 279 heatrelated deaths last year, and there have been at least 14 such deaths reported this year – grid reliability is critical to public safety in the summer. And amid the record-breaking demand, solar power and renewables in general have set their own records for supplying that need. “The same sun that drives that heat is driving that solar [output],” says Dr. Rhodes, who is also a founding partner of the energy analysis firm IdeaSmiths. An open field to innovate – for now Geography isn’t the only reason clean energy has boomed in Texas. ERCOT’s laissez-faire approach to new projects, compared with other markets, has also made it easier for renewable energy facilities to get up and running in the state. A problem for grid operators nationwide is how long it can take to upgrade infrastructure and add new power sources. The country needs more transmission lines, and bureaucratic hurdles are leaving new renewable energy projects to wait years on the so-called interconnection queue before they can connect to an electrical grid. “In many parts of the U.S., [interconnection] is the single biggest obstacle to building new power” capacity, says Devin Hartman, director of energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute, a center-right think tank in Washington. The Texas grid hasn’t felt these issues as severely, however. ERCOT built new transmission lines as wind power started growing in the 2010s, and it’s been able to connect new projects faster than many other grids in the country, experts say. Between 2000 and 2017, only two grid operators saw over 30% of proposed new projects reach commercial completion, according to a report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. ERCOT was one of them. With battery storage projects making up about one-third of the grid’s queue last year, that speed of bringing projects online is expected to result in Texas becoming a national leader in energy storage. “ERCOT is among the leaders in processing interconnection requests more rapidly than other Workers repair a power line in Houston, June 29, 2023. An unrelenting heat wave in Texas has been testing the state's power grid as demand soars. see HEAT WAVE on page 8 0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 5 Sit or Stand Desk 5403 52nd St. • 262-656-1717 Kenosha, WI 53142 • bandlofficefurniture.com060123 Locally Owned & Operated for Over 30 Years New and Like New SAVE NOW NEW OFFICE FURNITURE 35% OFF STOP IN & SEE TODAY! 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C to c L C 2 th th th In sa c R jo C m th p fo 5 c R e th F b M R fa F (e A C D C e a c P D In D “ t w “ lo C p o fi b lo in B R V O L h C A a z B F C B E K b V 6 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 The IRS has announced a significant policy update,, ending unannounced visits by officers. The move ends a practice the agency has employed for decades. Unannounced visits will end immediately as the IRS will shift to sending letters to taxpayers. The policy change is part of an overall transformation of the agency to follow its new strategic plan and funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. "We are taking a fresh look at how the IRS operates to better serve taxpayers and the nation, and making this change is a common-sense step," Danny Werfel, IRS commissioner, said in a statement. "Changing this long-standing procedure will increase confidence in our tax administration work and improve overall safety for taxpayers and IRS employees." The IRS may still make unannounced visits in special circumstances, the news release from the agency said. More often, taxpayers will receive appointment letters detailing an incoming meeting with IRS employees. The IRS said the change is also meant to "end confusion, enhance safety." Werfel added that unannounced visits created an opportunity for scammers to pose as IRS agents and extract sensitive information from taxpayers. Agents performing these visits were also placed in potentially dangerous situations. "These visits created extra anxiety for taxpayers already wary of potential scam artists," Werfel said. "At the same time, the uncertainty around what IRS employees faced when visiting these homes created stress for them, as well. This is the right thing to do and the right time to end it." "The only losers with this change in policy are scammers posing as the IRS," Werfel continued. The IRS notes that it does not contact taxpayers by email, text message or social media to request personal or financial information. By Joe Fisher IRS says it no longer will make unannounced visits to taxpayers The IRS has announced a significant policy update, ending unannounced visits by its officers. The agency said it will reach out to taxpayers by mail instead. Was July 6, 2023, the hottest day in recorded human history? It is a statement that makes you sit up in your chair. Charts from the University of Maine look deeper at that claim, where a tool created to analyze climate data came to the conclusion that July 6 and the days before it were the hottest the planet has seen in satellite records going back more than four decades. The data needs further analysis. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for one, has counseled caution before jumping to conclusions. Yet, in some sense, whether it was the hottest day doesn’t really matter. Climate trends are wellestablished and, in many quarters, the subject of a great deal of alarm. These charts don’t really tell the story only of one day. They tell the same story that has been told for years, if not decades. As human-caused emissions of heat-trapping gases warm the planet, they lead to new weather extremes and human suffering. Today, for example, Phoenix notched its 20th straight day of highs above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. And on multiple nights there recently, temperatures have failed to dip below 90 F. Heat records have also been reported elsewhere in the United States, and in Italy, France, Spain, and parts of China. Communities are straining to keep residents safe and supplied with drinking water. One new study estimates that last summer’s record heat in Europe cost more than 61,000 human lives. Yet, if extreme conditions raise alarms, the results of climate change are incremental. An unusual heat wave breaks, a storm passes, and a sense of normalcy returns. What our charts today do – dramatically – is show how thoroughly the abnormal is becoming normal. There’s vital nuance to consider. Some parts of the planet, even sweltering ones like India, weren’t unusually hot on July 6. And factors other than climate change are almost certainly at play, such as the return of the El Niño pattern in the Pacific Ocean, which generally raises global temperatures. Yet climate scientists say unequivocally that such periods of extreme heat are growing more frequent and severe due to climate change. Shifts are widespread and particularly pronounced in polar regions. When will the world acknowledge the rising cost enough to take the steps needed to break the pattern? Scientists have laid out a clear path toward stabilizing Earth’s temperatures: to cut greenhouse emissions as fast as possible, aiming for net zero by 2050. The transition toward cleaner energy sources is underway and accelerating. From batteries and vehicles to buildings and farms, innovation is happening. Climate experts say what’s needed is more and faster. By Mark Sappenfield Amid searing heat, the hottest day ever? Live Music Series on Kenosha’s Waterfront Rain in Sight? Will the show move into the spacious Lakeview Ballroom? Check Facebook just before the show to find out! 072723 August 18 • 7:30pm Pat McCurdy Milwaukee icon Pat McCurdy has been entertaining audiences in Wisconsin, the Midwest, and across the nation for decades. He brings his unique style of improvisational comedy, music and audience interaction. August 13 • 2pm Simply Yacht Rock Singer/Songwriter Performing all over the Midwest in a solo performance of 70's and 80's soft rock classics. Refreshing drinks, Tasty food, Awesome Entertainment and a Stunning Harbor View! Open Wed & Thurs at 4 • Fri-Sun at 11 5125 6th AVE. KENOSHA FOR EVENT TICKETS VISIT HAP2IT.COM STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 11am-4pm OR CALL 1-262-564-8800 August 19 6:00pm Bill Serritella & Elliot Wimbush A Jimmy Buffett Tribute! July 30 • 2:00pm South of Disorder July 28 • 7:30pm Cajual Weather Permitting 6:30pm-9:30pm All Star Karaoke Every Wednesday NOW Every Thursday ROCK & ROLL BINGO FREE 7:00pm-9:00pm July 29 • 7:30pm • Wireless Headphones • 3 genres of music • Dance & Sing the Night away (Must be 21+) KENOSHA’S 1st KENOSHA’S 1st SILENT SI D L ISCO ENT DISCO

As I am writing this, Country Thunder is about to draw thousands of country music fans to Twin Lakes in western Kenosha County (the festival was July 20-23). Which leads me to the subject of this column: things to see, do, and eat that are located west of Interstate 94/41. Here’s a sampling: Travel back to the 16th century at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. See the jousters. Go on a Pub Crawl. Try archery. Enjoy muscle-powered rides. Stroll through artisan shops. Visit puzzle escape rooms. Dress for Pirate Weekend August 5-6. Join a celebration of cosplay: August 12-13 is RennCon™. A variety of entertainment awaits you at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds, including the best dirt track racing in the Midwest at Wilmot Raceway. Also at the fairgrounds is the Wilmot Flea Market on Sundays (excluding August 13, 20). And don’t miss the Kenosha County Fair, August 16-20. The fair includes the Discovery Barnyard, the Carnival Midway, daily entertainment, live music, an antique machinery display, car races, a Truck & Tractor Pull, a Combine Demolition Derby, Big Hat Rodeo, the International Demolition Derby, and much more. “Barnyard Mardi Gras” is the theme of this year’s fair, while next year’s theme is “Hay Bales and Cow Tails”. Many county parks are located in western Kenosha County. Depending on the park, you may find opportunities to hike, bike, fish, enjoy a concert, birdwatch, play disc golf, or lounge on a beach. The parks include Brighton Dale Park, Bristol Woods Park, Fox River Park, Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park, Old Settlers Park, and Silver Lake Park. Bristol Woods Park is the home of Pringle Nature Center and Boundless Adventures, the outdoor aerial adventure park with ziplining and axe throwing. Bring your pooch to Harris Family Dog Park or Warren Close Bark Park. Golf at Brighton Dale Links, pause and reflect at the Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park Honor Plaza, and take your kayak out on the Fox River Water Trail. Individual communities also have parks - including Hansen Park in Bristol and Lance Park in Twin Lakes. At Lance Park, the free Aquanut Water Shows happen most Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Located in western Kenosha County are numerous inland lakes for boating, fishing, and other recreational activities. Head to New Munster Wildlife Area for birding, hiking, wildlife viewing, and more fun. Visit Richard Bong State Recreation Area for biking, hiking, horseback trails, an ATV trail, naturalist activities, a nature center, boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. There’s even a "special use zone" for flying model airplanes, rockets, hang gliders, and hot air balloons. Among the dining options west of the interstate are Blast From the Past Pizza (enjoy nostalgic arcade games when you dine in), Brat Stop (and its banquet facility Parkway Chateau), Bristol 45 Diner, Mars Cheese Castle, Red School Café, Sandlots of Salem, and The Red Oak Restaurant. Planning a staycation before the summer ends? Many hotels are located directly west of Interstate 94/41 at Highway 50. Further west, Lily Lake Resort offers entertainment, a bar and grill, swimming, fishing, boating, and picnicking. I’ve just listed summer activities here, but in a few more months it will be time for Wilmot Mountain to open for a new season of skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and dining at Walt's Tavern! Learn about these places and more on our website VisitKenosha.com and engage with us on social media. Take photos as you explore western Kenosha County and submit your favorite ones to our photo contest at VisitKenosha.com/Photos. Visit Kenosha has been Kenosha’s official travel resource since 1986. Explore Western Kenosha County by Meridith Jumisko, Visit Kenosha Meridith Jumisko is Public Relations Director at Visit Kenosha. Contact her at MJ@VisitKenosha.com 0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 7 18/19 KEVIN FARLEY AUG SUMMER 2 02 COMEDY 3 EVENTS 5125 6th Ave. Kenosha 5125 6th Ave. Kenosha If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! FOR EVENT TICKETS & MORE ACTS VISIT HAP2IT.COM STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 10AM-4PM OR CALL (262)564-8800 M N in o Drink imum! CHRIS BARNES 25/26 AUG UPCOMING: SEPT 1 & 2- MIKE BALL • SEPT 8 & 9 NATHAN TRICKY ALLEN NOVEMBER 17 & 18 TIM MEADOWS 072723 NICKY SMIGS 28/29 JULY 284K 4/5 JIM FLORENTINE AUG SONYA WHITE 11/12 AUG

Several months ago, a pesky mouse caused a small water leak in a PEX water line that supplied water to a second-floor bathroom in my home. A new hump in our master bedroom hardwood floor foreshadowed what I’d discover hours later at dawn. By then, the water had leaked to a basement bedroom as well. The water ruined the hardwood floor in the first-floor master bedroom and warped a plywood-based tongue and groove floor in the basement my lovely wife uses as a plant conservatory. Suffice it to say, both floors had to be replaced. My wife asked if there was a waterproof floor that looked like real wood that could be used in the basement room. She didn’t want to worry about spilling water as she watered the countless orchids she grows in the room. I told her that we should give luxury vinyl plank (LVP) a serious look. Technology has advanced to such a degree as the average person can’t tell the difference between real wood and high-quality LVP that mimics wood. Vinyl flooring is now approaching its 100th anniversary. I clearly remember helping my Dad install 12-inch squares of vinyl tile in what used to be the garage of my childhood home in 1961. The 1960s time period was the first golden age of vinyl tile, as countless millions of square feet of vinyl composition tile (VCT) were installed in houses and businesses all across the world. I believe we’ve entered the second golden period of vinyl flooring with the dazzling LVP flooring choices. If you start to research LVP, you’ll quickly discover it’s nothing like the VCT tiles of old. Those tiles were solid in color all the way through the product. Modern LVP is more like a layer cake. There are several layers of materials that create the actual plank or tile. The product my bride and I decided on was a highquality one that has a 20-mil thick wear layer. It’s a medium-brown color that is extremely close to the red oak hardwood floors we had in the last home I built for my family. The wear layer is the thin top surface you walk on. It’s not uncommon for these layers to range anywhere from 6 to 40 mils. Thicker wear layers are better. As with anything, you can keep the LVP looking like new by keeping it clean and free from grit. Installing LVP flooring is extremely simple. The one I chose is a floating floor. This means there’s no glue or adhesive required. The planks just lay on the floor, and their combined weight and the fact they all interlock prevent them from moving when walked on. To have a successful longterm installation, it’s imperative that you read the installation instructions for the LVP you choose to use. I beg you to do this even if you hire a professional to do the job. You want to interview the pro before you sign a contract making sure he will do everything right. There are several things that must be done when installing LVP. The surface the LVP will lay on needs to be flat. Flat doesn’t mean level. Flat means that the surface is all in the same plane. You can’t have shallow areas or humps. These defects can make it impossible for the pieces to interlock. Hollow spots under the LVP can cause the tongues or grooves to break over time from flexing as you walk on the floor. You can easily mix and spread floor-leveling compounds to make a floor flat. I used a cement-based product to cure several trouble spots. The product, when mixed with water, resembles cake icing. It’s easy to spread to a feather edge using a drywall broadknife tool. LVP has a huge expansion/contraction coefficient. This means in gets bigger as it gets warm or hot. As such, you must create a gap around all the edges. Your instructions will tell you how much, depending on the size of the room. Do NOT skip this step. If you fail to install the gap, the LVP flooring will buckle when it gets hot. Your instructions may call for an underlayment. If so, install it. Be sure the subfloor is free of all debris. Vacuum the existing surface to ensure there’s no grit or chips under the new underlayment. With no experience whatsoever installing LVP, I was able to install the planks in the room and a closet in less than six hours with no help. Simple cuts were made with a sharp razor knife.You score the LVP several times, just like drywall. and then snap it. I used a simple rubber mallet to pound the side joints so they interlocked. My wife was astounded at how the new floor looks like real wood. I’m also impressed. Be sure to look at all the different brands to find the most realistic LVP if you want to fool your friends and neighbors! Luxury vinyl plank flooring is remarkable 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 Tuesday, August 29th on AM1050 WLIP. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is very DIY-friendly as long as you can read and follow instructions. markets across the nation,” says Dr. Wiser. “There are certainly some lessons to be learned there.” Federal incentives and allocations – including an array of new programs worth billions of dollars contained in the Inflation Reduction Act – have helped drive clean energy investments around the country. But Texas is a rare case, in the sense that the renewable energy boom here has been unfolding with limited support from state lawmakers. In fact, hostility toward clean energy has been more common. During the 2021 winter storm that claimed 246 lives and left millions without electricity for days, officials erroneously blamed wind power for the grid failures. And during the state legislative session this year, lawmakers tried – but failed – to pass bills that would have imposed onerous new regulations on renewable energy facilities and projects. As much as anything, it’s the political landscape in Texas that worries experts tracking the state’s power grid. Oil and gas have fueled a century of prosperity in the state, becoming central to its identity and culture. “While it’s economically winning, there are these policy head winds that seem to be getting thrown up,” says Scott Hinson, of Pecan Street, an Austin-based clean energy research and development organization. “I’m wondering at what point that is going to put the brakes on things.” But the clean energy boom isn’t the end of that story, experts say. It can be the next chapter. “There’s a clash going on over what is truly Texan. And I’d argue making money off of land from energy resources is truly Texan,” says Michael Webber, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. In that sense, experts say, how the Texas grid has transformed over the past decade is instructional both for the country and for Texas. Other grid operators are likely looking at how ERCOT makes it easier to get through its interconnection queue. Texas, and the country, needs to improve grid resilience to extreme winter weather events. But for now, ERCOT is showing this summer that a power grid loaded with clean energy capacity can withstand extreme heat. “You can manage power systems with high shares of clean energy. But we’ve got to manage the transition,” says Dr. Wiser. “It’s not that we can’t do it, but are we going to do it in an effective and planned fashion?” By Henry Gass Heat Wave continued from page 5 among seniors. "It's not all seniors, probably half and half now, but a good chunk of seniors that I think probably weren't nearly as active before, but pickleball lets you be competitive -- and, so, they've gotten excited about being competitive again," he said. "And I'll tell you, the patients that I see, all they care about is getting back to playing pickleball," Berg added. While it's good to be active, it's not good for anyone to go very quickly from inactivity to high activity, he said. "I have seen some people with maybe unrealistic understanding of how to progress in an activity or how to be careful or how much to play" and how much not to play, Berg said. "Everything can be good, but there's a right dose for everything and sometimes in that person, they're just doing too much." Routine losses in balance, strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination and eyesight that can come with aging can lead to falls. Falling when older can lead to more significant injuries, Berg said. Before you begin, he suggests getting an evaluation from your primary care doctor. Then, develop a base level of conditioning before trying something more advanced like a sport -- particularly a sport where a person may feel compelled to play even when they don't feel well because others are counting on them. Berg said a beginning exercise program could include balance, flexibility, strengthening and aerobic conditioning. When returning to exercise after injury, start slowly, he advised, and then slowly ramp up. "If you're having pain while you're playing, there's a good chance you're probably making it worse and not better," Berg said. In general, Gandara recommends that people stay active, but for those restarting, he too recommends seeing a primary care doctor first. Then, make sure you have the right equipment and understand the sport, he said. "Always start slow and go slow," Gandara said. "If you try to get into an activity too fast, too quickly, that's where your chances of getting an injury or having an overuse injury will start presenting." The online survey was conducted June 15 to 20 among 2,076 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points. By Cara Nunez Pickleball injuries continued from page 3 8 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 S P K m o c A r p R p o i c a m c r m h P m w p t t a i t m c c q h c p a a r d

, y t k f r y y, s t h r s w o - y, d r w, s d y d r f t ” t e e s 0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 9 health lifestyle community Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center news July 27, 2023 Your Kenosha ADRC Update Be a Part of a Pilot Study! Pilot study coming to Kenosha for medication management Have you ever wanted to be part of a pilot study? This may be your chance! The Kenosha County ADRC will be offering Kenosha residents a chance to be a part of a pilot study this summer. Med Wise Rx is a skills-based educational program created by the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy to improve older adults’ communication with pharmacists and other providers for safer medication management. Medication management can be challenging. Medication errors can result in unwanted effects from medicines, and worse, falls, hospitalizations and even death. Poor communication and medication coordination problems with multiple people prescribing a person’s medications can increase these errors even more. Med Wise Rx offers participants the opportunity to build knowledge and skills. The pharmacist is important to help people manage their medications and address their medication-related questions and concerns. Yet, patients and caregivers often are unsure what questions to ask their pharmacist or how to ask them. In Med Wise Rx, participants gain confidence in talking with their pharmacist, as well as what to ask about their medicines and how to ask for a medication check-up. To be eligible you must be: • Kenosha County resident • 65 years old or older • Taking 4 or more medicines regularly (includes nonprescription drugs and/or vitamins) • Able to navigate and join the two Zoom meetings • Able to participate in phone interviews and provide feedback Med Wise Rx participants will meet for two 1.5-hour classes, separated by one week for home practice. It’s free, convenient, and empowering! Participants will receive up to $125 in thank you gift cards for participating in this study. Participants who sign up will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3 p.m., August 2 and 16 OR October 4 and 18, 2023. Groups will meet virtually on Zoom, from the comfort of their home or office. Deadline to register is July 31, 2023. To register call Haleigh Couch, Health & Wellness Coordinator with the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center at 262- 605-6624 or email Haleigh.couch@kenoshacounty.org This project is a partnership between the UW School of Pharmacy, the Kenosha County ADRC, and the Community & Academic Aging Research Network Going on Medicare? Learn about the decisions you’ll need to make Are you going on Medicare soon? Take the guess work out of navigating Medicare and the decisions you will need to make! The Kenosha County 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 2023 Workshops to choose from: Bristol Village Office, 19801 83rd St., Bristol WI 53104 • Wednesday, August 9 10 a.m. – noon Due to limited seating, reservations are required. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 or 800- 472-8008 to make a reservation or to learn more. 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. 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 August 2, 2023. The support group is available inperson or virtually. Facilitated by Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist with the Kenosha County ADRC. To register call 262-605- 6646.

10 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 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 Margaret.ricchio@kenoshacounty.org Stand Up Move More Improve your health without exercise Research shows that excessive sedentary behavior, or 'sitting time', has been linked to serious health consequences. Too much sitting can increase your risk for numerous chronic conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, certain cancers, and more. The Stand Up & Move More program (also known as Stand Up) gives you strategies to do just that - stand up and move more! The program is designed specifically for older adults who sit more than six hours per day. Participants learn in a group of peers and help each other identify strategies to stand up more often and for longer periods of time throughout the day. Stand Up has been researched and proven to reduce sitting time by 68 minutes per day. Stand Up & Move More is an evidence-based program designed by Dr. Kelli Koltyn at the University of Wisconsin to help older adults reduce sitting time by standing up and moving more. The program meets once per week for two hours for four weeks, followed by a Booster Session at Week 8. Sessions take place in a group setting where participants identify barriers to standing more and discuss strategies to increase their standing time. Based on a researched and tested program, Stand Up is shown to: • Reduce sedentary behavior by 68 mins/day • Reduce problems performing daily activities • Reduce pain interference and intensity • Improve functional performance • Improve general overall health Stand Up Move More will be offered by the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center beginning Wednesdays, July 12 – August 2, 10 a.m. – noon, with a booster class offered on August 30. Classes will be held at the Salem Community Library, 24615 89th Street, Salem,  WI  53168. To register or learn more about this class, call ADRC Health & Wellness Coordinator, Haleigh Couch at 262-605-6646. 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SMART READER July 27, 2023 11 0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Memory Screen Mondays The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers free, confidential memory screens every Monday, 8 a.m. - noon. Memory screens are suggested for anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history, or who wants to check their memory now for future comparison. Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat memory loss. Memory screening can: Provide relief for individuals concerned about normal memory loss Lead to diagnosis of treatable conditions Offer the ability to make lifestyle changes early when they have the greatest potential for positive effect and the opportunity to participate in making future decisions Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion over daily routines, and personality changes. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam. Appointments are recommended. Interested persons may call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make an appointment. August Medicare Minutes Choosing Between Original Medicare and Advantage Plans Medicare Minute presentations are offered monthly by the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center. These free programs provide information on a wide range of Medicare topics. August’s Medicare Minutes will focus on the Medicare Complaints and Beneficiary Resources (appeals). The program will be offered virtually on Monday, August 14, 2023, from 10 – 11 a.m. Medicare Minutes are developed by the Medicare Rights Center as a State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) National Technical Assistance Center service. The Medicare Rights Center is a national, non-profit consumer service organization. They are one of the SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) National Technical Assistance Center partners. To participate and for reservations call the ADRC 262-605-6646. A Zoom link will be provided. 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 in-person 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. She offers hope and understanding to caregivers, as well as those living with dementia. 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 August 9, 2023. For more information and to register, call the ADRC, 262-605-6646. Memory Cafe A place for persons with early stage memory loss can socialize together 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, and the Alzheimer's Association on the second Tuesday of every month, 1-2 p.m. The next meeting will be on August 8, 2023, Kenosha Southwest Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Avenue. Registration is required for new members. Call Alzheimer's Association 800-272-3900. You’re There for Them, We’re Here for You Kenosha County ADRC to Offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a free, sixweek, educational series, intended to teach skills on 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 Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is now accepting reservations for its next Powerful Tools for Caregivers course. The classes will be held Tuesdays, August 1 – September 5, 2 – 4 p.m., at the Kenosha County Job Center, Room North 2. To register, call 262-605-6646 or click the red registration button at http://adrc.kenoshacounty.org. The ADRC also offers classes in Spanish, call for dates and information! Your Kenosha ADRC Update

I think I get more questions about benefits for spouses than I do about any other kind of Social Security benefit. And even though I'm using the gender-neutral term, "spouses," these questions almost always come from women wondering what benefits they might be due on their husband's -- or exhusband's -- Social Security record. Or they come from men asking about the benefits their wives or ex-wives might be due on their record. Women tend to qualify for benefits on a husband's record because most times their own Social Security benefit is less than their husband's benefit. Why? Primarily because women spend more time out of the workforce -- usually because they take time off work to have and raise children. Of course, there are some family situations where the wife makes more money than the husband and she ends up with a higher Social Security benefit. So, her husband might be due spousal benefits on her record. Still, statistics show that 95% of spousal benefits go to women, so I'm addressing them today. Oh, and before I go on, I must cover this issue. Every time I write a column about benefits that wives and widows might be due from Social Security, I get angry letters from single women who have never been married asking me why I never write columns explaining what they are due from the system. I always have to explain to them that I write such columns all the time. If they are working and paying into Social Security, then they are potentially due the same kind of retirement or disability benefit that any other taxpayer might be due. I've written thousands of columns explaining these benefits. In other words, from a Social Security perspective, there is nothing special about being a single woman, or a single man for that matter. They just get regular Social Security benefits. So now, back to questions about benefits for wives and widows. Q: My husband is 67 and starting to receive his Social Security benefits. I am 62. Other than a few years after high school when I had some part-time jobs, I have spent my entire adult life as a wife or homemaker, so I have no Social Security of my own. A neighbor told me that after my husband dies, I will never be able to get widow's benefits because I don't have my own Social Security account. Is this true? A: It's absolutely false. As I always tell my readers, never listen to friends or neighbors offering Social Security advice. It's almost always wrong. In fact, not only will you be due widow's benefits when your husband dies, but you are also due dependent wife's benefits on his record right now. So, call Social Security at 800- 772-1213 and file a spousal claim right away. Q: I am turning 62. My husband is 68 and getting Social Security. Can I claim reduced spousal benefits now on his record and then at age 67 switch to full benefits on my own record? A: No, you can't do that. You must file for your own benefits first. After you do that, they will look at your husband's record to see if you can get any extra spousal benefits from him. Q: My wife took her own Social Security at 62. I am about to reach my full retirement age and plan to start my own Social Security. My wife is now 67. Her own benefit is very small, much less than mine will be. How can I figure out if my wife is due any spousal benefits on my record? A: The formula is pretty simple. They will take your wife's full retirement age rate (even though she took benefits at 62) and subtract that from onehalf of your FRA rate. social security Benefits for Spouses 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. Tom Margenau joins Happenings Q&A on Mon. July 31 at 12:30 on AM1050 WLIP. continues on next page 12 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Published by Carmicheal Communications 1420 63rd St., Kenosha, 53143 in Partnership with the Downtown Lakeshore Business Improvement District and Visit Kenosha 071323 Pick up the current issue today or check it out online at hap2it.com or godowntownkenosha.com 262.564.8800 • donnyhappeningsmag@gmail.com Want to Advertise Your Downtown Business? Contact “Downtown” Donny Vol. 16 Issue 3 • 2023 Coming Mid August OPPORTUNITY 061523 Comfortable Housing Pay Only 30% of Gross Income for Rent! 1 Bedroom, Heat, Appliances Call Reilly-Joseph Company for an application today! (414) 271-4116 www.lowincomerentalsmilwaukee.com Washington Court Apartments Ages 62+ 5101 Wright Avenue Racine, WI 53406 071323

Volunteering may help stave off mental decline for older Americans Many retirees opt to volunteer as a way to help others, but new research suggests this act can also benefit volunteers' brain health. Volunteering later in life may provide protection for the brain from both cognitive (mental) decline and dementia, according to researchers. Their findings were presented this week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Older adults who volunteered had better memory and executive function than their peers who did not engage in these acts of service. "Volunteers are cornerstones of all communities and imperative to the success and impact of many organizations, including the Alzheimer's Association," said Donna McCullough, Alzheimer's Association chief mission and field operations officer. "We hope these new data encourage individuals of all ages and backgrounds to engage in local volunteering -- not only to benefit their communities, but potentially their own cognitive and brain health," she said in an association news release. Supporting educational, religious, health-related and other charities offers people a variety of benefits. These include a chance to be more physically active, increased opportunities for social interaction and mental stimulation. For the study, researchers looked at volunteering habits among more than 2,400 ethnic and racially diverse older U.S. adults who were part of the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences Study (KHANDLE) or the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR). Average age was 74. About 43% of the participants in the combined groups reported volunteering in the past year. Study co-author Yi Lor is an epidemiology doctoral student at the University of California, Davis, and associate director of the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center. Lor and his professor Rachel Whitmer found an association between volunteering and better baseline scores on tests of executive function (skills needed to get things done) and verbal episodic (memory of events or personal experiences). The researchers also found a trend toward less cognitive decline over the follow-up time of 1.2 years, but this wasn't statistically significant. Also, seniors who volunteered several times a week had the highest levels of executive function. "Volunteering may be important for better cognition in late life and could serve as a simple intervention in all older adults to protect against risk for Alzheimer's disease and associated dementias," Lor said in the release. "Our next steps are to examine whether volunteering is protective against cognitive impairment, and how physical and mental health may impact this relationship." Findings presented at medical meetings are considered preliminary until published in a peerreviewed journal. Also, while the study finds an association between volunteer and better brain health, it cannot prove a c a u s e - a n d - e f f e c t relationship. By Cara Nunez Social Security continued from previous page Any difference will be added to her reduced retirement benefit rate. Q: I am waiting until age 70 to claim my Social Security. I am doing that to get the bonus added to my retirement rate for delaying starting my benefits until 70. But I was also doing that so that my wife will get my augmented benefits after I die. (Her own benefit is about a thousand dollars less than mine.) So, imagine my shock when a Social Security rep recently told me that after I die, my wife's widow's benefit will be based on my full retirement age rate, not my age 70 rate. Is this right? A: No, it's not right. And for some reason (lack of training?), SSA reps frequently get this wrong. While you are alive, any spousal benefits she might be due are based on your full retirement age benefit. But after you die, her widow's benefits are based on your augmented age 70 rate, including the bonus you got for waiting that long to claim your benefits. Q: I am 63 and have been a wife and homemaker all my life. So, I get a small percentage of my husband's Social Security. But I've always wondered this: Why don't women in my position get Social Security credits for the work we did as homemakers and childcare providers? A: As I explained in a column not too long ago, this is a topic that has been debated for years. But the issue always comes down to this: Where would the money or earnings come from to put on your Social Security record? The only viable solution policy planners have ever come up with is a concept known as "earnings sharing." In a nutshell, that means a working husband and stay-at-home mom would split the earnings the husband makes. For example, if Husband Henry makes $100,000 per year, $50,000 would go on his Social Security record and $50,000 would go on Wife Wilma's Social Security record. Now, that might make Wife Wilma happy that she's being "paid" for Social Security purposes with earnings and credits going on her account. But just ask Husband Henry how thrilled he is that he only gets Social Security credit for half the money he makes -- and eventually ends up with a much smaller Social Security benefit! 0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 13 Want to Advertise Your Downtown Business? 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14 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 books Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson How does one claim one’s individuality in the midst of others’ expectations? Caleb Azumah Nelson’s novel focuses on Stephen, a London-born teen of Ghanaian immigrant parents, who walks away from a university education to pursue his love of music. Written in exquisite prose infused with lyricism, the book examines the unexpected repercussions of life decisions and explores such themes as faith, friendship, and authenticity. Excavations by Kate Myers In Kate Myers’ funny, flinty debut, four women converge at a Greek archaeological dig led by a preening professor. As the crew toils, they unearth the truth about the site – and their unscrupulous leader. Pocked with absorbing details, the novel applauds intellectual honesty and the thrill of discovery. One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris Terah Shelton Harris’ novel is an astonishing work of art about forgiving the unforgivable and finding redemption. When Sara returns to her hometown with her daughter, the product of a rape eight years earlier, she befriends her assailant’s twin brother, introducing him to his gifted niece. Together, they find a path toward healing and peace. Promise by Rachel Eliza Griffiths Rachel Eliza Griffiths’ luminescent novel centers on the Kindreds, one of two Black families living in Salt Point, Maine, in 1957. Haunted by past injustices, and facing increasing threats to their safety, 13-year-old Cinthy, her sister Ezra, and their resolute parents rely on the sustaining love of family – present and past. It’s a devastating story of remarkable resilience. After the Funeral and Other Stories by Tessa Hadley These extraordinarily well-crafted short stories reveal the profound interior lives of the characters. Tessa Hadley’s gift for immersing readers into fully drawn surroundings is captivating. The Last Dance by Mark Billingham Deputy Sgt. Declan Miller – a recent widower, ballroom dancer, and devoted smart aleck – has a full plate. He’s investigating a double murder with new colleague Sara Xiu while quietly probing his wife’s unsolved homicide. Mark Billingham brings deadpan prose to the propulsive story, which champions partnership in its myriad forms. Owner of a Lonely Heart by Beth Nguyen Beth Nguyen’s poignant memoir begins with her childhood in Michigan, where most of her family resettled after fleeing Vietnam just before the fall of Saigon. Her mother was left behind, and in spare prose, Nguyen grapples with her absence and its impact on her own identity as a mother. Under the Eye of Power by Colin Dickey This provocative nonfiction book insists that conspiracy theories are not fringe to American society but have been In a land ‘shaped by water,’ a family tale of persistence The Covenant of Water, the latest novel from bestselling author Abraham Verghese, delivers a magnificent saga. Bursting with myriad characters, well-braided plotlines, politics, history, faith, and geography, the story centers on a young Christian girl in water-rich Kerala, India, who is married into the landowning Parambil clan. Unknown to her, the Parambil men appear to suffer from a curse – death by drowning. As the girl matures and builds a family with her much older husband, the many challenges of life in 1900s colonial India buffet the household. It’s an engrossing tale of persistence that offers much to ponder about creativity and the connectedness of life. Contributing writer Erin Douglass interviewed Mr. Verghese, who was born in India, grew up in Ethiopia, and studied medicine in multiple countries before completing his residency in the United States. He teaches at Stanford University and lives and practices in Palo Alto, California. You describe the book’s primary setting in south India as a land shaped by water. And yet, we have the Parambil family, whose men seem to be cursed by a history of drownings. Why create a series of characters so at odds with their environment? It’s an automatic method of generating conflict. ... You have a land where water is the giant circulatory system that connects everybody and the monsoon is the beating heart, so people learn to swim before they learn to walk. And then you have a family where individuals can’t do that. To me, that was an interesting challenge. A standout character – a 40- year-old widower engaged to a 12-year-old bride – is revealed to be a principled, kind man. What about him surprised you while writing the book – or was he fully formed in your mind? I don’t think any of the characters came fully formed. And I do think it was a bit risky to begin with a 12- year-old bride. In choosing a widower, I was actually embarking on the story of my great-grandmother, which was very similar. I don’t know many of the details about who he was or who she was – I didn’t know them – but she married a widower with some kids. ... He obviously died before her because he was considerably older, but, by all accounts, it was just the most beautiful, happy marriage. You introduce “pariah” figures in the novel. What do you hope readers take away from these characters and their experiences of caste, prejudice, and racial hierarchy? My aims are always the same, which is a good story well told. Having made the decision of locating the story in the south of India and during this time period of 1900-1977, you really can’t escape issues of caste. Drawing – and later sculpting and creating other art – is a healing act in the novel. What interests you about creativity? This novel had a lot of impetus from a document that my mother left behind, trying to write out for her 5- year-old granddaughter what her world was like at 5. My mother was born in the 1920s and got her physics degree in India, just about the time of Indian independence, and there were no jobs. So, in a sari, answering an ad, she went sailing to Ethiopia as a single woman. It’s quite incredible to imagine. In her notebook, describing all these anecdotes of her childhood, she was also sketching. She was a very good artist herself. So perhaps that’s what really gave me the license for one of the characters to be an artist. You write about a character experiencing a church service and feeling “part of the fabric instead of a thread torn from the whole.” What is the place of religious ritual? Rituals are terribly important. From an anthropological point of view, we’ve come to understand that rituals – weddings and funerals and church services – they’re all always about transformation. I think that they’re terribly important to our psyches. I began this book, in part, because I was fascinated with the rituals of my community [of St. Thomas Christians]. Rituals that were a bit foreign to me in the sense that I grew up in Africa [as opposed to India], but at the same time very familiar. I was in awe of these rituals that were so deeply embedded. And they were also a mix of Hinduism with Christianity. Since [adherents] were converted by St. Thomas from Hinduism, little symbolic things, like the necklace that the bride wears, is a cross but it’s on a gold tulsi leaf, which is exactly what the Hindus do. ... I love the sense that even though this was a different religion, it had all these elements from the other faith brought in. You write, “Things have a way of coming back when we think they’re gone forever.” Would you say that’s an important theme? Yeah, I guess I would agree if that’s what someone sees in the book! My understanding of how this works is that the writer provides the words, the reader provides their imagination, and in that middle space, [readers] create this fictional movie. It’s theirs to own, and it’s very different from the next person who reads the book. So if the reader sees themes and preplanned paths that I’m supposed to have taken, I don’t dispute them, because I’ve found strange things happen. By Erin Douglass more on next page Tracing three generations of a family living in Kerala, India, Abraham Verghese tackles questions of faith, family, love, and self-discovery. Childhood, mystery, and friendship: 10 favorite summer reads

0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 15 PRINT & E-BOOKS NONFICTION PRINT & E-BOOKS FICTION 1. Fourth Wing (Yarros) 2. Too Late (Hoover) 3. Obsessed (Patterson/Born) 4. It Ends With Us (Hoover) 5. It Starts With Us (Hoover) 6. Lessons in Chemistry (Garmus) 7. Happy Place (Henry) 8. Verity (Hoover) 9. The Five-Star Weekend (Hilderbrand) 10. The Covenant of Water (Verghese) 1. Beyond the Story (BTS/Kang) 2. American Prometheus (Bird/Sherwin) 3. Killers of the Flower Moon (Grann) 4. Outlive (Attia/Gifford) 5. The Wager (Grann) 6. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk) 7. I’m Glad My Mom Died (McCurdy) 8. Unbroken Bonds of Battle (Jones) 9. The Heat Will Kill You (Goodell) 10. All About Love (Hooks) NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS a central feature of U.S. democracy. From the Salem witch trials to QAnon, Colin Dickey argues that irrational paranoia reflects anxiety at key moments of political and cultural transition. No Ordinary Assignment by Jane Ferguson War correspondent Jane Ferguson’s courage and grit come through in this memoir, as she charts her lonely childhood in Northern Ireland and her determination to pursue journalism. The descriptions of her wartime reporting provide a dramatic view of conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Afghanistan. The Red Hotel by Alan Philps Shortly after the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, a small group of Anglo-American reporters traveled to Moscow to cover the conflict. Assigned to live and work in the legendary Metropol Hotel, they found their movements curtailed and their efforts thwarted by Soviet officials. A fascinating, insightful, and disturbing portrait of Western reporters working in a police state and how the experience changed their lives. Summer picture books: Parent-picked, kid-approved When the long, lazy days of summer beckon, head to your local library for a pile of stories to plunge into with your little ones. These five will inspire, enlighten, entrance, and delight children and their grown-ups, preferably with a popsicle in hand and soft green grass underfoot. Conquering fears Deeply poetic and lyrical, “When You Can Swim” by Jack Wong is a meditative book that transports readers to a series of underwater worlds, a raft of adventures awaiting – when you can swim. The prose is pure poetry, as are Wong’s soft, painterly illustrations of swirling eddies, melding colors, and dappled light. Wong created both by visiting his favorite swimming holes again and again, making sketches and taking notes and pictures. The result is a sensory treat. “When you can swim, you’ll conquer any fear of tanninsoaked lakes pitch-dark from tree bark like oversteeped tea because that darkness will turn glittering gold when you gather it by the handful,” he writes. The backstory here provides even more depth: Growing up as an immigrant in Canada, Wong was never comfortable in the neighborhood pool. His mother, afraid that he would drown, forbade him from swimming, which only compounded his anxieties. Later, when Wong took the plunge and learned to swim, the skill empowered him and opened the door to the freedoms and adventures he unveils in this gorgeous book. I hope that when my kids read this immersive story, they appreciate being able to swim and value the buoyant freedom swimming offers. That’s something their parents never learned as children. Treating others with kindness Little Joe, the protagonist of “What Happened to You?” written by James Catchpole and illustrated by Karen George, is busy playing pirate at the local playground. A stream of kids begins asking him why he only has one leg. “Did it fall off?” asks one. “Was it a burglar?” “Was it a lion?” “Was it a thousand lions?” ask three more. When Joe moves away from them, upset, the kids realize they don’t need to know what happened to play together and have a jolly good time. Inspired by author Catchpole’s own experience growing up with a disability, the book deftly tackles a serious subject with levity, heart, and understanding. The lighthearted story teaches children (and adults) how to be around people with disabilities and to look past outward appearances to what really matters. Navigating setbacks If only Alexander, of the 1972 classic “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” had had Marc Colagiovanni’s latest book in his back pocket, things might have gone better for him. Colagiovanni’s “When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left” contains clever wordplay and whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Peter H. Reynolds. The book teaches young ones how to navigate frustration and disappointment by managing fears, doubts, and worries, which are illustrated as concrete objects that the main character learns to shed. My 9-year-old noted that “when he left his worries, things were lighter on him,” literally. In the story, the protagonist also confronts failure, falling flat on his back after diving into a pool – and gets back up and tries again. It’s a simple but powerful message for young readers. My 7-year-old proclaimed this one of his favorite books because “it shows how worries, frustrations, and doubts look, and they look funny, not scary.” For him, seeing the emotions depicted disarmed them and made them manageable. Direct and witty, this book is like the older sibling who knows how to give great advice: uplifting without feeling saccharine, helpful without being didactic. Bridging cultures Liberian torbogee soup versus homemade sausage pizza. Okra soup and rice versus spaghetti and meatballs. In “Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight” by Shannon Gibney, a nightly food feud is proxy for a culture war in Sam’s home, with his American mother in one corner of the kitchen, and his Liberian aunt and dad in the other, cooking double dinners every night. Trapped in the middle are Sam and his little sister, Connah, “who were half and half, stuck in-between.” Breathtakingly bold and vibrant illustrations by awardwinning fine artist Charly Palmer explode from each page, a visual feast of sorts that delighted and transfixed my kids – and had them requesting tasty new meals. When the food-fight-meets-culture-contest reaches an impasse – Sam’s “tummy had only so much space, and both meals wouldn’t fit” – he finds a simple way to bridge the gap and bring his family together around the meal. A sweet and gentle lesson on reaching across differences and finding common ground, this book will leave you and your little ones smiling – and ravenous. (Thankfully, Gibney offers two recipes to start your own food adventure.) Ripple effect You can’t help but smile as you read “A Good Deed Can Grow” by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, which practically pulsates with positivity and kindness. The endearing book beautifully illustrates – literally, with cheer-inducing pictures by Holly Hatam – the ripple effects of a single act of kindness, from picking up litter and sharing lemonade, to reading books to older adults at a senior citizens center and visiting a sick friend. The book’s message is especially relevant in light of new research that shows kids and adults underestimate how seemingly small acts of kindness can have an outsize impact on receivers. In other words, your smile really can change someone’s day. If it all feels too hunky-dory, the book stays grounded with these lines on how to deal with problems, wise advice for kids and their grown-ups alike: “Sometimes we might feel too small to help a problem that seems so big. When that happens, remember all the goodness and all the kindness that exist in our world began somewhere, sometime ago ... as a seed, a ripple, a sunbeam, a smile.” In this colorful world, no kind act is too small. By Husna Haq Summer reads continued from page 14 Image courtesy of Charly Palmer from “Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight” by Shannon Gibney, published by the University of Minnesota Press, 2023

16 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Eight healthy habits could add years to your life. A new study of more than 700,000 U.S. veterans breaks down the habits that when adopted by middle age, can help someone live substantially longer than folks who don't have these habits. These are the big eight: • Be physically active. • Don't smoke. • Don't get addicted to opioids. • Don't binge-drink on a regular basis. • Eat a healthy diet. • Manage stress. • Practice good sleep habits. • Maintain positive social relationships. The study found that men with all those habits at age 40 could live an average of 24 years longer than men who have none of them. Women could gain an additional 21 years compared to their peers who have none of these habits. The findings will be presented at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Boston. "We were really surprised by just how much could be gained with the adoption of one, two, three or all eight lifestyle factors," said study presenter Xuan-Mai Nguyen, a health science specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and student at Carle Illinois College of Medicine in Urbana, Ill. "Our research findings suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle is important for both public health and personal wellness. The earlier the better, but even if you only make a small change in your 40s, 50s or 60s, it still is beneficial," Nguyen said in a meeting news release. Researchers used data from medical records and questionnaires collected between 2011 and 2019 from more than 719,000 participants in the VA's Million Veteran Program. This included adults ages 40 to 99 and included more than 33,000 deaths during followup. Low physical activity, opioid use and smoking had the biggest impact on life span among the study participants. These were associated with a 30% to 45% higher risk of death during the study period. Stress, binge-drinking, poor diet and poor sleep habits were each linked to about a 20% increase in the risk of death. A lack of positive social relationships was associated with a 5% increased risk of death. Researchers said their findings highlight the role of lifestyle factors in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease that lead to premature disability and death. These results also help quantify the degree to which healthy lifestyle choices can help people reduce their disease risk and live longer. "Lifestyle medicine is aimed at treating the underlying causes of chronic diseases rather than their symptoms," Nguyen said. "It provides a potential avenue for altering the course of ever-increasing healthcare costs resulting from prescription medicine and surgical procedures." While adopting the healthy lifestyle factors had a smaller impact for those who were older, that impact still was significant. "It is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle," Nguyen said. Although the study can't prove cause and effect, the findings align with a growing body of research supporting the role of lifestyle factors in preventing chronic diseases and promoting healthy aging. Findings presented at medical meetings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. By Cara Munez 8 healthy habits could add years to your life People looking to stay mentally sharp as they age might want to swap out margarine for olive oil, a preliminary study suggests. The study, of more than 90,000 U.S. health professionals, found that olive oil lovers were less likely to die of dementia over the next three decades. Compared with their counterparts who rarely used olive oil, those who consumed more than a halftablespoon a day were 28% less likely to die of dementia. Based on the researchers' estimates, a small diet change could make a significant difference: Trading in one daily teaspoon of margarine for the same amount of olive oil might trim the risk of death from dementia by up to 14%. The findings were being presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Boston. They're considered preliminary because they have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. And, experts said, studies like this can only show correlations -- and not proof that olive oil protects the aging brain. "That said, omega-3 fatty acids are known to provide anti-inflammatory benefits, and olive oil is a good source of omega-3s," said Connie Diekman, a St. Louis-based nutrition consultant who was not involved in the study. Inflammation is believed to be involved in the dementia process, and that's one plausible way that regularly eating olive oil could be beneficial, according to Diekman, who is also a former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Beyond that, past studies have linked the Mediterranean diet (famously rich in olive oil) to better memory and thinking skills in older adults, and a lower risk of developing dementia. In the new study, though, olive oil itself -- independent of overall diet -- was tied to a lower risk of death from dementia. "Even when accounting for diet quality, we saw this association," said researcher Anne-Julie Tessier, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. Past studies have suggested that a diet rich in olive oil can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, possibly by helping to improve blood pressure, cholesterol, blood vessel function and more. What's good for the heart is also good for the brain, and better cardiovascular health is thought to curb the risk of dementia. But, Tessier said, cardiovascular health did not explain the link between olive oil and lower dementia risk in this study group. Instead, she said, there may be something about the nutrients in olive oil. It has, for example, an array of plant compounds called polyphenols, which have antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study can't answer the "why" or "how." But, Tessier said, it's also a reasonable move for people to exchange their margarine for olive oil. The findings are based on more than 90,000 U.S. medical professionals who were part of either of two long-running studies that regularly assessed their health and lifestyle habits. When they entered the studies in 1990, they were 56 years old, on average. Over the next 28 years, 4,749 study participants died of dementia. That risk was 28% lower among people who consumed more than a half-tablespoon of olive oil a day. Based on the data, the researchers calculated that replacing just one daily teaspoon of margarine or mayonnaise with olive oil could lower the risk of dying from dementia by 8% to 14%. There is no single magic bullet against dementia, and experts believe that many factors in people's environment and lifestyle are important to healthy brain aging. An ongoing trial run by the Alzheimer's Association is testing whether a combination of lifestyle changes -- including a healthy diet high in plant foods, regular exercise and mental stimulation -- can slow older adults' cognitive decline. So people should pay attention to overall diet, not a single food, Tessier and Diekman said. "What science does show," Diekman said, "is that more plant foods and fewer animal foods appear to provide a better base for overall health." At the same time, Tessier said, replacing other fats with olive oil can be one straightforward diet change. She noted, though, that cost can be an obstacle. By Amy Norton Olive oil associated with a lower risk of dying of dementia health The study found that men with all those habits at age 40 could live an average of 24 years longer than men who have none of them. A study of more than 90,000 U.S. health professionals found that olive oil lovers were less likely to die of dementia over the next three decades. .

0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 17 DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a breast cancer survivor who still suffers from various aches and pains, including arthritis. A friend told me that her arthritis pain improved after she started taking turmeric. I’m committed to making this new year a healthier one, and I want to improve my overall health and diet. Can you tell me more about this supplement? Is it something I can add into my diet to feel better? ANSWER: Turmeric is becoming a common spice in many home pantries, especially since people are hearing of its many purported health effects, including reducing inflammation. Turmeric, which is a plant related to ginger, is grown in many Asian countries, as well as other tropical areas. It’s a major ingredient in curry powders — common in many Indian and Asian dishes — and is often used as a coloring for foods, fabrics and cosmetics. The underground portions of the plant can be dried and made into capsules, tablets, extracts, powders or teas. Or they may be made into a paste to apply to the skin. Turmeric’s main active component — curcumin — is what gives the spice its yellow color. Curcumin has a n t i - i n f l a m m a t o r y properties, making it a potential treatment for a number of health conditions, including pain, asthma and decreased movement in people with osteoarthritis. Other research suggests that curcumin may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, it may lessen some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint swelling and morning stiffness. Other areas of investigation include curcumin’s effect on Crohn’s disease, certain cancers, depression, diabetes, joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome. There are various studies looking at the benefits of turmeric, including several that showed turmeric to be just as effective as ibuprofen for reducing inflammation, swelling and pain. However, more research is necessary to confirm these effects. Although there are supplements available, the data is not conclusive and supplements are not regulated. Additionally, like many plants, it is not just one component that may have beneficial effect. Noncurcumin compounds, such as turmerin, turmerone, elemene, furanodiene, curdione, bisacurone, cyclocurcumin, calebin A and germacrone, also have been shown in animals to possess a n t i - i n f l a m m a t o r y properties. When taken by mouth or applied to the skin, turmeric — and the curcumin it contains — appears to be generally safe when limited to less than 8 grams a day. That said, different amounts often are recommended depending on the health condition being addressed, and higher doses have been used for limited periods of time. High doses or longterm use may cause gastrointestinal upset for some people — even damage to the liver. Turmeric, or curcumin, may be a complementary therapy that is valuable for you. I would recommend that you discuss with your medical team using it as a complement to mainstream medical treatment. You also should talk to your health care team about turmeric if you take an anticlotting medication or at any point require additional chemotherapy, as the supplement may interact with your medication. — Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.N., Endocrinology/Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Mayo Clinic Try turmeric for a healthier diet, pain relief . Here's another reason to get your kids up and moving: Excessive TV watching in childhood leads to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome at age 45, a new long-term study finds. "What's really important about this is that even if these sedentary kids decided somewhere along the line, like in their 20s, that they wanted to get active, they still had increased metabolic risk at age 45. So the conclusion is that kids who were sedentary are at risk of health problems later on in life," said Dr. Colleen Kraft, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and professor at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that increase your risk of stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These symptoms include high blood sugar, obesity, abnormal cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Frequent TV watching during ages 5 through 15 was the most significant contributor to metabolic syndrome, according to the study. Notably, the findings were independent of adult TV watching habits. Experts say it's also important to consider the evolution in technology since the study began. "The alarming thing about this is that what do we see happening now versus 45 years ago? Kids on phones, on tablets, on computers, on screens for a lot of the day who are really not active," said Kraft, who was not part of the study. "So we're looking at an avalanche of health problems going forward if we don't focus on kids and give them opportunities to be active." The recent COVID-19 pandemic only compounded sedentary lifestyles, said Dr. Scott Krakower, a child psychiatrist at Northwell Health in New York, who was also not part of the study. "During COVID, obviously people were in lockdown, they weren't able to do things, but there was also a digital transformation where things we could never do before we were doing on the screen," he said. "I do have concerns that people aren't getting out of the house enough, that they're not putting themselves out there, that in some ways they've become more reclusive with their creature comforts at home." The study looked at more than 1,000 participants born in 1972 or 1973 in New Zealand. Their weekday television viewing times were recorded at ages 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 32. More childhood TV watching was associated with lower cardiorespiratory fitness and higher body mass index (BMI) at age 45, and higher odds for metabolic syndrome. The study can't prove that too much screen time causes metabolic syndrome, said the authors, led by Dr. Robert Hancox, of the University of Otago's Dunedin School of Medicine. But the link is plausible, the researchers say, noting that hours of screen time take time away from physical activity, which is tied to better health. At the same time, couch-potato kids are likely to be consuming sugary drinks and high-fat snacks. Excessive screen time isn't just bad for kids' long term physical health. Earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning that social media, a preferred activity of young people, can negatively impact their mental health and brain development. "I'm seeing more kids on some of these social media platforms. They can't get off the screen and it's really impacting their overall selfesteem, especially with the gaming and social media devices," said Krakower. "In some ways, it keeps them social; it keeps them connected. You don't want to limit your child completely from this because it is so important for their own emotional growth and maturation," he said. "But on the other hand, what I would say is that it can have a lot of negative impacts on their self-esteem and their growth. Because they're sitting at home, they're not getting out there." So what can parents do to ensure their kids lead long and healthy lives independent of their devices? "The most important thing about keeping kids active for parents is that you have to find places where they can play and you often have to be active with them," Kraft advised. "So it means taking them to a park. It means dancing with them. It means being outside and riding bikes with them or taking walks with them. Kids are going to model what parents do. So if a parent is active, that child will be active. And really limit the screen time," Kraft said. By Sarah Collins Sedentary childhood linked to higher risk for metabolic syndrome in adulthood health Frequent TV watching during ages 5 through 15 was the most significant contributor to metabolic syndrome, according to a recent study.

18 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Let’s take American country music singer Jason Aldean at his word. He really doesn’t grasp that he didn’t have to sing about “Black people,” or “Democrat-run cities” or “Black Lives Matter protests” to gin up guntoting rogue vigilantes. He was just talking to his people, the “good ‘ol boys,” as he says. The Georgiaborn country star got himself into quite a pickle. He’s now at the center of heated arguments and vast misinterpretations of gun violence, police use of force on citizens and the protests it spawns, as well as the merits of city vs. country living. His song, “Try That in a Small Town,” is being pulled from rotation on country stations. And the level of backlash and carefully constructed criticism of Aldean’s video performance of the song is as plentiful as the crude social media slams being launched at him. Aldean insists the song was intended to be his anthem to the values of neighborliness. “‘Try That In A Small Town,’ for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief,” he posted on Twitter on June 18. Except that it’s not. Not even close. Rather, Aldean leveraged a literal arsenal of dog whistles to race in America in the song’s lyrics and imagery. For the accompanying video he used a historically significant town square of Columbia, Tenn. where a lynching of a Black teenager happened in 1927 and another almost did in 1946. The second, during a race riot, would have taken the life of future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Aldean mixed it all up with curiously selected video footage from protests and confrontations with police and crimes occurring around the world, clips that he apparently assumed only displayed scenes from crowds and violence in North American cities. But some of them weren’t. Online sleuths have been eviscerating the images by contradicting Aldean’s insistence that “There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it – and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage…” Try thinking instead, Jason Aldean with Mary Sanchez Readers can reach Mary Sanchez at msanchezcolumn@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @msanchezcolumn. Irving Berlin’s last musical was a largely forgotten show called “Mr. President” (1962). One of the silly songs below his usual high standards included the lyric "The Secret Service makes me nervous." That’s how I felt after the agency, charged with protecting the president, delivered a report that said it could not find the person responsible for bringing cocaine into the White House. No fingerprints on the plastic bag. No DNA. No video of someone who might have placed it in a small locker in a visitors’ area where cellphones and other prohibited items are stored until one departs. In one of the most secure buildings in the world. With cameras and monitoring devices in plain view and also hidden on every floor. NBC News reported the agency failed to interview anyone about the incident. The Secret Service managed to find marijuana in the White House last year. Twice. No one was arrested because the amount was under the legal threshold for federal charges, nor did it rate as a misdemeanor under D.C. law. Drugs alter the mind. Perhaps we should call it real artificial intelligence. It might explain some of the bad policies of this, and previous, administrations. My family has been attending various White House functions since the Coolidge administration. My maternal grandfather and first lady Grace Coolidge were first cousins. A picture I treasure is of my mother (age 9), grandmother and greatgrandmother standing in the White House driveway next to President Warren Harding in 1922. Harding died the following year and Vice President Coolidge became president. I suspect if any of them had been asked where they could find drugs they would have been directed to a nearby pharmacy. That addictive drugs are now found in a hallowed building where great presidents once served and saved the nation is another indication of how far we have sunk when it comes to what used to be called standards. Predictably, but not without cause, some Republicans and conservative media are crying “cover-up” and wondering why no scandal has touched the Biden family. They want to know if Hunter Biden is living in the White House and whether, given his admitted problems with drugs, there might be a connection between him and the cocaine? Clear answers to these and other questions have not been forthcoming from the press office, or anywhere else. An editorial in The New York Post put it well: “… we’re supposed to believe the men and women charged with protecting the president can’t find who dropped an 8-ball in the West Wing? No. Way. In. Hell. It’s the White House, not a rest-stop Arby’s bathroom.” Like so many other accusations of alleged scandal when it comes to the Biden administration, expect this one to be swept under the rug. If the White House press secretary is again asked about it, expect her to say reporters should address inquiries to the Secret Service, or “that issue has been settled.” If this were a one-off, it might … might … be excused, but it seems part of a pattern when it comes to dishonesty, lack of transparency (transparency was one of the first things Joe Biden promised when he took office), the cashing in by family members through alleged money laundering and dealings with foreign entities in possible violation of the law. When one is a Democrat the rules appear to be different. The legacy media seem to do all they can to shield members of that party from any accountability. In Washington, it seems everybody has something on somebody else. That’s why one hardly ever sees an apology, a resignation, a firing, impeachment and conviction, or jail time for any misdeeds. Donald Trump may be the exception. And people wonder why the trust level in our institutions is low and falling. The Secret Service makes me nervous with Cal Thomas Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ new book “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States” my turn continues on next page No fingerprints or DNA turned up on the baggie of cocaine found in the West Wing lobby last week despite a sophisticated FBI crime lab analysis, and surveillance footage of the area didn't identify a suspect Jason Aldean performs on stage during day three of CMA Fest 2023 at Nissan Stadium on June 10, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.

0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 19 Has America hit political bottom? The Supreme Court may have demonstrated that there is no bottom to which America can descend, with its ruling in the 303 Creative vs. Elenis case. But here is the broader context. A former president has been twice indicted and faces more charges for committing high crimes and misdemeanors beyond flagrantly disregarding the handling of classified material and obstructing justice. Fomenting the Jan. 6 riots and tampering with an election could be grounds for new indictments. And the loss of a civil case for sexual harassment resulted in a $5 million award for the plaintiff. Half the current president's party believes he is too old to seek a second term. He has been accused of accepting many millions of dollars of bribes. A partisan committee of the House of Representatives is investigating those allegations that include his son, Hunter Biden. And entirely contradictory statements of the attorney general and the assistant attorney general who brought indictments and a guilty plea from the younger Biden make the relatively light sentencing seem suspicious. Then, the last bastion of the U.S. political system, the Supreme Court, made a landmark ruling in 303 Creative vs. Elenis. Lorie Smith, a web designer, was allowed to forgo as clients a same-sex couple, based on religious grounds. But there was a small problem. The case was a complete hoax. There was no litigant, even though Smith claimed she received a request to design a website for the wedding. In a statement to The Washington Post, the conservative legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, which assisted Smith with legal representation, gave this extraordinary explanation for its action: "Whether Lorie received a legitimate request or whether someone lied to her is irrelevant. No one should have to wait to be punished by the government to challenge an unjust law." The Supreme Court found that: To clarify her rights, Smith filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to prevent the state from forcing her to create websites celebrating marriages that defy her belief that marriage should be reserved to unions between one man and one woman. The majority opinion of the court, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch read: "The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place, where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands. Because Colorado seeks to deny that promise, the judgment is REVERSED." Therein lies a glaring contradiction. How can an opinion that argued religious beliefs were the basis for the ruling be decided under the First Amendment's freedom of speech guarantee and not freedom of religion? That makes no sense. Or does the court believe that the First Amendment places free speech above freedom of religion and the right of assembly and grievance? The consequences are potentially nightmarish. Does this precedent now mean that as soon as a bill is signed into law, it can be pre-emptively challenged through a specious lawsuit from an anonymous source on a website invented for that purpose? If so, this neuters the legislative process and thus unbalances the separation of powers among the three branches that conceivably created near permanent gridlock to governing. It is clear how this has been exploited in the 303 Creative case. And what about standing laws that some find offensive? Suppose someone sought an injunction based on the religious conviction that left-handed or red-headed people were evil and designing websites for them violated that belief. Indeed, Americans once burned witches based on religious beliefs. Can the court be empowered to determine which religious beliefs are valid or not? Under that standard, Osama bin Laden could have been exonerated because his extreme view of Islam, hence his religious belief, made killing infidels his duty. This is reductio ad absurdum on steroids. And how could potential enemies exploit this ruling? In the rare event that Congress passes a defense appropriation bill and the president signs it into law, on dozens of attorneys' websites, constitutional challenges could be raised. Lawsuits ranging from alleged violations of e n v i r o n m e n t a l , discriminatory, anticompetition and other regulatory laws could be filed. Conceivably, these cases could block defense spending for an extended period of time. The Supreme Court has made what appears to be a colossally misguided judgment that could lead the way to far worse. Given that 2024 could be a rematch of the 2020 Joe Biden versus Donald Trump election, are we in political freefall? If the answer is yes, sound the collision alarm. Supreme Court bringing American politics to a new low 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 upcoming 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 Thursday, August 10th on AM1050 WLIP. The U.S. Supreme Court made a colossally misguided ruling in a case involving a website designer who doesn't want to serve same-sex clients. It’s common for people to “lift” or selectively edit a clip and then claim it was something else entirely and for the image to go viral. But it’s inexcusable for a star of his level, who no doubt has a posse of lawyers, sound producers, managers and other musicians on his team. Yet Aldean’s still strumming the same chord and insisting we should all just hum along – because, as he says, he meant no harm. He’s just a country boy, with a song to sell. Here is a sampling of the lyrics: “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face/ Stomp on the flag and light it up/ Yeah, ya think you’re tough.” “Try that in a small town/ Full of good ol’ boys, raised up right/ If you’re looking for a fight.” “Try that in a small town/ See how far ya make it down the road/ Around here, we take care of our own.” What does Aldean mean by “take care of our own?” Emmett Till comes to mind. He, you might know, was the 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago who wolf whistled at a white woman in 1955 Mississippi. He returned to his mother in a coffin after his beaten, shot and otherwise brutalized body was dragged from a river. Emmett broke the codes of the rural South back then. And he wasn’t “one of their own,” to the two local white men who later bragged about killing him. Aldean’s video, the lyrics, are emblematic of the type of simplistic rhetoric that yammers incessantly about the Godless, Democraticrun cities spawning horrific levels of crime and other sinful ways. The fact that cities are filled with incredible examples of philanthropy and unsung people rising daily to aid perfect strangers (as are many small towns) is apparently lost on Aldean. At some levels, the song and Aldean’s comments since the controversy began, lean heavily into the MAGA theme. And former President Donald Trump and the Florida governor who’d also craves a stint in the White House, Ron DeSantis, have both proclaimed in recent days that they are Aldean fans. The MAGA message is that yesteryear was better. That the past was safer, more civilized. Aldean, as he doubles down in commentary, seems oblivious to understanding that the past wasn’t always glorious for everyone. And that is why the slogan Make America Great Again offends so many. Great for whom? Do MAGA supporters really want to return to the era before the passage of civil rights laws, of LGBTQ people hiding their true selves and keeping women barefoot and pregnant, as the saying used to go? Speaking to Aldean’s mindset in the video, he might, like a lot of people, get squeamish about protests. But does that mean he’s OK with police taking the lives of innocent people? Does he really see the world in such an usversus-them way? Aldean, like a lot of people, seems to have been inhaling the intoxicating fumes of conservative politicians for a long, long time. He’s enveloped himself in that cloud, so much so that he apparently doesn’t have any clue to how useful he’s become to those politicians. Sanchez continued from page 18

20 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Recently the government reported unambiguous good news for the economy: the rate of inflation has slowed significantly. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew at an annual rate of 3 percent in June, the smallest increase since March 2021 and well off the recent peak rate of 9.1% seen in June 2022 (9.1% was the fastest annual rate since November 1981). The core rate, which strips out the volatile categories of food and energy, increased by 4.8%, the lowest core inflation has been since October 2021 and a significant improvement from its recent peak level of 6.6% in October 2022. A big contributor to the overall drop in CPI was energy, which has tumbled 16.7% since last year, led lower by a near 27% plunge in gas prices. (The energy component spiked primarily due to the war in Ukraine and pandemic-related supply chain issues, which caused the average price for a gallon of regular gas to soar to more than $5 in June 2022.) The combination of those issues receding, and the Fed’s aggressive rate hike campaign, where the central bank increased short-term lending rates five full percentage points over the course of 15 months starting in March 2022, have made a big dent in the rate of inflation. Despite the improvement, I continue to hear from people who say things like, “But everything is still so expensive!” Of course, some things cost a lot more than they did prior to the pandemic, like housing prices, childcare, and car insurance, not to mention some of the still sky-high prices on menus. That said, even though we complain, surveys find that the drop in prices is making a difference in how we feel. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index rose in July to its “most favorable reading since September 2021…The sharp rise in sentiment was largely attributable to the continued slowdown in inflation along with stability in labor markets.” The improvement in prices and sentiment begs the question: Is the United States economy out of the woods? We started the year with economists and analysts almost uniformly predicting that the economy would fall into a recession in 2023, but it most certainly has not done so yet. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded at an annualized pace of 2% in the first quarter of the year and estimates for the second quarter range from about 1 to 2.3% annualized growth. Those early recession calls presumed that the labor market would roll over, which it has not. Despite job losses in tech, banking and media, the resilient labor market has seen 30 consecutive months of job growth. However, the Federal Reserve is concerned that further progress on inflation may not be forthcoming, as the year over year comparisons will be tougher in the second half of 2023. The central bank’s view does not sync up with a likely improvement in the shelter component of the CPI, a major contributor to headline and core inflation rates, but fed officials are the deciders, and they have indicated that another rate hike is probably coming, perhaps as soon as at the end of this month. One or two more rate hikes, along with a general slowdown in economic data, could mean that a recession is still possible. Analysts at Capital Economics warn: “June’s soft U.S. CPI print seems to have given investors renewed hope that inflation could fall back to normal levels without the economy slowing too much, if at all. We continue to think that the chance of a moresignificant economic slowdown is underappreciated.” So, is the economy out of the woods? Maybe… Is the economy out of the woods? with Jill Schlesinger jill on money Way back when, about 18 months ago, I wrote that the so-called “Great Resignation” was an overstatement of U.S. labor market conditions. Instead, I preferred the term that LinkedIn Principal Economist, Guy Berger used – the “Great Reshuffle,” which more accurately described the movement of workers throughout the economy, as they chased more money, better benefits, and enhanced flexibility. A day before the June employment report was released and in anticipation of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for May (the JOLTs data lag the jobs report by a month), both the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times declared that the “Great Resignation” was done and dusted. (The WSJ headline read, "Americans have quit quitting their jobs" and the NYT, “The ‘Great Resignation’ is over.”) A funny thing happened on the way to those dueling headlines: Voluntary separations initiated by the employee (“quits”) actually increased by 250,000 from April to May, bringing the total number to 4 million. Still, the editors did not have to feel squeamish on the headline call, as quits are down significantly from the August 2022 all-time series high of 5.18 million. Olivia Cross of Capital Economics noted that “labor shortages continue to ease,” though the JOLTs report also “brought signs of labor market resilience, with the hiring rate rebounding and layoffs remaining historically low.” The monthly jobs report for June underscored the changing conditions in the U.S. labor market. The economy produced 209,000 jobs, which was the weakest gain since December 2020, as once-hot sectors like wholesale, retail, transportation & warehousing, as well as temporary help, all shed jobs last month. Almost half of the gains were propelled by two sectors, government, which added 60,000 jobs in June and health care, which gained 41,000 jobs. Revisions to the two previous months combined for 110,000 fewer positions than previously reported, potentially a sign of a slowdown. For the first half of the year, job creation has averaged 278,000, a drop from 2022’s average of nearly 400,000 and about half the 2021 level of 562,000. The June unemployment rate ticked down to 3.6%, from 3.7%, as the labor force increased by just 133,000. Notably, all of the prime age workers (ages 25 to 54) have returned to the labor force, and more are working or actively seeking work than before the pandemic. That suggests that for the unemployment rate to drift towards the Fed’s desired 4% rate, either a lot of younger or older workers would need to enter the labor force, or some current workers would have to leave it. Even with the labor market appearing to downshift, wages grew by 0.4%, putting the annual rate at 4.4%, as businesses, especially those seeking to attract blue collar workers, continue to pay up to attract and retain workers. Wage growth may be the key to the Federal Reserve’s next move. In the minutes from the June policy meeting, central bank officials noted that “Labor market conditions remained tight in April and May … Recent measures of nominal wage growth continued to be elevated, although lower than their highs last year. Over the 12 months ending in May, average hourly earnings for all employees increased 4.3%, below its peak of 5.9% early last year.” Given the still-strong jobs numbers, most expect the Fed to raise rates by another 0.25% to a range of 5.25 – 5.5% at the July 25-26 meeting. The last time the Fed Funds rate clocked in at these heights was during a 12-month period from July 2006 to July 2007, just before they plummeted to zero in response to the Great Financial Crisis. 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 askjill@jillonmoney.com. Check her website at www.jillonmoney.com Is the 'Great Resignation' done and dusted? with Jill Schlesinger Meat for sale in a grocery store on July 12, 2023, in Miami, Florida. The U.S. consumer price index report showed that inflation fell to its lowest annual rate in more than two years during June. Wage growth may be the key to the Federal Reserve’s next move, writes Jill Schlesinger.

0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 21 s e r – 6 d t a y e n t Dear Cathy, I felt sad to read in your column about a dog possibly being neglected. I liked your idea for the questioner to help in a nonconfrontational manner. I've been in this position myself and know how difficult it can be to have help taken the wrong way or refused. In the column, you said, "There is no law that says the dog can't be outside." I wanted to add that might depend on where one lives. I live in Connecticut, and the laws recently changed here so that an animal cannot be outside 24/7. Dogs must be taken in for at least a portion of the day, which means they can get some relief when it's below freezing or 100 degrees outside. I thought that this might be important for your readers to know. — Susan, East Hartford, Connecticut Dear Susan, You make an excellent point. Many state laws and local ordinances dictate how long a dog can be outside, under what conditions they should not be outside, and what the pet owner must provide to protect them from inclement weather, etc. In fact, in most states, dogs can no longer be chained outside. If one is concerned about a neighbor’s dog, refer to local pet care ordinances or talk to animal control about the situation to determine if the dog is being neglected, and what steps can be taken to remedy the situation. Dear Cathy, I hope you can help with a problem regarding our senior tabby cat, Kitty. My husband and I adopted her around age five. She was a rescue, so we don't know what her early life was like before us. While she was always skittish, she has always been wonderful, quiet, and affectionate. She has never scratched the furniture and always used her litter box. We have been through some big changes in recent years. Kitty has always been the only pet, but we fostered some stray kittens a few years ago. She hated and avoided them, spending most of her time outside in the yard, where she began to urinate and defecate, even though we got an extra litter box for the kittens. Then, a year ago, we moved across the country. Since moving, she continues to urinate in the litter box but almost never defecates there. She uses the bedroom rug instead. She's now 15, so we thought it may be arthritis in her legs. We tried CBD oil but could rarely get her to ingest it if added to her food. We've gradually changed her diet from kibble to fiber treats and mostly wet food, thinking she had constipation. However, she defecates daily, so constipation doesn't seem like the culprit. We clean up with an enzymatic cleaner. We tried putting an extra litter box on the rug, but she still uses the rug. She goes up and down the stairs multiple times daily and pees in the litter box, so it doesn't seem too difficult for her. The vet gave her a clean bill of health. We love her, and she seems otherwise content and healthy. Any ideas? — Irene, Mansfield, Connecticut Dear Irene, Stress can lead to litter box issues and, over time, can develop into poor habits. You are doing the right things by providing a second litter box, cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner, and giving more water in the diet in case it is related to constipation. At this point, provide her with an open litter box. Some cats, especially arthritic ones, like to stand on the edge of the box to pee or poop; if they can't do this, they will pee and poop somewhere else instead. Place it in a quiet location where she can’t be startled when using it. Then, sprinkle a litter box additive into the litter (available at pet stores or online) to lure her back to the box. Finally, use a pheromone collar on her for 60 days to provide emotional comfort. Pheromones can help resolve any lingering anxiety, which can help turn things around. Let me know how she does with these changes. Dear Cathy, My new kitten always scratches the side of our mattress. I tried sprays, which my cat didn’t seem to mind, and sticky tape on the mattress. He just tore the tape off with his teeth. I finally put a fitted piece of plywood against the side of the mattress. We lived happily until his death 14 years later. — Ron, Henderson, Nevada Dear Ron, I love it when readers find humane solutions for handling a problem that results in peace and harmony in the home. Thanks for sharing. Pet World with Cathy Rosenthal Local ordinances can guide you when helping a neglected 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 cathy@petpundit.com. Shark takes a bite out of fisherman's catch The captain of a charter fishing boat in Massachusetts was reeling in a bass when a shark jumped out of the water and took a bite out of the fish. Donald Parker, a Harwich Firefighter and boat captain said he was reeling in his catch when a shark with other plans jumped out of the water. "The shark grabbed it and flipped over," Parker told MassLive. "Everybody was in awe." Parker finished reeling in his catch, discovering he was left with only the fish's head. He said shark sightings are common in the Cape Cod area this time of year. Exact bus fare required - no matter who the rider might be A Florida bus driver got out their camera instead of opening the door when they arrived at a bus stop occupied by an unusual commuter -- an alligator. GoPasco County Public Transportation tweeted the photo snapped by the bus driver when they spotted an alligator waiting patiently next to the GoPasco bus stop sign on Little Road. "Why did the alligator cross the road? To get to the bus stop on time," the tweet said. The alligator was not allowed to board the bus, but was instead escorted to some nearby woods by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel, county officials said. Reported home burglary finds odd intruder Indiana police responding to a report of a burglary went down to the basement of the home and discovered the suspect was a baby deer. The Police Department said in a Facebook post that officers responded to a report of a burglary and the story took "an adorable turn" once they arrived at the scene. "Picture this: Our brave officers went down to investigate, only to discover a baby deer, affectionately known as Bambi, seeking shelter," the post said. The department shared a video of the officers using a blanket to carefully capture the fawn and bring it to the home's back yard. The deer did not appear to be injured and was released at the scene. Gorilla mistakenly believed to be male gives birth at Columbus Zoo A gorilla who zookeepers had thought to be male was only discovered to be female when she was found holding her new baby girl. Zookeepers at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio said that the 8-year-old Sully, a western lowland gorilla, has lived at the facility since 2019. "It's hard to tell the sex of younger gorillas. Until about age 8, males and females are about the same size, and they don't have prominent sex organs," the zoo said in its statement after the birth "As gorillas age, they become sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females look very different. However, males don't develop their characteristic large size, silver backs and large head bumps -- called sagittal crests -- until age 12 or later." Zookeepers described Sully as a "young and healthy animal" who did not need any procedures or medical care that would have led to the discovery sooner. The gestation period for a gorilla is about 8 1/2 months, meaning she became pregnant late in the fall. Gorillas rarely show outward signs of pregnancy because the newborns are smaller than human babies and gorillas naturally have large abdomens. Zookeepers have not yet approached the infant, also a girl, to allow time to bond with her mom. Eventually, veterinarians will approach to conduct a wellness exam. The zoo will also conduct a DNA test to determine the baby's father.

22 F SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 RE PL FO Lis G CO KE Ge the co me is join Ke an spe lan to tim inte at LIO so Ra sta We Sc Ha AIR (26 BA CO TW FREE CLASSIFIEDS! What time should you eat breakfast? A French study finds early is best. In the study, eating breakfast after 9 a.m. increased the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 59% compared to people who eat breakfast before 8. Researchers at ISGlobal, an institution supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, followed more than 100,000 French participants. Researchers concluded that the risk of diabetes was reduced by changing not only what is consumed but when. Type 2 diabetes is associated with modifiable risk factors, such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and smoking. But another factor may be important: the times at which we eat. "We know that meal timing plays a key role in regulating circadian rhythms and glucose and lipid control, but few studies have investigated the relationship between meal timing or fasting and type 2 diabetes," says Anna Palomar-Cros, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study. In this study, the ISGlobal team joined a team from INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. They investigated the association between meal frequency and timing and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes among 103,312 adults (79% women) from the French NutriNet-Sante cohort. Participants recorded what they ate and drank over a 24-hour period on three nonconsecutive days, as well as the timing of their meals. The research team averaged the dietary records for the first two years of follow-up and assessed participants' health over an average of seven years. Researchers identified 963 new cases of Type 2 diabetes during the study. The risk of developing the disease was significantly higher in the group of people who regularly ate breakfast after 9 a.m., compared to those who ate breakfast before 8 am. The findings were consistent with two earlier metaanalyses that found that skipping breakfast increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes due to its effect on glucose and lipid control. The research team also found that a late dinner (after 10 p.m.) seemed to increase the risk, while eating more frequently (about five times a day) was associated with a lower disease incidence. In contrast, prolonged fasting is only beneficial if it is done by having an early breakfast (before 8 a.m.) and an early dinner. What are some healthier breakfasts to have before 8 a.m. for those who have diabetes or prediabetes or simply want to make healthy choices? Make sure you include protein. You can try an omelet with vegetables; avocado toast topped with an egg; Greek yogurt with berries; high protein, high fiber cereal with skim milk; a grab-andgo protein shake; a breakfast quesadilla with black beans, tomatoes and scrambled eggs; or a peanut butter sandwich on wholewheat bread. The bottom line is breakfast is important, and the earlier you can eat, the better. Q and A Q: Can someone with Type 2 diabetes eat pasta? A: With the right preparation and portions, you can still enjoy pasta for dinner without sending your blood sugar soaring or derailing any weight-loss goals. In one large study, women with Type 2 diabetes who a 50-gram serving of pasta experience lower spikes in blood sugar than they did after eating equal portions of white bread, potato or rice. The key is to watch portion sizes and prepare the pasta mindfully, limiting certain toppings and mix-ins such as cheese, meat and sauce. Choose whole-grain pasta that offers more fiber and helps blunt blood sugar spikes. And center your pasta dish on nonstarchy vegetables, which are also high in fiber. It also helps to skip the creamy sauce in favor of an oil or tomatobased sauce. Another option is to try veggie noodles, such as spiralized zucchini. Perhaps most important is to practice portion control. Food portions, especially restaurant portions, are much larger today than they were 20 years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Take half home or share a dish with a friend. Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Ill. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRd. food & recipes Breakfast Time Nutrition News with Charlyn Fargo Servings: 4 1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/8 teaspoon grated or finely chopped fresh ginger 2 1/2 cups (about 1/2 pound) fresh sugar snap peas 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 12 ounces medium-sized raw shrimp, peeled and deveined In large skillet, saute garlic and ginger in oil until fragrant. Stir in peas and chopped bell pepper. Saute until tender-crisp. Stir in shrimp. Cook over medium heat 3-4 minutes until shrimp are just opaque in centers. Serve with steamed brown rice. Per serving: 156 calories, 19 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate, 5 g fat (0.7 g saturated), 129 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 136 mg sodium. Shrimp Stir-Fry Serves 6 4 to 5 large vine-ripened tomatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds) 1/2 teaspoon table salt 3 tablespoons plain Greek-style yogurt 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice from 1 lemon 1 small clove garlic, minced or put through garlic press 1 teaspoon ground cumin 3 small scallions, white and green parts, sliced thin 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves Ground black pepper 1 small chunk feta cheese (about 3 ounces) 1. Core and halve tomatoes, then cut each half into four or five wedges. Toss wedges with salt in a large bowl; let rest until a small pool of liquid accumulates, 15 to 20 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, whisk yogurt, oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, scallions, oregano, and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Pour mixture over tomatoes and accumulated liquid; toss to coat. Set aside to blend flavors, about 5 minutes. 3. Crumble feta over tomatoes; toss to combine. Adjust seasonings and serve immediately. If you’re an avid gardener and have been blessed with a bounty of ripe tomatoes, a simple summer salad is a great way to make the most of (and use up) this garden favorite. Salting the tomatoes before mixing them into the salad brings out their juices, which make a base for the dressing. There’s also no need to peel homegrown tomatoes here, because their skins are usually thin and unassuming. Tomato Salad with Feta and Cumin-Yogurt Dressing

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DT2019V1 5617 - 6th Ave. Kenosha 657-7673 M-F: 9AM-5PM Sat: 10AM-2PM Delivery Available www.asummersgardenflorist.com Marckus Luke Allen Plaza & Makayla Marie Rutka Kyle James Bors & Abigail Lee Kloberdanz David Lee Voglesang & Patricia Lynn Bladow Devynn Cain Kingdon & Jaclyn Alana Stackhouse Morgan Garrett Strunsky & Elyssa Haley Lange Kevin James Hedges & Stephanie Marie Prida Jabari Daquan Harrison & Tai Nesha Alexus Hines John James Formolo & Lindsey Lucille Graf Ricardo Reyes & Elizabeth Merari Hernandez Caleb Jonathan Kapity & Amy Michelle Allen Sophia Kathleeen Stills & Matthew Roberto Cullen-Irace Zulfakar Madrid Ali & Joan Carla Bermijo Dungca John Robert Kollman & Abigail Laura Kowalsky Margaret Rachel Faynberg & Michael Joseph Quinn Jerod Herman Bahrs & Ashley LeeAnn Bigelow Jeffrey Steven Weissmuller & Kaela Louise Giorno Tyler Robert Tannock & Sarah Marie Gagnon Robert Jovan Kunz & Stephanie Lynn Gillum Nicholas Joseph Jeske & Diana Suzanne Ness Ty-Eric Allen Jandrowski & Brianna Marie Santelli Taylor Daniel Atherton Cooke & Jenniffer Esmeralda Valladares Christopher Edward Ndamo & Grace Mathias Sawanja Joshua Charles Kane & Grace Marie Hipper Erick Sean Azmus & Kristina Lynn Naidicz Dominick Michael Deligio & Mara Antonia Marasti Christina Kathryn Court & Regina Fay Sharp James John Sitkiewicz & Madison Christine Kemnitz Maxwell John Held & Anna Kathlessn Hilderbrand Marriage Licenses July 3rd - 7th, 2023 0 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER July 27, 2023 23 REMINDER: PLEASE RESUBMIT AD TO RUN FOR EACH ISSUE. Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISC 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 Blustsusan01@msn.com. 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 AIR FRYER, BRAND NEW $55 ALL (262) 771-8764 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 MESSAG SONY REEL TO REEL TAPE DECKS! TC-630 & TC-580 $200 OBO FOR BOTH. CALL KENT 262- 9 6 0 - 0 6 2 1 ELECTRIKE@WI.RR.COM MEDLINE WHEELCHAIR. BARELY USED. ASKING $100 OR BEST OFFER. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY. IN KENOSHA AND CALL OR TEXT 808-359-8474. 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 V.F.W. VINTAGE BANNER VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS BANNER WITH LOGO, PROFESSIONALLY FRAMED UNDER GLASS. VERY LARGE & IN GREAT CONDITION. $175. LEAVE MESSAGE IF NO ANSWER. 262-914-4767 VIPER GOLF CLUBS, GREAT SECOND SET $100 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 COMPOUND MITER SAW 10" $50 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 SEARS RADIAL ARM SAW $50 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 CIRCLULAR SAW BLADE 32" DIAMETER $60 OBO 262-654-6485 QUILTS, HANDMADE. FIVE, VARIOUS COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM. $54.00 EACH. PHONE 262-657-6049. SELLING MANY DVDS AND VHS TAPES OF VARIOUS GENRES. MAKE ME AN OFFER ON EACH OR THE TOTAL NUMBER YOU PURCHASE. 808-359-8474 A WICKER, WOODEN OAK BENCH WITH REMOVABLE CUSHION. MAKE ME AN OFFER; CAN TEXT PHOTOS. 808-359-8474 JASON/EMPIRE MODEL 218 7X35 BINOCULARS. FIELD 358 FT AT 1000 YDS. FULLYCOATED OPTICS, & CASE. NEVER USED. CASE HAS SHELF WEAR. $25.00262-620- 4301. IF NO ANSWER PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE. COMPOND HUNTING BOW LEFT HANDED, SIGHTS, SILENCER, ARROWS, QUIVER, SOFT CARRYING CASE. $100.00 262- 620-4301 LEAVE MESSAGE IF NO ANSWER. COCA-COLA CRATE WOOD WAGON, Measures: 19-Inch Long. 14-Inch Wide. & 10-Inch High. Red Plastic Wheels Move. Which Are 5-Inch Around. Handle Is 14-Inch Long. Crate Says: Bottles: Jonesboro., Ark. Made Of Wood. Put In Yard, With Plants. Easy To Move Around. Colleen/262-758-7869. VINTAGE SOLID DARK BROWN WOOD ROCKER Strong & Heavy! Seat Measures: 21 By 18, And 2- Inch Thick. 40-Inch Tall, Counting Back Of Rocker. 18-Inch From Seat To Floor. 27-Inch Wide, At Widest Part (Rocker's Feet. Rock Baby Or Grandchild. Has Writing On Bottom, (Seat). $60, Obo! /Colleen-262-758-7869. WANTED. EXPERIENCED GRILL COOK FLEXIBLE HOURS, FUN ATMOSPHERE. LAKESIDE DECK AT THE WYNDHAM HOTEL CALL KIM 262-496-718 SINGER AND NARRATOR WANTED FOR ROGER MILLER TRIBUTE.CALL 262-554-8205. ASK FOR MARV. STREET PAVER BRICKS wanted Please call 262.697.3545 and leave a message. 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 arcadedriversschool@gmail.com. LOOKING FOR NURSES Aid for in home care. Call Barbara 262- 455-3953 SERVICES. 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 AIDEN.LANDSCAPING1@GMAIL.COM 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 pdifore@bartonhealthcare.org 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 256-658-4484. TAX & BOOKKEEPING. 30 Years experience Audits handld enrolled agent appointment only call 262- 595-8242 CAREGIVER SELF-EMPLOYED live-in caregiver with 20 years experience giving 24 hr. care references. Looking for job. If you need me, please call Teresa 262-497- 0502. CUT AWAY GRASS Edging to last - not stringline - will help drainage. All with cleanup and haul away. Just call 262-654-2509. VEHICLES0 98 Mercury Grand Marquis GS Elder Owned 77K Original Miles Ask about price which is negotiable and will trade for other economical, reliable motorcar. Can text photos. In Kenosha. 808-359-8474. 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: 2 6 2 - 4 8 4 - 4 8 4 8 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 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-237-1343 CALL OR TEXT NICE CAR AT A NICE PRICE $5450 174K MILES 2016 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY $6950 184K MILES SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-237-1343 CALL OR TEXT NICE VAN AT A NICE PRICE. FREE CLASSIFIEDS! E-mail your 170 character classified to: ads@happeningsmag.com 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 MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2023 AT 12 NOON FREE CLASSIFIEDS! Employment/Opportunities • Lost & Found • Miscellaneous Real Estate • Rentals • Rummage Sales • Vehicles • Wanted

24 SMART READER July 27, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800072723 Senior Citizens Receive a 10% DISCOUNT SR121720 061523 AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT MADE EASY! AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT MADE EASY! Ask about our investment loan program that allows you to use 100% rental income to qualify. Great for owner occupied first-time buyers or investors. 2801 - 30th Avenue (Wood Road) Kenosha, WI 262-551-0600 Back by popular demand owner Jim Karls presents... Wednesdays 5pm-9pm $18 Adults $12 Kids 12 & under It’s not just dinner... it’s an event! Choose your ingredients & watch Chef Fred create a spectacular feast before your very eyes! Che Bello! Featuring: veggies, shrimp, scallops, calamari, crawfish, chicken breast, beef or pork tenderloin, Italian sausage, a variety of sauces, marinara, marsala, alfredo, vodka, Alogi e olio, & many different pastas. Includes homemade Italian Bread & Soup or Salad CHEF FRED BELTOYA’S PASTA NIGHT! 012623 Your Ticket to Local Events Downtown Kenosha Dockside SR072723 We’ve Got Your Favorite Music Covered! 1420 63rd St. Kenosha M-F 10AM-4PM August 4-6, 2023 Visit Hap2it.com or Stop At $45 Plus Tax & Fees 3 Day Pass Only Save 25% Off Gate Price!