FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 "Everyone at Casey Family Options was so helpful and supportive. We were extremely satisfied." -Kenneth R. "Everyone at Casey Family Options was so helpful and supportive. We were extremely satisfied." -Kenneth R. Visit us at 3016 75th St. Kenosha SR121522 Volume 21 - #26 December 28, 2023 33-YEARS AFTER ITS RELEASE, OLIVER STONE’S “JFK” FILM STILL RAISES QUESTIONS
Oliver Stone's 1991 movie JFK, available on 4K UHD, provoked further inquiry in the 1990s into President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Though New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) was the film's protagonist, Stone said Garrison did not have a very strong case in 1969. "He had a thin case, no question about it," Stone told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "Garrison became his own worst enemy by not even bringing some of the people he wanted to bring to trial as witnesses, because he was preserving their privacy and their integrity." Garrison prosecuted Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones) as a conspirator in the plot to kill Kennedy. Though Garrison raised doubts about Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone gunman, and the location from which the fatal shot was fired, Shaw was acquitted. Still, Stone said the trial was monumental for screening the footage by Abraham Zapruder of Kennedy's motorcade, and for poking holes in the conclusions of the autopsy performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital, including the entry and exit wounds. Stone directed a new documentary, JFK Revisited, in 2021 with updated evidence about inconsistencies in the official story on Kennedy's assassination. Stone said Navy Cmdrs. James Humes and Thornton Boswell were not qualified to perform an autopsy in a murder case. "The autopsy at Bethesda is a farce," Stone said. "This is a very complicated murder case with shots from every side, seven wounds, two different victims. They screwed up everything." Garrison's investigation was criticized, including by his DA successor Harry Connick Sr. for calling spurious witnesses and unfairly targeting Shaw. Garrison was acquitted on charges of taking bribes in a separate case. Even though he recognized Garrison's case against Shaw was thin, Stone said he believed Garrison to be honest. Stone and Costner met with Garrison after reading his book, On the Trail of the Assassin, which was the basis for the film, along with Jim Marrs' Crossfire: the Plot That Killed Kennedy. "I trusted Jim," Stone said. "I really believe in the honesty and the integrity of Jim Garrison." Stone said his research into Garrison showed he was well liked by the people of New Orleans, who elected him DA twice. Furthermore, after he was cleared of bribery charges, the people of New Orleans elected Garrison judge of Louisiana's 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Stone said he credited Garrison's trial with raising the possibility of a government conspiracy to the public. Stone said his hope for JFK was to get viewers thinking about the official story that does not add up. Characters in JFK suggest the CIA conspired to assassinate Kennedy. The film also shows Garrison testing Oswald's supposed shot from the Texas Book Depository, which Stone said should be questioned. "A guy shoots the president out of an impossible perch on a window that no marksman has ever matched," Stone said. "He dies, so there's no evidence. There's no trial." Stone said he was also skeptical that Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby, was diagnosed with liver, lung and brain cancer in December 1966 before he was able to testify at a retrial for his murder conviction. Ruby died Jan. 3, 1967 and other witness deaths were addressed in books like Hit List and JFK: The Dead Witnesses. "Then the assassin of Oswald is bumped off in a strange cancer case a month before he's supposed to testify," Stone said. "Initially some 26 witnesses that are of interest die violently in the next period of time." Stone said he believed Kennedy would have enacted policies in a second term that threatened other government interests. Stone said Kennedy would have been able to end the Cold War in partnership with Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev in a second term. "Kennedy was a world changer," Stone said. "He couldn't do too much in his first term because he was realistic. He knew he had to get re-elected." Stone said Kennedy was launching cooperative international policies, like the Alliance for Progress for economic cooperation between the United States and Latin America. Stone said he has been disappointed in every U.S. president since Kennedy. Stone specifically criticized Jimmy Carter's covert aid to the mujahedin in Afghanistan, George W. Bush's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Barack Obama's acceptance of Wall Street campaign donations and Joe Biden's support of the Ukraine war. "We've had terrible leadership in the United States, which is why we're going into the toilet as fast as possible," Stone said. "Kennedy was not a colonialist. He did not see the world in oppressive terms like we still do." Stone said that whether viewers believe the theories put forth by Garrison or his successors in JFK: Revisited, it is important that people think for themselves. "Don't buy anything the government ever says again," Stone said. "The country will never get its conscience together and get its history together as long as we believe them." At the time of JFK's release, the House Select Committee on Assassinations was not due to release files pertaining to the Kennedy assassination until 2029. In 1992, Congress enacted the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act and began releasing files. Still, Stone said he worried that people would avoid challenging their preexisting beliefs. "Everybody in the world has an opinion," Stone said. "It's just that they'd rather have an opinion than know anything. That's what bothers me." After releasing 13,000 more files in 2022, Biden issued a memo on June 30 postponing the release of certain additional files. Stone said he fears that postponement will be permanent. "Biden did something that is just not legal," Stone said. "He contradicted Congress and he got away with it." Stone credited producer Robert S. Wilson for encouraging him to delve back into the Kennedy assassination for the 2021 documentary. Stone also directed the nuclear energy documentary Nuclear Now last year. Stone said he still hopes to write the second part of his memoir, Chasing the Light, and possibly develop one more feature film. "My battles continue with the truth," Stone said. "Once you enter into a world of thinking for yourself you're in trouble here." By Fred Topel 'JFK' director Oliver Stone still has questions about assassination Smart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael Communications Editor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale Sales/Kim Carmichael Editorial Manager/Jason Hedman Ad Design & Layout/Kristin Monticelli, Glen Kelly Reception/Sarah Coleman Carmichael Communications 1420 63rd St. Kenosha, WI 53143 December 28, 2023 Volume 21 Number 26 262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 • www.hap2it.com President Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, settled in rear seats, prepare for a motorcade into Dallas on November 22, 1963. Oliver Stone discusses his film “JFK” and the further investigation into a conspiracy 2 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 NOW OPEN! 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Sixty years have passed since news broke across the UPI newswire that President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. While many witnesses to that dark episode of American history are gone, the few who survive are working to keep the story from fading away. "Kennedy seriously wounded perhaps seriously perhaps fatally by assassins bullet," the transmission from veteran UPI reporter Merriman Smith read The president of the United States and Texas Gov. John B. Connally had been shot by a sniper, as Smith described. Three shots rang out in Dealey Plaza on Nov. 22, 1963. Smith would later break the news confirming Kennedy's death. The 60th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination differs from past milestones that marked the passage of another decade, Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, told UPI. "We reach this juncture now where memory is fading into history," Fagin said. "We've reached this juncture where only one homicide detective is left. He's 96. Only a couple of Parkland doctors are still around today. It makes me aware, very acutely, that this is slipping further and further away from us." Yet, firsthand accounts persist, both in the words written by Smith and in those who remain to tell the story of one of the most impactful moments in U.S. history. Merriman Smith's reporting Smith, UPI's reporter on the ground, tightly gripped a radio telephone from the pool car in the president's motorcade as it rolled down Elm Street in Dallas. He fended off other reporters in the car as he shared his account of what he observed with UPI Southwest Division Manager Jack Fallon, said Bill Sanderson, author of Bulletins From Dallas: Reporting the JFK Assassination. "Bulletin precede," Smith yelled into the phone, indicating that this was now the top story of the day. Four minutes after the shots were fired, the UPI bulletin spread nationally and was read by Walter Cronkite on live TV. Smith stayed on the story as it continued to evolve, racing through the halls of Parkland Memorial Hospital to find another phone and boarding Air Force One to witness the swearing-in of President Lyndon B. Johnson. At each turn, Smith knew where to be, who to talk to and what details to share with readers, Sanderson told UPI. Smith finished that day in Washington, filing his eyewitness account of the assassination, which would win a Pulitzer Prize. His 20-plus years as a White House reporter prepared him to be "the man" on that day, Sanderson said. "He understood the beat better than anyone else," Sanderson said. "What Smith was able to do was within the first half-hour or so manage to file enough copy -- or give enough reporting to the rewriter, to be able to get a pretty coherent story on the wire. That was important in those days." Smith wrote his story from a first-person point of view, which is less common today. But rather than expressing how the events impacted him, he detailed the weight of the moment in his observations of others, such as his depiction of Kennedy associate Theodore C. Sorenson. "Sorensen sat wilted in the large chair, crying softly. The dignity of his deep grief seemed to sum up all of the tragedy and sadness of the previous six hours," Smith wrote. Reflecting on Smith's reporting highlights how the world has changed. Sanderson recalls afternoon editions of newspapers, which have become nearly extinct. These afternoon editions brought Smith's reporting to newsstands nationally, delivering the news of Kennedy's assassination ultimately to the world. 'The weight of the world' Darwin Payne was in a much different place in his journalism career than Smith on Nov. 22, 1963. While Smith was the most veteran White House reporter of the day, Payne was a 26-year-old reporter with the Dallas Times Herald. He had a few years of experience under his belt, having served as the wire editor for the Fort Worth Press, where he exclusively handled UPI copy. But on that day he was thrust into the biggest story of his life, he told UPI. The newsroom had been preparing for Kennedy's arrival for a few days. He had made stops in San Antonio and Fort Worth, but Dallas promised to be an even bigger event. Payne's assignment was to be the "rewrite man" for a sidebar on first lady Jackie Kennedy -- one of several angles to be covered that day. A reporter was sent to the Dallas Love Field airport to relay the depiction of her arrival to him. "There was a lot of excitement about Jackie those days," Payne recalled. "She wore a beautiful raspberry dress with black trim, a pillbox hat. The crowd went wild over her." Now 86, Payne remembers a foreboding feeling in the newsroom leading up to JFK's arrival. Dallas had become the site of demonstrations by what he called "ultra-right wingers" who one month before had accosted U.N. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson, hit him with a sign and spat on him. "It was worse than anyone ever pictured it as," Payne said. "I expected and feared something would happen as it did." Several officials urged Kennedy not to come to Dallas, including ministers, the Dallas Citizens Council and U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes. She later swore in Johnson as president aboard Air Force One hours after Kennedy's arrival. Despite the trepidation, it was a welcome procession, according to Payne, up until the first shot rang out at 12:30 p.m. When word came across of the shooting, Payne was told to abandon his first lady story and race to Dealey Plaza. "I felt the weight of the world," he said. "I felt that this would be the story of my life, no matter what happened. I was feeling that things could've not been what we thought they were. They might've missed him." He was devastated to learn what had happened in his hometown, but knowing he had a job to do helped Payne make it through a difficult day. When he arrived at the plaza, Payne found everybody in tears and a lot of confusion about what they had witnessed. "Most people knew the president had been hit. There was no doubt about that," Payne said. "The ones I centered on the most, because they were crying the most I suppose, were three or four women who worked in the manufacturing facility across the street from the school depository." The women led Payne to Abraham Zapruder, the owner of a nearby clothing manufacturer who captured the assassination on 8mm film. He attempted to persuade Zapruder to come with him to the newsroom to develop the film. Zapruder refused, saying he would only submit the film to the FBI or Secret Service. At about the time Payne Dwindling witnesses to JFK assassination keep story alive 60 years later Flanked by Jackie Kennedy (R) and his wife, Ladybird Johnson, Vice President Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as president by Dallas U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes (L) on November 22, 1963 aboard Air Force One following President John F. Kennedy's assassination. story continues page 5 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 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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My start in the construction business happened in Cincinnati in the early 1970s. The knowledge I obtained in those first few formative years doing remodeling work made me, in my opinion, a better builder. Early on, I deconstructed houses that were 100 years old. I was blessed to see how master craftsmen of old built things. Many were so proud of their work, they signed it. What a shame I didn’t take a photograph of each signature I uncovered on a wall stud or up in an attic! With a new year on the threshold, one of your resolutions may be to start a remodeling project that’s been on the back burner. High housing prices may have shoved you out of the market, and instead of moving to a bigger, nicer home, you’re now forced to fulfill your dreams using your existing home. My goal is to prevent you from suffering emotional and financial pain if you are on the cusp of starting a major remodeling project. The following tips should prevent sleepless nights, arguments with contractors, and anguish caused by cost overruns. Each week I do consultation phone calls with homeowners just like you. Often their remodeling projects have gone off the rails. Every time I perform an autopsy, I discover the root cause of the problem is a set of inferior plans. Bad plans open the door to a host of problems, not the least of which is a lack of communication between you and the contractor. You probably know what you want in your head. You’ve dreamed of the perfect new bathroom, kitchen, room addition, or whole-house remodel. You’ve looked at hundreds of stunning inspirational photos on different websites. But your plans are two-dimensional line drawings that communicate only a small part of what you want. Your first, and most important, job is to take the time to create an accessory document that contains the necessary photographs that show the contractor exactly what you want. The plans and the photographs should be so good that the contractor never has to ask you any questions. It’s possible to achieve this goal. The best part is these two simple documents form the core of the contract between you and the contractor. Your contract simply states that all the work will be done in accordance with the two documents and that you’ll pay the contractor in stages as the work progresses. Nothing about this is hard. Contracts can be simple one-page documents for the most part. It’s important to realize remodeling work is messy. You should think about all this in advance. Lead paint should be on your radar if your house was built before or just after 1978. Demolishing, sanding or scraping painted surfaces that are coated with lead paint can create serious health issues. Don’t rely on lead-paint test kits as you could get a false negative result. Lead paint may be lurking underneath coats of non-lead paint applied in the past 40 years! Are you doing a major kitchen remodeling job? If so, weeks before the job starts, I want you to do your dinner dishes in your bathtub. You’ll quickly discover that you’ll want to ask your contractor to set up a temporary kitchen in your garage or some other place in your home. This can be a bare-bones galley like you see on a commercial jet or in a submarine. The last thing you want is to be on your knees doing dishes in a tub. What about a bathroom remodel job? I clearly remember one of the first jobs I ever did was a bath remodel for a friend. His wife was quite pregnant and we set up a temporary shower and sink in their basement over the floor drain. Fortunately, the original builder back in the 1920s had installed a toilet in the basement. This makeshift bathroom sufficed until I presented them with their spiffy new bathroom. A major remodeling job may offer you a rare opportunity to make your home more comfortable. Many older homes had inferior heating systems that lacked sufficient return-air ducting for modern air conditioning. Currently, the rage is the mini-split. While these work well with open floor plan homes, they don’t work well for isolated rooms. I know this for a fact because I slept in an ice-cold bedroom in a brand-new apartment building equipped with a mini-split. A seasoned HVAC mechanic can cut a hole in the wall above bedroom doors and create a returnair pathway that connects to ductwork in a hallway soffit. This return air can often make it back to the air handler via a chase in a corner or in a closet. Talk to several different contractors, or me, if you need help figuring this out. Good luck with your remodel and remember, you can’t invest too much time in great plans! Opening a remodeling can of worms 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 Mon. Jan. 22 at 10:20am on AM1050 WLIP 4 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 COMEDY EVENTS COMEDY EVENTS5125 6th Avenue, Kenosha If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! f It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! FOR EVENT TICKETS & MORE ACTS VISIT HAP2IT.COM, STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 10AM-4PM OR CALL (262)564-8800 No Drink Minimum! UPCOMING: FEB 2/3 PETER ANTONIOU • FEB 9/10 MR. SHOWTIME • APRIL 19/20 RICH GUZZI DR. BILL MILLER 122823 JAN 26/27 ER PHYSICIAN & COMEDIAN MARY MACK/NATHAN “TRICKY” ALLEN JULIE MCCULLOUGH JAN 12/13 JAN LARRY REEB 19/20 RALPHIE ROBERTS DEC 29/30 JAN DWAYNE KENNEDY 5/6 UPCOMING: FEB 2/3 PETER ANTONIOU • FEB 9/10 MR. SHOWTIME • APRIL 19/20 RICH GUZZI NYE Dec. 31 Playmate Of The Month Feb 1986 With Very Special Guest Steve Casey 2019 EMMY AWARD WINNER
Can US prisons take a page from Norway? Five questions Earlier this year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new vision for the San Quentin State Penitentiary, centered on rehabilitation and job training, inspired by another prison system that has halved its recidivism rate – in Norway. The re-imagining of California’s most notorious prison, infamous for housing the nation’s largest death row population, could prove pivotal in how the United States rethinks rehabilitation and staff wellness within prisons. About 2 out of 3 Americans released from jails and prisons per year are arrested again, and 50% are re-incarcerated, according to the Harvard Political Review. In Norway, that rate is as low as 20%. As more U.S. states seek to improve their correctional systems, the Norwegian model could prove key. It aims to create a less hostile environment, both for people serving time and for prison staff, with the goal of more successfully helping incarcerated people reintegrate into society. Why are U.S. prisons in need of reform? While the United States makes up less than 5% of the global population, its prison system holds approximately 20% of the world’s total prison population. And even though it’s been on a slight decline since 2008, the total population of incarcerated Americans has increased by 500% since 1970, according to The Sentencing Project. “Overcrowding, violence, and long sentences are common in U.S. prisons, often creating a climate of hopelessness for incarcerated people, as well as people who work there,” says Jordan Hyatt, associate professor of criminology and justice studies at Drexel University. Correctional employees experience some of the highest rates of mental illness, sleep disorders, and physical health issues of all U.S. workers, a 2018 Lexipol report found. Nearly 19% of prison workers reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder – a rate six times higher than that found in the general population. Moreover, 100% of correctional officers were exposed to at least one VID (violence, injury, death) event during their career, according to a 2011 survey by the Department of Justice. So why try Norway’s model? Making a prison environment more humane will translate to a more efficient prison system overall, experts say. And the Norwegian model prioritizes rehabilitation and reintegration over punishment. Safety, transparency, and innovation are considered fundamental to its approach. Core practices aim to create a feeling that life as part of a community continues even behind walls and bars, says Synøve Andersen, postdoctoral research criminologist at the University of Oslo. In some Norwegian prisons, incarcerated people wear their own clothes, cook their own meals, and work in jobs that prepare them for employment, says Dr. Andersen. They have their own space, too, since singleunit cells are the norm. “There is a goal to provide people living in a unit together with a shared common space with a kitchen, washer and dryer, and lounging space,” she says. While critics argue that people in prison should not have access to daily comforts, Dr. Andersen disagrees. “Imprisonment, the deprivation of liberty itself, that is the punishment.” Instead, while they are separated from society, incarcerated people should experience normal, daily routines so they can have increased opportunities to reform without being preoccupied with fear of violence from other inmates, she argues. What does this mean for prison guards? The principle of dynamic security means correctional officers also must have more complex social duties besides safety and security, including actively observing and engaging with the prison population, understanding individuals’ unique needs, calculating flight risks, and developing individualized treatment plans. Washington state’s Lt. Lance Graham works within restricted housing and solitary confinement units, an environment he says lacks empathy and connection with those incarcerated. “We never had the opportunity to connect with the people in our care.” But when visiting Norway’s isolation units, he saw their staff was much more engaged with the prison population – and was much happier. “This program really promotes staff wellness, changing the relationship that you have with the people in your care,” says Lieutenant Graham. “So you’re not going to have as many instances of fight or flight syndrome in your daily work. You reach common ground and talk like normal folks.” “If you actually want to change the prison environment, invest in staff,” says Dr. Andersen. “They’re there all the time. They’re doing the work.” Who is trying the Norwegian model? Amend, a nonprofit from the University of California, San Francisco, partnered with four states – California, South Dakota, Oregon, and Washington – to introduce resources inspired by had left Zapruder, his newsroom learned that police officer J.D. Tippet had been fatally shot by the gunman. Payne then toured the book depository where the shots that killed Kennedy originated. He peered through the window that Lee Harvey Oswald looked through as he fixed his sights on the president's vehicle. "It was a very eerie feeling, knowing what we were seeing," he said. "We were seeing what the assassin saw looking out the window." He then saw where the rifle was recovered and listened to the superintendent of the book depository discuss one person that was missing from his work staff that day. That person was Oswald. After a brief trip to the newsroom, Payne was off to a rooming house where the suspect lived. He spoke with tenants who described the man they knew as O.H. Lee as a "loner" that "didn't mix with anybody." Payne continued to canvas the rooming house before returning to the newsroom at about 10 p.m. He expected he would have to give up his notes to another reporter but that reporter told him the story was his. Last month, Payne's book Behind The Scenes: Covering the JFK Assassination, was published. 'Two Days in Texas' The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is hosting a special exhibit to commemorate the 60-year anniversary of Kennedy's assassination. "Two Days in Texas" will be on display through June. "We look at the different cities and people he encountered through photos and artifacts," Fagin said. The exhibit features several artifacts that have never been on display to the public. One such artifact is an Eastern Airline sign that was displayed on the sky stairs that the Kennedys descended after arriving in Dallas. The same sign remained on the stairs just a few hours later when Kennedy's casket boarded the plane to D.C. "I find it to be very evocative. It represents how quickly world history changes and its devastating impact," Fagin said. Fagin hosted a conversation with Payne on Friday, one of several special events focused on telling the story of one of the darkest days in U.S. history. With witnesses to the assassination and the events that followed becoming fewer as time passes on, it falls to historians, educators, people like Fagin to keep the story alive. "An anniversary like this, I recognize this as the last major anniversary where the storytellers will be here," he said. By Joe Fisher Kennedy continued from page 2 story continues page 15 Officers Lance Graham and Nathan Stolen play cards with an incarcerated individual at Stafford Creek Corrections in Aberdeen, WA FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 5 Employment Opportunities Advertising Sales/ Event Promotions Graphic Designer We’re looking for a self starting, motivated individual who would like to join our team where no two days are alike. You will call on ad clients, help us plan events as well as assist with the operation of a successful comedy club. Qaam1050WLIP & Delivery Driver Looking for a part-time graphic designer that is familiar with Apple computers & has knowledge of design programs such as QuarkXpress & Adobe Photoshop. Must be available Wednesday afternoons & Thursday mornings plus have own vehicle & auto insurance. 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6 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 We’re told as children that words can’t harm us. That it’s important to know your worth and that those who sling verbal arrows are the lesser persons for doing so. There’s even a rhyme to this notion, instilled in most American children in elementary school: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words shall never hurt me.” But such adages to the virtues of turning the other cheek never met former President Donald Trump. Moreover, such a sentiment doesn’t account for the pivotal presidential election year we’re about to enter. A substantial portion of the nation is under a delusional spell. They are throwing their political support behind the former president, a man who is under four criminal indictments and who goaded a mob into a violent riot at the U.S. Capitol. They’re not hearing the words tumbling out of the disgraced former president’s mouth from the perspective of an immigrant, or really anyone who depends on what immigrants offer this country. That should be all of us. But again, in many respects, these aren’t rational times. And the problem isn’t Trump, yet. It’s that so many people willingly find solace in language that paints the presence of immigrants in the nation as a threat, as a potential undermining of a perceived dominance of The problem isn’t Trump and his tirade about immigrant bloodlines with Mary Sanchez Readers can reach Mary Sanchez at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @msanchezcolumn. We are constantly told how necessary it is to find the“root causes” of everything, from crime, to illegal immigration, to the wave of antisemitism spreading across many college campuses and in our streets. Often, this call to examine root causes is simply a distraction that avoids coming up with solutions. Let’s not kid ourselves that the resignation of the president of the University of Pennsylvania for her refusal to unequivocally denounce genocide against Jews (though Liz Magill will stay on as interim president until a replacement is found and will also remain a tenured professor ) is going to solve anything so long as this attitude prevails among many faculty members and the boards that hire university presidents. The latest involves a medical school panel at George Washington University which has defended Hamas’ “right of resistance.” It will likely not be the last as other universities confront the issue and their conduct codes. We are paying a price for the jettisoning of standards by which right and wrong, good and evil can be defined and judged. If everybody is right; if truth is subjective, then nothing can be said to be wrong which has brought us to the current moral chaos and intellectual flabbiness. C.S. Lewis knew right and wrong and how the wrong dominates when standards disappear. In his classic book “The Abolition of Man,” Lewis wrote: “ In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” It’s difficult to improve on that critique, but Lewis does in this quote that also has modern applications: “For every one pupil who needs to be guarded against a weak excess of sensibility there are three who need to be awakened from the slumber of cold vulgarity. The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts. The right defence against false sentiments is to inculcate just sentiments. By starving the sensibility of our pupils we only make them easier prey to the propagandist when he comes. For famished nature will be avenged and a hard heart is no infallible protection against a soft head.” The propagandists are in place throughout America’s education system, especially at the college level. The rotting intellectual fruit of their excesses can now be seen on campuses and in the streets as students and others who know little other than what they’ve been taught call for the elimination of the Jewish democratic state and the murder of Jews. Heil Hitler 2023! Lewis isn’t finished in his critique of academia: “A great many of those who ‘debunk’ traditional or (as they would say) ‘sentimental’ values have in the background values of their own which they believe to be immune from the debunking process.” This book was written in 1943 in the middle of World War II, a war that united Americans and Britons. When pictures of German death camps were published, the country was shocked and revolted. The Nazi hatred of Jews 80 years ago has been resurrected in our day. This, too, is revolting, especially as it comes from what are supposed to be institutions of “higher learning.” More like lower learning. If these excerpts leave you unpersuaded, try this one: “An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about the ultimate foundations either of Theoretical or of Practical Reason is idiocy. If a man’s mind is open on these things, let his mouth at least be shut…” Yes, a mind is a terrible thing to waste. It is also a terrible thing to lose. Root causes of lower learning with Cal Thomas Readers may email Cal Thomas at [email protected]. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America" my turn Mary Sanchez joins Happenings Q&A on Thu. Jan 4th at 10:20am on AM1050 WLIP A supporter of Donald Trump joins residents, students and parents gather for as protest in front of P.S. 188 in Coney Island which has recently begun housing asylum seekers in the school gym on May 16, 2023, in New York. Claudine Gay, President of Harvard University, testifies before the House Education and Workforce Committee. story continues on next page
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 7 With Christmas and New Year's a few days away, this should be time for a bit of cheer and goodwill toward all. But the dire conditions of the state of this union and its politics in a winter of discontent will require a great deal of good cheer to raise national spirits. Or, perhaps the consumption of large amounts of spirits is a better way to go. The House of Representatives has fled Washington, leaving only a few matters of somewhat important unfinished business on the table for the Senate. The aid bill for Ukraine and Israel is one. Border security remains a bipartisan national disgrace and a gaping wound spurting tens of thousands of immigrants into America every day. The first part of the Continuing Resolution expires on Jan. 19, the second on Feb. 2. If Congress cannot agree on a budget, government will shut down. Meanwhile, cultural issues continue to pose irreparable political divisions. Free speech is on the chopping block. Presidents of three of America's Ivy League universities were made to look like fools before Congress when none could separate free speech from hate speech or answer where the latter had no place on these campuses. The Texas Supreme Court found that a woman had no right to terminate a pregnancy that possibly threatened her life and certainly her health. She was forced to go out of state. And two states made it illegal for women to go out of state to terminate pregnancies, even for rape, incest and the life of the mother. That the court was enforcing the law made no difference. This is medieval justice. A Washington jury awarded $148 million to two plaintiffs for defamation wrought by former Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. That figure was absurd. It should have been five or 10 times that number to make an even greater point that this conduct is unacceptable, even though any award of that size is likely to be greatly reduced on appeal. Polls on America's mood are gloomy and worsening. Despite the good news the administration can report on unemployment, inflation reduction and increases in real income, President Joe Biden's approval rating is 34%. That matches only the subterranean levels of George W. Bush and Trump upon leaving office and the lowest since Richard Nixon resigned over Watergate in 1974. The war in Ukraine is deadlocked. However, because of its sheer size, momentum is moving toward Russia. Ukraine fatigue is setting in. No matter how much Biden says the United States is in for as long as it takes, we are not. The United States is simply running out of material such as ammunition to resupply Ukraine. So are our allies. Despite the justification for the offensive "to obliterate" Hamas after the horrendous terror attacks of Oct. 7, international attitudes and opinions have turned dramatically against Israel. Gaza is being leveled. Tens of thousands of Gazans have died, the majority being women and children. Many more will follow. Beyond Israel's military offensive, starvation, deprivation of power, water and medical treatment are exacerbated by disease. As conditions worsen, and on the current track they must, outbreaks of epidemic proportion are possible. That will only increase international criticism of Israel, especially over the holiday season. The Houthis' continued launching of missiles and drones in the Red Sea will trigger a response. The Biden administration has not publicly explained its strategy to prevent these strikes and how the United States will retaliate. A "task force" called Prosperity Guardian is being formed. How quickly will it act -- and how effectively -- remain to be seen, given that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have declined to participate. How we got here is less important than how the country retrieves itself from a very somber set of conditions at home and abroad. Ideally, with an election just over 10 months away, at least one candidate would emerge with some positive ideas for how to right the ship of state. But, on the Republican side, the candidates are torn over whether to condemn or praise Trump and not with offering sound proposals for governing. And Trump is only interested in sowing disruption by his too often use of incendiary language. Democrats are intent on raising the president's popularity ratings and ending the candidacy of possible opponents. Offering a platform of priorities and policies would be to Biden's advantage. A plan will not be an immediate solution. But it would be a good start. In America, it's the winter of discontent with Harlan Ullman my turn Dr Harlan Ullman is senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and the book "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Harlan Ullman joins Happenings Q&A on Thu., Jan. 4th at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP Polls on America’s mood are gloomy and worsening. native-born Americans. So the fact that Trump keeps repeating the accusation that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country” can’t go unaddressed. Words do matter. And Trump knows what he’s doing. Yes, he’s banking on liberals losing their minds over such comments. He gets mileage out of that. And many have already lost it, dragging the conversation into a gutter brawl by immediately comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler. Hitler pushed the world into war, murdering more than 6 million Jews who, yes, he first labeled as unfit, as being of a bloodline that would soil his version of Aryan purity. It’s disgusting that Trump is even verbally trolling in the same space. But we’re not there yet. Not by a longshot. Thank God. What’s needed is a far more even-toned, patient explanation as to why such vocabulary is so offensive, and more importantly, an acknowledgement that many Americans don’t understand the offense. Because it’s their denial, or lack of regard, that is the canary in the coal mine, chirping about trouble ahead. Trump can spew whatever he wants. He’s hopeful that voters and their gullibility about his tirades on immigrants will lead him back into the White House. Their defense of his indefensible actions and ideas is how attitudes about some people being more worthy than others seeps into policy and law. It’s already happening. The Senate has just recessed for the holidays without passing what might be the largest overhaul of immigration law in decades. And the changes don’t fix many of the aspects of our outdated laws that need shifting. No, Republicans in the chamber want to double down on limiting visas, on building a physical wall at the border, as if medieval moats are a better defense than our increasing technological capability. With the latter, we can monitor vast stretches of the border and oversee the safe transit of billions of dollars in goods crossing our southern border daily. And scrap the insistence that Trump is only speaking of “some” immigrants – of those who are deemed to arrive “the wrong way,” without documents. If you want to know how little someone understands immigration law, then listen to them howl about legal versus illegal immigrants. Truly, this is all a red flag. Immigration law is incredibly complex. Legality is a status. Immigration courts differ from our civil and criminal systems. Legal status can be gained or lost with a stroke of a pen. People lapse into being undocumented via backlogs in our system, by bad advice from an attorney, or by overstaying a visa. Their blood doesn’t change. Their moral fiber doesn’t decay. Nor does their humanity. It also matters little if Trump has or has not read Mein Kampf, Hitler’s manifesto, which used similar language. Trump claims that he didn’t. Doesn’t matter. He probably doesn’t read at all. He understands intuitively that painting immigrants as inferior, as a nebulous danger to people with the good luck of being born in the U.S. makes them into an easy target. Immigrants are a timeworn, easy pickings scapegoat for all that ails his future voters. People are falling prey to Trump’s magical thinking. It’s as if they truly think that hearing fewer foreign languages will suddenly make their children wake up knowing how to code. Or that seeing fewer signs in Spanish will lower their property taxes. And the boss will suddenly offer them a raise. It’s nonsensical. It’s also the path to Trump being reelected. So yes, words do matter. But it’s what the words lead the unknowing voter to do in 2024 that matters more. Sanchez continued from page 6
8 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 The early start to the retail holiday season has seeped into financial markets. As of this writing, stock indexes have completed seven consecutive winning weeks, ushering in the “Santa Claus rally” in late October, rather than in December. Santa fired up his sled around Halloween and has been sprinkling holiday magic on financial markets, as evidence emerged that inflation is slowing and the Fed is gearing up to start cutting interest rates. The fourth-quarter advance has been a relief for investors, many of whom are still feeling the sting of 2022, a year when the S&P 500 fell 19.4 percent and the techheavy NASDAQ tumbled by 33.1%. Last year was doubly painful because bonds did not provide ballast against the poor performance of stocks, with the S&P aggregate bond index down 12%. In a notable comeback, stocks have come charging back: the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 37,000 and reached a new all-time high; the S&P 500 is now within 1.6% of its all-time high, reached on January 3, 2022, and is up more than 22% on the year; and the Nasdaq Composite, the biggest loser of 2022, has put up a new all-time high, ahead by more than 40% on the year. Bond investors have endured a wild ride in 2023, as the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond rose above the 5% level for the first time in 16 years, pushing prices down. But since late October, yields have come down and prices are higher, putting investors on track for a positive return of more than 4.5% on the year, as measured by the S&P U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. In thinking about the last two years, there are three specific lessons that are helpful in contemplating your next action: 1. You STILL can’t time the market… REALLY! After the 2022 wash-out, there were many investors who bailed out of their longterm strategies and sought the protection of safe assets, like high yielding savings and money market accounts, CDs, and Treasury bills, all of which were finally paying a decent amount of interest. I heard from a lot of those folks, who would regale me with their game plans that went something like, “I got out stocks and bonds and went to cash (I’m getting 5%!!!), but I plan to get back in when things get better.” Of course, this is the fallacy of attempting to time the market: Those people probably felt great, until recently. Now as we approach the end of the year and stock and bond markets have regained their footing, many will be forced to buy back into their positions, but at much higher levels, or stay in cash, as rates dwindle in the future. 2. Picking individual stocks is hard A year ago, the technology sector was on its heels. Profits were down, layoffs were up, and investors were trying to figure out the next great sector. And yet, last year’s losers have become this year’s BIG winners. They have been dubbed “The Magnificent Seven” (Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, NVIDIA, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla) and together, they are up around 70% year to date. Of course, if you own the S&P 500 index, you have a piece of the action, but if your expensive fund manager was not a believer in tech’s resurgence, you missed out. Another reason to own low fee and tax efficient index mutual and exchange-traded funds. 3. Boring is good…and works The big investor takeaway from the last two years is to stick to your diversified portfolio of cheap funds over the long term and you will stay out of trouble. Santa Claus came early with Jill Schlesinger jill on money Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBS News business analyst. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, she welcomes comments and questions at [email protected]. Santa fired up his sled around Halloween and has been sprinkling holiday magic on financial markets ever since, writes Jill Schlesinger. In a recent talk about my book, The Great Money Reset, there were some notable questions which I think are worth covering before you start working on your 2024 life and financial resolutions. Why do people want to Reset? People seek to change direction for lots of different reasons. There are those who start a career with high hopes and then quickly realize that their expectations are out of whack with reality. Others are happy for decades, but at some point, become burned out. There are also many who toil away and recognize that they may have an opportunity to do something completely different and want to take a leap and do it. Sometimes these desires percolate over time, while in other cases there is a prompt — or a nudge… like a life event (birth, death, marriage, divorce) or an external wake up call, like a natural disaster or a once-ina-century pandemic. I feel stuck — How can I start the process? To reset to a new place, you have to understand where you are today. Only then can you break through and take meaningful action. Take a good, hard look at what you own, what you owe, your total income and how much you are spending. The process should provide you with more control, allowing you to take smarter, more thoughtful, and perhaps more nuanced risks. What if a spouse/partner can’t get on board with a Reset? The sand in the gears of change can be our doubting selves, a spouse, or a wellmeaning family member. They might be worried that a Reset could upend the status quo, even if the status quo is not ideal. Presuming that you have run the numbers and have concrete proof that a Reset is possible, then it is possible that you, your partner or whoever is casting doubt on the plan, is simply fearful of change. This is a totally NORMAL response, and one that can be overcome, perhaps with the assistance of an objective third party, like a fiduciary financial adviser, or maybe even a psychologist. Do you miss your former career and being an entrepreneur? This question followed my recounting of my 2008-2009 Reset. For the prior 14 years, I had owned and operated a successful independent financial advisory firm, but felt unsettled. I interrogated which parts of my career that I liked and importantly, what I did not like. In the process, I realized that helping clients work towards their financial goals was fulfilling; and the media work that I was doing was a fun and challenging way to reach even more people. However, owning and operating a company was not for me. (You have to read the book for the full story!) The good news is that my Reset allows me to talk to real people about their financial goals, and to help them navigate whatever stands in the way of achieving what they want. I also am able to demystify some of the news of the day and deliver it in ways that make sense to a broad audience. As far as my entrepreneurial spirit, it is alive and well! I am able to explore new opportunities and ways to expand my platform. The most recent example is the launch of a new weekly YouTube show called Jill on Money powered by The Compound. The program came about after I appeared on an episode of an investing podcast called The Compound and Friends, hosted by the dynamic duo of Josh Brown and Michael Batnick. The three of us recognized that we had something special together and began working on ways to collaborate, which is how many business ideas become realities. What’s preventing your Reset? with Jill Schlesinger To reset to a new place, you have to understand where you are today. Only then can you break through and take meaningful action, writes Jill Schlesinger.
SMART READER DECEMBER 28, 2023 9 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 The 2020 to 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out, updated every five years. This edition urges us to make every bite count -- to think about how everything we eat and drink makes a difference. There are five important recommendations, which probably sound familiar: -- Follow a healthy eating pattern. A healthy eating pattern and an appropriate calorie level will help you get the nutrition you need, achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and reduce your risk of chronic diseases. -- Focus on variety, nutrient density and amount. To meet your nutrient needs and stay within your calorie limit, choose a variety of nutrient-dense foods across all food groups. Nutrientdense foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fat-free or lowfat dairy products. -- Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats, and cut back on sodium. -- Shift to healthier food and beverage choices. Choose nutrient-dense foods and beverages across all food groups in place of less healthy choices. -- Support healthy eating patterns for all. Everyone has a responsibility for supporting healthy eating in all settings, such as at home, work, school or wherever food is available. So, what's different about the new guidelines? -- Emphasis on adopting a plant-forward diet. -- Encouragement to consume less red and processed meat. -- Acknowledgement that an egg a day is OK. -- Clear-cut advice that less sugar consumption is recommended for you and your baby. For adults, added sugars should make up no more than 10% of daily calories (about 200 calories a day for a 2,000-calorie diet, or about 12 teaspoons of sugar for the day). And for the first time, the guidelines recommend no added sugar for children younger than age 2. -- Advice on what babies from birth to age 2 should be eating for the first time since 1985 -- what to eat by life stages. -- Encouragement of physical activity, plus healthy eating, for adults ages 19- 59. (Aim for 150-300 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly, plus activity that builds muscle.) -- Acknowledgment that adults 60 and older have lower caloric needs but similar or higher nutrient needs, hence the emphasis on "every bite counts." Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Ill. food & recipes Making Every Bite Count Nutrition News with Charlyn Fargo Servings: 4 (2 cups each) 1 cup uncooked farro 2 1/2 cups water or vegetable stock 1/2 pound California strawberries, hulled and sliced 1 ripe avocado, diced 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled 2 tablespoon blush or red wine vinegar 2 tablespoon olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoon honey Pinch sea salt Pinch freshly cracked black pepper In a medium saucepan, bring water or stock to a boil. Add farro, and simmer, covered, 25-30 minutes. Remove from heat, and drain any remaining liquid. Let farro cool completely. Add cooled farro to a large bowl with sliced California strawberries, diced avocado, basil leaves and crumbled goat cheese. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients (vinegar through pepper). Pour over farro salad. Gently toss to coat. Serve or refrigerate until ready to serve. Per serving: 326 calories; 10 grams protein; 40 grams carbohydrates; 16 grams fat (4 grams saturated); 18 milligrams cholesterol (5 grams sugar); 7 grams fiber; 245 milligrams sodium. Strawberry Avocado Farro Salad Makes about 22 cookies 1/3 cup granulated sugar (about 2 1/2 ounces; 71 grams), plus 1/2 cup for dipping 2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (11 1/4 ounces; 319 grams) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon table salt 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened but still cool 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar (about 2 1/2 ounces; 71 grams) 1 large egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup molasses (about 6 ounces; 170 grams), light or dark • Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1/2 cup sugar for dipping in an 8-inch or a 9-inch cake pan. • Whisk flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined; set aside. • In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter with brown and granulated sugars at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low and add yolk and vanilla; increase speed to medium and beat until incorporated, about 20 seconds. Reduce speed to medium-low and add molasses; beat until fully incorporated, about 20 seconds, scraping bottom and sides of bowl once with rubber spatula. • Reduce speed to lowest setting; add flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bowl down once. Give dough final stir with rubber spatula to ensure that no pockets of flour remain at bottom. Dough will be soft. • Using tablespoon measure, scoop heaping tablespoon of dough and roll between palms into 1 1/2-inch ball; drop ball into cake pan with sugar and repeat to form about four balls. Toss balls in sugar to coat and set on a prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining dough. • Bake one sheet at a time until cookies are browned, still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft (cookies will look raw between cracks and seem underdone), about 11 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. • Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool cookies to room temperature and serve. (They can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or zipper-lock plastic bag up to five days.) Soft & Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies Our ideal molasses cookie recipe would produce a charmingly crackled and crinkled cookie with an uncommonly moist, chewy interior and a spicy flavor with undertones of dark, bittersweet molasses. To make this molasses cookie recipe a reality, we started with all-purpose flour and used butter rather than shortening for full, rich flavor. The precise right amounts of molasses, brown sugar, vanilla, and spices gave us the flavor we wanted. Taking the cookies out of the oven when they looked underdone gave our molasses cookies the chewiness we required.
10 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Dear Cathy, We have six cats and two dogs. My dilemma is one of our cats is severely overweight. Their feeding is free-range, which works for five of the cats. Cat number six, Tiny, though, is over 18 pounds. He waddles and is so large. The weight affects his breathing, and when he uses the bathroom, he soils himself. He cannot clean his back end at all. We have tried to pick up food bowls when the other five are not asking for food, so that Tiny doesn't help himself to their food. Tiny has his own feeding station with measured food for the day. When we were picking up food during the day, though, the other five cats lost weight they could not afford to lose, but Tiny never seemed to lose any. We love Tiny very much and would hate to lose him due to his unhealthy weight. Please help. We’re willing to do almost anything to help Tiny be healthier. — Rathje, Fredericksburg, Virginia Dear Rathje, There are many reasons for cat obesity, including low-quality diets, lack of exercise, illnesses like hypothyroidism, and medications. Be sure to have Tiny checked by a vet for medical causes, since treatment could help stabilize his weight. The next step is to address Tiny’s diet. There are over-thecounter and prescription weight management cat foods that have fewer calories per volume, which will keep him satiated too. Wet food also has fewer calories per volume than dry food, so a simple switch like that may help. A veterinarian should oversee any food changes or restrictions to ensure Tiny continues to receive proper nutrition. Another suggestion is to purchase automatic feeders for every cat. I know that can be costly for six cats, but they do help when trying to manage an individual cat’s food consumption in a home with multiple cats. These automatic feeders connect to each cat's microchip and will only open if the cat with the matching microchip stands in front of the bowl. Cats learn quickly which feeder belongs to them and where they need to stand to get the feeder to open. This is often the best option to control consumption for one cat while at the same time ensuring all the cats continue to get proper nutrition. Finally, make sure Tiny is getting enough exercise. Play with Tiny three times a day for 10 minutes each time. Use toys that encourage Tiny to wiggle and pounce. If Tiny is open to walking on a harness, you can take him for walks in the backyard too. Most of all don’t get discouraged. Weight loss should be very gradual. Each little step you take will help Tiny regain his health. Dear Cathy, As the mom of a 15-year-old Schnoodle, I look forward to your column in Newsday each week. I was hoping that you could address a particular issue. Every day on Facebook, in the newspaper, and on posters, there are stories of heartbroken owners who have lost their pets. I don’t understand how any owner who loves their pet does not always keep a collar with identifying information on it. My Henri (actually Henrietta) wears a collar with our phone number printed on it and a small tag attached to the collar with her name and our phone number. The collar is lightweight, and the tag is plastic, which never bothers her. She wears her collar 24/7 (except for baths and grooming), and it has never caused her a problem or irritation. She also has a microchip, but if someone did find her, it would be much easier for them to call our number from the tag. Yet every day, there are dogs found lost and injured without any identification on them and stories of owners desperately looking for them. Putting a tag on one’s pet is such a simple thing to do, but so important. I can't understand how any loving pet owner would neglect to have identification on their dog at all times in case the unexpected does happen. It breaks my heart to see photos of these “beloved pets” sitting in shelters frightened and bewildered. Thanks for letting me vent. — Donna, Massapequa, New York Dear Donna, Well said. A collar and a tag are the simplest things any pet owner can do to ensure their pet's safe return home. Since collars can sometimes wiggle off lost dogs and cats, microchipping one's pet is essential too. Giving an ID tag and/or a gift certificate for a microchip would make for a great gift for friends and family with pets. Pet World with Cathy Rosenthal Helping an overweight cat when there are multiple cats in the house As well as being a recuring guest on Happenings Q&A, Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to [email protected]. Cathy Rosenthal joins Happenings Q&A on Thu. Jan. 11th at 9:20 on AM1050 WLIP. Lost dog found after 6 1/2 years living on her own in the woods A dog who fled from her new family within 24 hours of being adopted was found in England after living on her own in the woods for more than 6 years. Lost Dog Recovery UK South said team members were alerted to a stray dog in Crawley Down, West Sussex, in late November, so cameras were set up to investigate whether it was a loose canine or a pet that was allowed to roam free. They discovered the dog was a black Patterdale terrier, and neighbors told the rescuers they had been feeding the stray dog for years. The dog was lured into a trap baited with chicken, and the rescue group was shocked to learn the canine had been reported missing 6 1/2 years earlier by a family who had adopted her fewer than 24 hours before she fled. The dog, named Rose, was determined to be 12 years old now and had lived half of her life in the woods after fleeing from her family. Rescuers said the family who originally adopted Rose were unable to take her back, as their circumstances have changed, but they were happy to hear she was found alive and well. The group said Rose will now be cared for by Last Chance Animal Rescue in Edenbridge and will be available for adoption soon. Deer runs through restaurant during lunch rush Security cameras were rolling at a Mississippi restaurant when a deer crashed in through a window and turned the lunch rush into a dine-anddash. Footage from the Mi Pueblo eatery in Pontotoc shows diners scrambling to get out of the way of the deer as it runs through the dining room and past the buffet. Restaurant staff can be seen attempting to chase the deer out of the eatery, but he animal ended up with its own exit strategy and jumped out through a different window. Kamen Campbell of Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries said its currently the mating season for deer, causing them to behave unpredictably. Wildlife experts 'stumped' by unusually tiny bear cub in Arizona Wildlife experts in Arizona said they are "stumped" by an abnormally small bear cub that weighs just 15 pounds at nearly a year old, but seems perfectly healthy. Bearizona Wildlife Park said on social media that the cub was rescued from a Tucson neighborhood last week, but experts at the park and Arizona Game and Fish were shocked by the bear's small size. The little bear weighs just 15 pounds, despite being nearly a year old. "Bear cubs in the United States are all born close to January or February, so this little fella should be around 70 pounds this time of year," Dave O'Connell, Bearizona's chief operating officer, said in a news release. Arizona Game and Fish spokesman Mark Hart said state experts are equally stumped. "The bear weighs 15 pounds, a 15- pound bear should be about four or five months old. The math doesn't work," he said. Hart said the department is equally stumped by the mystery of the bear's origins. "If it got separated from its mother, regardless of why in the backcountry, how did a bear that small get all of the way off the mountain?" Hart said. "We would have thought that a bear that size would have been picked off by a predator. A coyote, a mountain lion, or even another bear." He said the cub also appears perfectly comfortable around humans. "We will never know the whole story, but if someone illegally fed this cub for months, it could explain his comfort around humans. It might also explain why he is so small," Hart said. The cub's elf-like stature and rescue so close to Christmas led Bearizona staff to name him Buddy. Buddy was introduced to the public for the first time last Friday in a special quarantine area.
‘Soft landing’ for economy? Federal Reserve pivots on interest rates. The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Dec. 13 for a third straight time, and its officials signaled that they expect to make three quarter-point cuts to their benchmark rate next year. The Fed’s message Dec. 13 strongly suggested that it is finished with rate hikes – after the fastest increases in four decades – and is edging closer to cutting rates as early as next summer. Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell said that Fed officials are likely done raising rates because of how steadily inflation has cooled. “Inflation keeps coming down, the labor market keeps getting back into balance and, it’s so far, so good,” Mr. Powell said after the Fed’s 19-member policy committee ended its latest meeting. On Wall Street, traders celebrated the prospect of lower rates ahead. Stock prices soared and bond yields sank after the Fed issued its statement and Mr. Powell held his news conference. Dec. 13 marked a major shift in the central bank’s outlook on interest rates and the economy. Just two weeks ago, Mr. Powell had said it was “premature” to conclude that the Fed has finished raising its key benchmark rate or to “speculate” about cuts in that rate. But on Dec. 13, he signaled that the Fed is almost certainly done raising rates. And he acknowledged that the officials had discussed the prospect of rate reductions in their meeting. He also conceded that his warning, in a high-profile speech last year, that the “pain” of higher unemployment would accompany a sharp decline in inflation, was overly pessimistic. Instead, inflation has slowed significantly toward the Fed’s 2% target, even while unemployment, at 3.7%, and the pace of layoffs, have remained low. In response to a question, Mr. Powell said the Fed recognizes that keeping rates high for too long, and waiting too long to cut them, could endanger the economy. “We’re aware of the risk that we would hang on too long” before reducing borrowing rates, the Fed chair said. “We know that’s a risk, and we’re very focused on not making that mistake.” Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, said she thought the Fed’s message Dec. 13 was: “We’re done.” The Fed, she said, has the “luxury” of leaving rates elevated, for now, in case the economy and inflation reaccelerate, “while declaring that they’re done hiking, and that cuts are in the making.” Wall Street investors are betting that rate cuts could begin as soon as March, while economists generally foresee them beginning in May or June. Throughout his news conference, Mr. Powell expressed optimism that inflation, which has bedeviled American consumers and businesses for more than two years, is edging down toward the Fed’s 2% target. He noted, by example, that inflation has eased in goods, housing, and services – three categories the Fed has been closely monitoring. The Fed chair downplayed one concern that some economists have expressed – that the final step down to 2% inflation, from its current level of about 3%, could be harder than the previous slowdowns in price increases. “We kind of assume that that it will get harder from here,” he said. “But so far it hasn’t.” The Fed kept its benchmark rate at about 5.4%, its highest level in 22 years, a rate that has led to much higher costs for mortgages, auto loans, business borrowing, and many other forms of credit. Higher mortgage rates have sharply reduced home sales. Spending on appliances and other expensive goods that people often buy on credit has also declined. Conversely, interest rate cuts by the Fed, whenever they happen, would reduce borrowing costs across the economy. Stock prices could rise, too, though share prices have already rallied in expectation of rate cuts, potentially limiting any further increases. So far, the Fed has achieved what few observers had thought possible a year ago: Inflation has tumbled without an accompanying surge in unemployment or a recession, which typically coincide with a central bank’s efforts to cool the economy and curb inflation. Though inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, it has declined faster than Fed officials had expected, allowing them to keep rates unchanged and wait to see if price increases continue to ease. On Dec. 13, the Fed’s quarterly economic projections showed that its officials envision a “soft landing” for the economy, in which inflation would continue its decline toward the central bank’s 2% target without causing a steep downturn. The forecasts showed that the policymakers expect to cut their benchmark rate to 4.6% by the end of 2024 – three quarter-point reductions from its current level. A sharp economic slowdown could prompt even faster rate reductions. So far, though, there is no sign that a downturn is imminent. In its quarterly projections, the Fed’s policymakers now expect Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference on Dec. 13, 2023 story continues page 15 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 11 122123 Mary Mack For More Information Visit Hap2it.com or Call 262-564-8800 M-F 10AM-4PM Nathan “Tricky” Allen Yesterday’s Children Overnight play & stay package starting at $119 plus tax Call 262-654-3281 5125 6th AVE. 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A hybrid of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Mary Mack is a talented comedian/voice actor with appearances on:Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Conan, Last Call with Carson Daly and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.And voices characters in: Solar Opposites, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Kidd, Golan the Insatiable Back by popular demand and one of our most requested feature comedians! Kenosha's own funny nurse comes to the rescue! She'll be making sure we get a full dose of fun when she hosts our Karaoke/Dance Party! Smartass blend of sleight-of-hand magic, stand-up comedy, dangerous tricks, and hilarious audience interaction. 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12 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 As disasters grow in scale, is government aid fairly distributed? When it comes to natural disasters, 2023 has been a record setter. From the Maui wildfires to Hurricane Idalia to California flooding, 25 confirmed weather disasters in the United States so far this year have racked up losses exceeding $1 billion, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. That’s triple the amount for an average year since 1980. And, although 2023 lags behind other years in the total dollar-value of damages, the four-decade trend is clear: bigger storms, translating into bigger spending in recovery efforts. In August, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the government agency responsible for disaster aid, announced its reserves were running low, prompting the Biden administration to request an additional $4 billion to get the agency through the end of the year. The request was granted in September, but there is an added twist. The impact of natural disasters and the federal funding that follows are not always distributed equitably. The agency is responding to pressure to address that challenge. What is FEMA and how does it operate? The agency is responsible for coordinating government relief efforts for natural disasters and emergencies. The governor of a U.S. state or territory must ask the president to declare a natural disaster or state of emergency and then authorize emergency relief funding. The federal government contributes 80% to relief effort costs while local governments cover the remaining 20%. Stephen Flynn, founding director of the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University, describes FEMA as an operational agency. “It’s all about the paperwork that allows the federal government to pick up the cost of getting water, getting shelter, and getting things put back together again,” he says. In recent years the White House began preemptively declaring natural disasters, says Mr. Flynn, in order to speed up the process of communities receiving aid. How is FEMA adapting to meet a changing climate? Congress has updated or reformed the nation’s emergency management systems a number of times in response to disasters, including some that scientists consider amplified by humancaused warming of Earth’s climate. Legislation after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, plus the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, focused on enhancing FEMA preparedness and enabling faster assistance to affected people. Some experts have raised the idea that it’s unsustainable to keep rebuilding the same areas that are prone to disasters. With flood risks rising for many Americans, the Department of Homeland Security submitted legislative proposals to reform FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program in April 2023. The proposed changes aim to keep flood insurance affordable while also keeping the program fiscally sound and addressing the risk of “repetitive loss properties,” the agency says. Is FEMA relief distributed fairly? The agency’s five-year The registration desk at the local FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Farmersville, California Congress ends 2023 as most inactive year since Great Depression The 118th Congress is nearing the end of its first year by hitting a historical mark for inactivity: The U.S. House and Senate have passed 22 pieces of legislation, the lowest tally since the Great Depression. The 72nd Congress passed 21 bills that were signed into law by President Herbert Hoover in the year beginning in March 1931, but lawmakers did not meet until the final three months of their first year. Congressional sessions started convening in January in 1933 with the adoption of the 20th Amendment. In 1931, 14 members died between Election Day and the first day of Congress, about a 13-month span. When their seats were filled, the majority had flipped from Republicans to Democrats. This year, according to the congressional public law website, the U.S. House has voted on 724 pieces of legislation. The U.S. Senate held 352 votes. Of the 12,103 bills introduced, the 22 enacted represent a 0.001% success rate. Though some hope remains: The Senate is expected to take up additional support to Ukraine in its defense against Russia before leaving Washington for the holidays. Some Republicans have pushed for Ukraine support to be tied to immigration reform, creating the threat of a standstill. Year of tumult The first week in session was tumultuous in the House as members of the Republican majority nearly came to blows in an attempt to name a speaker. After 15 votes, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., emerged the leader. Among the first tests for McCarthy was to negotiate a debt ceiling bill that would pass the Senate and be signed by President Joe Biden. Talks with Biden kicked off in February, but the bill was not signed until June 3. It was the first of three bills that would avoid what officials said would be a national economic crisis. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the United States would default on its debts if it did not raise or suspend the debt limit by June 5. The bill required support from Democrats in the House to pass, setting the stage for conflict between McCarthy and a group of House Republicans. In October, that conflict came to a head. In late September, McCarthy passed a continuing resolution to temporarily avert a government shutdown. Again, it passed with support from Democrats. On Oct. 1, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to remove McCarthy as speaker. Eight Republicans voted with House Democrats to remove McCarthy, leaving the speakership vacant for a record 21 days. McCarthy has since announced he will leave the House at the end of the year. Before McCarthy's announcement, Gaetz filed an ethics complaint against him, accusing him of elbowing Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., in the back on Nov. 14. Burchett was one of the Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., pulls Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., back as they talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as the House struggled to elect a speaker on January 6. story continues page 15 story continues page 15
Do you jump for joy when the snow starts flying? Do you grab the sleds and head to the nearest sledding hill? Here are two tips to keep in mind during a Kenosha winter. One: it doesn’t have to snow to enjoy downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing at Wilmot Mountain. They make their own snow! Two: when it does snow, you can rent snowshoes at Pringle Nature Center to use at Bristol Woods Park. We have it all here in Kenosha County during the winter - including downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fat tire biking in the snow, and skating on an outdoor ice rink (at Veterans Memorial Park). When the conditions are right, you can go ice fishing. If you want to give it a try, January 20-21 is Free Fishing Weekend in Wisconsin. Residents and non-residents are not required to have a fishing license or trout/salmon stamps. All other current fishing regulations apply. There are numerous inland lakes for fishing. Stay safe out there! Winter hikes can be so peaceful! Enjoy a walk at Bristol Woods Park. Pringle Nature Center at the park will host a Groundhog Day Celebration on February 2 and a Valentine's Candlelight Night Hike on February 9. Richard Bong State Recreation Area offers these upcoming programs: First Day Hike on January 1, Owl Prowl and Encounter on January 6, Return to Romance on February 10 (which includes a winter hike, campfire, and music), and a Winter Tracks Hike on February 17. While you can purchase a daily vehicle admission sticker to visit Bong, the beginning of the year is the perfect time to purchase an annual vehicle admission sticker. It’s good at all Wisconsin state parks, forests, and recreation areas (dnr.wisconsin.gov). Enjoy a walk around Downtown Kenosha on January 27 for the Snow Daze Festival. Watch as ice artists from Art Below Zero create a one-of-a-kind ice sculpture and enjoy the dozens of ice sculptures on display in front of local businesses. Whether it’s for a day or you have a season pass, Wilmot Mountain offers great hills and terrain parks. Group and private lessons are offered for skiing and snowboarding. Equipment rentals, a repair shop, a retail shop, and dining options are available on-site. Snow tubes are included in the snow tubing ticket price. The cool thing about snow tubing there? Surface conveyor lifts take you and your tube back up the hill! It’s recommended you plan ahead and reserve your time when visiting Wilmot Mountain. Go to VisitKenosha.com/Winter to learn more about winter fun in the Kenosha Area! As you are out and about, snap photos and submit your favorite ones to our annual Picture Your Kenosha Photo Contest. Each year we select three winners who are awarded bragging rights and a dining experience for two at a local restaurant. We use photo contest photos on our social media accounts, in our Kenosha Area Visitors Guide, and more locations. Go to VisitKenosha.com/Photos to enter the contest! Consider helping others stay warm this winter. Visit Kenosha’s "Bundle Up Kenosha" winter-wear collection drive is accepting new and gently used coats, gloves, scarves, and hats, as well as new socks. Donations are being accepted at our Visitor Information Center at 600 52nd Street, Suite 140, and the Wisconsin Welcome Center – Kenosha at I-94/41 and Hwy. 165. All items donated will remain in our community. Go to VisitKenosha.com/BundleUp for more details. Find fun faster! Be sure to use our website VisitKenosha.com when looking for #KenoshaFun. Visit Kenosha has been Kenosha’s official travel resource since 1986. Head outdoors this winter by Meridith Jumisko, Visit Kenosha Meridith Jumisko is Public Relations Director at Visit Kenosha. 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14 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am an African American woman in her 40s. I recently had a well-woman checkup done and was told that I also should have a cardiac workup. Although I don’t eat as healthy as I should and high blood pressure and cholesterol run in my family, I have not begun menopause yet. Why do I need to be concerned about heart disease now? ANSWER: Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women in the U.S. Many African American women are not aware of that fact or that African American women have an even higher risk of dying from heart disease — and at a younger age — than white women, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Each year, more African American women die from heart disease than breast cancer, lung cancer and strokes combined. But many do not realize the factors that increase their risk of developing heart disease or that they are at increased risk. African American women face a high burden of negative social determinants of health. Although it may not apply to you specifically, it is valuable to help bring awareness of how issues such as chronic stress related to food insecurity, racism, the wealth gap and socioeconomically disenfranchised communities can prevent some people from living a healthy lifestyle and controlling many heart disease risk factors. There is an increased awareness in trying to change the narrative on heart health and African American women. It is commendable that your health care professional proactively noted your risk, regardless of whether you are dealing with any of these specific health disparities. I recommend that all women follow heart disease prevention strategies and consider the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 to achieve ideal heart health: Manage blood pressure. Statistics tell us that African Americans have the highest hypertension rates in the world. Untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems. Given your family history, it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Control cholesterol. While national guidelines for women, in general, recommend screenings for cholesterol at age 45, if you have a known risk for coronary artery disease, screening earlier is appropriate. This can guide any additional tests that may be needed to check for specific areas of concern related to the heart’s function. Reduce blood sugar. Diabetes is a significant heart disease risk factor for African Americans. At least annually, your blood glucose level should be checked. If you do have diabetes, be proactive with your management. Get active. African American women are the least physically active group of women in the U.S. Embrace being physically active if you can. Guidelines recommend 150 minutes of vigorous activity a week, which can be challenging for many women. You can start small. Just keep moving. Eat better. Familiarize yourself with the Mediterranean diet. It was noted that heart disease is not as common in Mediterranean countries as it is in the U.S. Numerous studies have confirmed that the Mediterranean diet helps prevent heart disease and stroke. Plant-based foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, are the foundation of the diet. Olive oil is the main source of added fat. Fish, seafood, dairy and poultry are included in moderation. Red meat and sweets are eaten only occasionally. Lose weight. Obesity can affect the heart’s ability to pump effectively. Take measures to lose and manage weight to reduce the risk for cardiac conditions. Stop smoking. One of the best things you can do for your heart is to stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco. Even if you’re not a smoker, be sure to avoid secondhand smoke. Chemicals in tobacco can damage the heart and blood vessels. Cigarette smoke reduces the oxygen in the blood, which increases blood pressure and heart rate because the heart has to work harder to supply enough oxygen to the body and brain. Get healthy sleep. Insomnia and sleep apnea are linked to high blood pressure and heart disease, and also can increase the risk of stroke. Lack of sleep also can affect weight. For people with diabetes, good sleep habits can help improve blood sugar. Personally, I always recommend that African American women be diligent in protecting their hearts, and that also includes taking time for themselves. Selfcare really does matter, and that includes scheduling a heart health checkup at an earlier age. Make heart health a priority now. — LaPrincess Brewer, M.D., Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Mayo Clinic African Americans and heart health health 'Morning-after' pill sales surge day after New Years' Eve, research shows Even Valentine's Day apparently doesn't trump the start of a brand new year when it comes to getting frisky. Sales of the morning-after pill surged across the United States after New Year 2022, new research shows. Nearly 41,000 extra pills were sold in the following week, a period linked to increased risks of unprotected sex. Sales of emergency contraception also rose after other holidays such as Valentine's and Independence Day but not as much, a team led by Brandon Wagner of Texas Tech University report in the Christmas issue of the BMJ. While the annual New Year's sale spike might seem funny, Wagner's team points out in a journal news release that "it is indicative of unmet contraceptive need that calls for further attention" amid tightened restrictions on abortions in many U.S. states. The increased sexual activity associated with New Year's is less likely to be protected due to increased drinking, they point out. New Year's Eve has also been linked to increased rates of sexual assault and limited access to other forms of birth control because clinics, medical offices and shops close early or altogether. For the new study, researchers analyzed retail scan data for levonorgestrel, an over-the-counter medication available without age restrictions. While effective when taken within as many 96, and possibly 120, after unprotected sex, it's more likely to work the sooner it is taken. This makes timely access important, researchers said. They focused on sales in the week after New Year's Eve 2016 to 2022 in U.S. retail outlets. Weekly sales were divided by the number of females between 15 and 44 years of age. In 2022, sales of levonorgesterel rose overall by 0.63 units per 1,000 women, which equated to almost 41,000 extra pills. Valentine's Day and the Fourth of July also saw a surge - but smaller ones, 0.31 units and 0.20 units, respectively per 1,000 women. St. Patrick's Day was associated with a 0.14 increase. No surges in sales were linked with Mother's Day or Father's Day. Researchers said their work had some limitations. They noted sales are not synonymous with use and their data did not include emergency contraception obtained through medical clinics, independent pharmacies or online. The findings may not be generalizable to other settings due to differences in how and which holidays are celebrated and how reproductive health care is accessed, they said. But the results suggest that the nature of some celebrations might make them important public health targets, researchers said. They suggest that targeting behavioral risks, strategies to prevent sexual violence and improving access to birth control around holidays may limit the risks associated with unprotected sex. "More than ever, emergency contraception is critically important for people in the US, particularly those living in regions with bans or severe restrictions on abortion," they wrote. "Future work will explore how other dynamics at play in the US context, including state abortion restrictions, affect emergency contraception purchasing behavior and imply potential public health interventions to provide contraceptive care to those who need it the most," they added. By Carole Tanzer
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 15 Norwegian principles and sponsor educational trips to Norway for U.S. correctional leaders. At California’s San Quentin, Governor Newsom hopes to emphasize inmate job training for high-paying trades such as plumbers, electricians, or truck drivers. His budget proposal allocates $380 million to repurpose a factory into a center for innovation focused on providing social services and breaking cycles of crime. Mr. Newsom aims to complete the project before he leaves office in 2025. In Washington state, prison staff began developing supportive working relationships with the incarcerated in their care by developing individual rehabilitation plans. “Basically, we find out as a person, what their goals and interests are and then we work with them on that, which had never really been happening a lot in restricted housing,” says Lieutenant Graham. “So it’s brought massive changes to the state.” In North Dakota, former Director of Corrections Leann Bertsch says after revamping the training and responsibilities of prison officers, interactions between staff and inmates felt respectful and calmer. “Instead of getting as many grievances from the resident population, I started getting what we call positive behavior reports on our staff. ... I think it really helped shift the culture to one that’s more restorative versus punitive,” says Ms. Bertsch. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections collaborated with the Norwegian Correctional Services to pilot Little Scandinavia, a transformed housing unit operated at half the regular capacity to allow for individual cells. The onduty officers at Little Scandinavia have reported enjoying their work much more now and there haven’t been any reports of violence since its opening in May 2022, says Dr. Andersen. What are the limits of adopting the Norwegian system in the U.S.? Norway receives much attention for its low rate of recidivism, but some experts disagree on the measure as a rate of success. “[Recidivism] is not just a product of the correctional system. It has everything to do with your social safety net, your network, your support structure, and your job opportunities,” said Dr. Andersen. Also, the physical dimensions and layouts of prisons differ drastically between the U.S. and Norway. Instead of large, centralized prisons in the U.S., Norway utilizes a system of small, communitybased correctional facilities that focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society. While 8% of prisons in the U.S. are private prisons, according to the National Institute of Corrections, all Norwegian prisons fall under the public sector, and some collaborate with nongovernmental and volunteer organizations to provide services to people. The changes being piloted in U.S. prisons “are not generally incremental,” says criminologist Dr. Hyatt. “They are holistic and they are pervasive.” “All of these projects that are growing around the country show us so many different ways of recontextualizing prisons. And there is a lot of optimism in that.” By Troy Aidan Sambajon Prisons continued from page 5 “core” inflation, according to its preferred measure, to fall to just 2.4% by the end of 2024, down from a 2.6% forecast in September. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, is considered a better gauge to inflation’s future path. The policymakers foresee unemployment rising to 4.1% next year, from its current 3.7%, which would still be a low level historically. They project that the economy will expand at a modest 1.4% next year and 1.8% in 2025. One reason the Fed could be able to cut rates next year, even if the economy plows ahead, would be if inflation kept falling, as expected. A steady slowdown in price increases would have the effect of raising inflation-adjusted interest rates, thereby making borrowing costs higher than the Fed intends. Reducing rates, in this scenario, would simply keep inflation-adjusted borrowing costs from rising. The Fed is the first of several major central banks to meet this week, with others also expected to keep their rates on hold. Both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England will decide on their next moves Dec. 14. By Christopher Rugaber was named the new speaker after failed campaigns by Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Steve Scalise, R-La., and Tom Emmer, R-Minn. About two weeks into Johnson's speakership, the House passed his two-step resolution to again avoid a government shutdown. The bill was signed, keeping the government fully funded until Jan. 19. Earlier this month, the House expelled embattled Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., amid allegations of fraud. Santos faces more than a dozen charges for wire fraud, identity theft and falsifying records. In May, he pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges in his first indictment. He has maintained his innocence. Sen. Bob Menendez, DN.J., was also indicted - facing federal bribery charges in September. He has refused calls to resign. His term ends in January 2025. Laws passed The first bills of the year were not signed into law until March 20. (In comparison, the 117th Congress had its first bill of the year passed into law on Jan. 22, 2021, three weeks after convening.) This year's first was a joint resolution to disapprove of and nullify the District of Columbia council's revised criminal code. Biden also signed the COVID-19 Origin Act to require the director of national intelligence to declassify information relating to potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China and COVID-19. The third bill ended the COVID-19 national emergency declaration in April. Of the 22 pieces of legislation passed into law, eight related to veterans affairs. Two bills designated healthcare facilities. Six bills were introduced by Democrats, including three by Montana Sen. Jon Tester. "Montanans sent me to Washington to deliver common-sense legislation that helps lower costs for Montana's working families, ensures our military has the tools it needs to keep our country safe and honors the commitment we made to our nation's veterans," Tester told UPI in a statement. "I'll continue to work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, to get the job done." The first of these bills, introduced by Tester, was the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase wartime disability compensation and payments to dependents, surviving spouses and children of veterans at the same rate of Social Security benefits. Tester also introduced a bill that authorizes seven medical facility projects in fiscal year 2023, including the construction of a $395 million outpatient clinic and national cemetery in Alameda, Calif. Three veterans bills passed that expanded the eligibility of benefits. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., introduced a bill to extend care to children with spina bifida and other birth defects. It was signed on Oct. 6. Tester brought a bill to the floor in September that allows more healthcare professionals to perform medical examinations as part of a VA pilot program. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., led the Korean American VALOR Act to expand benefits for veterans of the armed forces of South Korea who served in the Vietnam War. While Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville blocked promotions within the Department of Defense over his opposition to the department's reproductive healthcare policy, one bill loosely related to defense has been signed. The CADETS Act modifies the age requirement for the Maritime Administration's Student Incentive Payment program. The program gives financial support to cadets enrolled in the Strategic Sealift Midshipmen Program. The previous law was limited to students 17 to 25 years old at the time of enrollment. It was changed to students age 17 to 41 at the time of graduation. The change will cost the Maritime Administration an estimated $1 million to implement. Of the remaining bills passed, one related to education and another to public health. The education bill authorizes schools to purchase weapons or use "dangerous weapons" to teach students archery, hunting, shooting sports and culinary arts. The public health bill modifies how the organ procurement and transplant network is managed. This includes authorizing the award of grants, contracts and cooperative agreements. By Joe Fisher strategic plan includes as its first goal instilling equity as a foundation of emergency management. “That goal recognizes existing inequalities and calls upon FEMA leadership and workforce to take actions to remedy these gaps,” the agency said in a written statement. Research by experts at Rice University and the University of Pittsburgh found that predominantly white communities saw higher levels of reinvestment into their communities after disasters than predominantly Black communities did. Over time, white families living in areas with about $10 billion in damages saw a wealth increase of nearly $126,000. The aid they received allowed them to emerge from disaster recovery better off than they were before. Black families living in areas with about $10 billion in damages saw a wealth decrease of about $27,000 over time. African American communities did not receive enough aid to even rebuild back to the level they were pre-disaster. How is FEMA addressing existing inequities in funding decisions? FEMA officials say they are making progress on delivering post-disaster assistance faster, to more people, and with greater attention to equity. The efforts under Administrator Deanne Criswell “have led to real, and tangible positive impacts for disaster survivors,” Tony Robinson, regional administrator for FEMA Region 6, told a congressional field hearing in New Orleans on Nov. 28. For example, expanded options for verifying occupancy or homeownership resulted in assistance last year for 78,000 renters and 57,000 homeowners who wouldn’t have gotten it before, Mr. Robinson said in prepared testimony. The agency has also changed how property losses are calculated, to address disadvantages faced by people with more modest homes, he said. Still, some experts and advocates say further steps are needed. The NAACP and FEMA signed an agreement in September that outlined ways the organizations would collaborate to consider equity in disaster preparedness and response efforts. “A lot of folks who are a part of our branches … are saying they’re not necessarily getting those resources or they’re not getting as much money,” says Abre’ Conner, director of environmental and climate justice for the NAACP. “We cannot continue the status quo,” says Ms. Conner. “Unless federal agencies are willing to truly collaborate with nonprofits, with organizers, activists, folks on the ground … then we are going to continue to perpetuate the harms that Black communities and other historically disadvantaged communities have faced for centuries.” By Mackenzie McCarty Congress in 2023 continued from page 12 Federal Reserve continued from page 11 As disasters grow... continued from page 12
16 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 books The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon During the punishing Maine winter of 1789, midwife Martha Ballard hunts for the truth about a frozen body pulled from the river. Drawing on her knowledge, connections, and unflinching sense of right, Martha sacrifices her reputation – and safety – to find answers. Lawhon’s smart, deeply felt story enthralls; it underscores the remarkable courage needed to buck conventions. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey In a space station high above Earth, an international crew of six astronauts circles the planet – 16 times in a 24-hour span – ticking off tasks, eating meals from pouches, and hanging “like bats in their quarters.” Samantha Harvey’s hushed, perfect novel, her fifth, transports. “The earth feels – not small,” muses the narrator, “but almost endlessly connected, an epic poem of flowing verses.” Rebecca, not Becky, by Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene De’Andrea Whitman, a successful Black Atlanta lawyer who turned stay-at-home-mom, moves with her family to Georgia’s white upper-class Rolling Hills Estates. She meets fellow mom and president of the diversity club Rebecca Myland, who eagerly attempts to advance racial awareness in the community. Hilarious, empathetic, and smart, this social satire transforms into a highly relevant examination of racial justice. Deadly Game, by Michael Caine After a briefcase of weapons-grade uranium appears at the Stepney tip – aka the dump – only to be immediately stolen, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Taylor and his special ops team at New Scotland Yard race to find the goods. British actor Michael Caine packs this lively procedural – his foray into fiction – with over-the-top drug lords, risky face-offs, spectacular explosions, and the resolute loyalty such work demands. The Wildest Sun, by Asha Lemmie Aspiring writer Delphine Auber runs away from her orphanage in 1945 Paris to seek out her true destiny and meet her presumed Papa, famed author Ernest Hemingway. Beautifully written, Asha Lemmie’s emotional and ultimately triumphant coming-of-age novel is told in Delphine’s evolving voice as she journeys to Harlem, Havana, and Key West, discovering who she is meant to be. Becoming Ella Fitzgerald, by Judith Tick Winter reading: 10 books being adapted for film, TV The Color Purple, It Ends with Us and Shōgun are being adapted for film and television this winter. New adaptations will open in theaters and debut on streaming services this season. Some big-name stars are attached to movies and TV series based on books. Here's a rundown: The Color Purple The Pulitzer Prizewinning 1982 novel by Alice Walker tells the story of Celie, a poor Black girl living in rural Georgia in the 1900s. The character endures hardships while forming strong bonds with the other women in her life. The Color Purple is being adapted as a new film based on the Broadway musical inspired by Walker's novel. Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R., Ciara and Halle Bailey star, with Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg as producers. The Color Purple opens in theaters Dec. 25. Warner Bros. shared a new trailer for the movie in October. The Boys in the Boat The 2013 non-fiction book by Daniel James Brown recounts the true story of the University of Washington rowing team that competed at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. The book is being adapted as a new film directed and produced by George Clooney and starring Callum Turner and Joel Edgerton. The Boys in the Boat opens in theaters Dec. 25. MGM released a trailer for the film in October. Society of the Snow The 2009 non-fiction book by Pablo Vierci documents the true story of the 1972 Andes flight disaster, where Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed into the Andes Mountains. The survivors, which included members of a rugby team, were forced to resort to any means necessary to survive. J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage, A Monster Calls) co-wrote and directed a film adaptation starring Enzo Vogrincic Roldá, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella and Tomas Wolf. Society of the Snow premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and will start streaming Jan. 4 on Netflix. The service released a trailer for the film in November. Fool Me Once The 2016 thriller novel by Harlan Coben follows Maya, a former special ops pilot mourning the death of her husband, Joe. The character uncovers a deadly conspiracy after seeing her husband on her secret nanny cam after his apparent death. Netflix is adapting the book as a new series starring Michelle Keegan as Maya and Richard Armitage as Joe. Adeel Akhtar and Joanna Lumley also star, while Coben serves as executive producer. Fool Me Once premieres Jan. 1. Netflix released a trailer for the show in January. Netflix previously adapted Coben's books The Stranger, Safe and Stay Close. Boy Swallows Universe The 2018 coming-of-age novel by Trent Dalton follows Eli, a 12-year-old boy living in 1980s Australia. The character must navigate the challenges of young adulthood while facing the dangers of Brisbane's underworld. Netflix is adapting the book as a new series starring Travis Fimmel, Felix Cameron, Simon Baker, Phoebe Tonkin, Zac Burgess and Lee Tiger Halley. Boy Swallow Universe premieres Jan. 11. Netflix shared a teaser trailer for the show in November. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents The 2020 non-fiction book by Isabel Wilkerson explores racism in the United States by examining its similarities to Nazi Germany and caste systems in India. The book is being adapted as the new film Origin, written and directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma, A Wrinkle in Time) and starring Aunjanue Ellis and Jon Bernthal. Ellis plays a fictionalized version of Wilkerson, who struggles with personal tragedy as she writes her book. Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Niecy NashBetts, Nick Offerman and Blair Underwood also star. Origin had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and opens in theaters Jan. 19. Neon released a trailer for the movie in December. Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era The 2021 book by Laurence Leamer explores the story behind Truman Capote's never-published final novel, Answered Prayers, which exposed the lives of the "swans," the elite women he befriended in high society New York. Capote was banished from their circle after publishing chapters from the book in Esquire. FX is adapting the book as the second season of Feud, its anthology series about famous feuds. The season, titled Feud: Capote Vs. the Swans, will have a two-episode premiere Jan. 31 on FX. Episodes will stream the next day on Hulu. Tom Hollander plays Capote. The star-studded cast also includes Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, Treat Williams, Joe Mantello and Russell Tovey. Argylle The debut novel by Elly Conway is scheduled for release Jan. 9. The book is a spy thriller following Argylle, a troubled agent with a tarnished past who must take on one of the most powerful men in the world. The book is being adapted as a spy comedy directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman) and starring Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard. Howard plays a fictional version of Conway, an introverted author who is drawn into a real-life mission to unravel a global spy syndicate. Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson also star. Argylle opens in theaters Feb. 2. Apple Original Films released a trailer for the movie in September. It Ends with Us The 2016 romance novel by Colleen Hoover follows Lily Bloom, a young woman who falls in love with a neurosurgeon, Ryle. The character later reconnects with her first love, Atlas. The book is being adapted as a new film directed by Justin Baldoni. Blake Lively plays Lily, with Baldoni as Ryle and Brandon Sklenar as Atlas. Jenny Slate and Hasan Minhaj also have roles. It Ends with Us opens in theaters Feb. 9. Shōgun The 1975 historical fiction novel by James Clavell is the first book in his Asian Saga. The story follows John Blackthorne, an English sailor who is shipwrecked and washes up on the shores of feudal Japan. The book is being adapted as an FX and Hulu series starring Cosmo Jarvis as Blackthorne. The cast also includes Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko. Shōgun will premiere Feb. 27 on FX and Hulu. FX shared a teaser trailer for the show in November. By Annie Martin Barbra, Ella, and Benedict Arnold entertain in winter’s 10 best books story continues on page 18 Fantasia Barrino stars in "The Color Purple," a new film based on the Broadway musical and Alice Walker novel.
A bountiful year in books: The best reads of 2023 Fiction The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride Chona Ludlow runs the local grocery in the Black and Jewish neighborhood of Chicken Hill with a fearless heart. When an attack at the store leads to an orphaned boy’s arrest, community members rally. This triumph from James McBride stresses the challenges of accessing America’s promises. Stealing, by Margaret Verble “I love my family, and I’m going to get to them as soon as I can,” promises Kit, a girl whose close ties to her mother’s Cherokee family are cut when she is dispatched to an abusive Christian boarding school in the 1950s. Kit chronicles the events leading to her removal from family, home, and community. Frank and fearless, the novel is a portrait of perseverance. Birnam Wood, by Eleanor Catton In New Zealand, guerrilla gardeners cross paths with an American billionaire secretly up to no good. As the characters debate ideals, weigh choices, and battle their own and others’ egos, the tale gathers speed. Expertly crafted by Booker Prizewinning author Eleanor Catton, it’s a heart-pumping thriller that exposes the tragedy of selfishness. The Berry Pickers, by Amanda Peters After their youngest daughter, Ruthie, vanishes during a summer of berrypicking in Maine, a Micmac family from Nova Scotia struggles to move forward. Indigenous Voices Award winner Amanda Peters delivers an un-put-downable novel of identity, forgiveness, and insistent hope. The End of DrumTime, by Hanna Pylväinen When a charismatic Lutheran minister is sent to northern Scandinavia to convert the Indigenous population, both sides must deal with the consequences, especially when a tribal leader experiences a religious awakening. Set in the mid19th century, Hanna Pylväinen’s tale offers fresh perspectives on family bonds, cultural traditions, and religious colonialism. Earth’s the Right Place for Love, by Elizabeth Berg In 1940s Missouri, timid Arthur Moses gleans sage advice from his confident older brother, Frank. As he waits for love, and deals with a family tragedy, Arthur turns to nature for solace. Gracefully, he grows into the man that readers admired in Elizabeth Berg’s “The Story of Arthur Truluv.” Loot, by Tania James Tania James’ dazzling, richly embroidered historical novel imagines the journey of a life-size automaton of a wooden tiger – and those connected with it – from late 18th century India to France and England over 65 years. “Loot” is about the spoils and displacements of colonialism and the quest for betterment, autonomy, and love. North Woods, by Daniel Mason “North Woods” follows the story of a house in the woods of western Massachusetts and its occupants over four centuries. This dazzling novel intertwines the often tragically truncated lives of its characters and its wooded setting, all gorgeously captured in multiple literary styles, genres, and voices. The Liberators, by E.J. Koh Korean American memoirist and poet E.J. Koh’s exceptional debut novel is full of delicately crafted snapshots of Korean history and the Korean diaspora. Spanning four generations, this epic embraces themes of colonization and loss. The Museum of Failures, by Thrity Umrigar While caring for his estranged mother in a Bombay hospital, Remy Wadia uncovers family secrets. Thrity Umrigar’s evocative novel explores the personal, political, and cultural reckonings of an immigrant son discovering compassion and forgiveness. The First Ladies, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray The friendship between first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune enriched both women, whose efforts set the stage for the modern Civil Rights Movement. The novel captures their invincibility and conviction. Orbital, by Samantha Harvey In a space station high above Earth, an international crew of six astronauts circles the planet – 16 times in a 24- hour span – ticking off tasks, eating meals from pouches, and hanging “like bats in their quarters.” Samantha Harvey’s hushed, perfect novel, her fifth, transports. “The earth feels – not small,” muses the narrator, “but almost endlessly connected, an epic poem of flowing verses.” The General and Julia, by Jon Clinch The general at the helm of Jon Clinch’s affecting novel is none other than Ulysses S. Grant; Julia is the practical, perceptive young woman he marries. As the story shifts between Grant’s arduous final days penning his memoirs and scenes from his life as war hero and president, a portrait emerges of realization, regret, and newfound humility. Nonfiction Preparing for War, by Bradley Onishi A religion scholar and former evangelical youth minister looks at evangelical Christianity in the United States and the movement’s increasing involvement with political extremism. The author argues that the Jan. 6 insurrection was not an aberration but the logical outcome of the melding of politics and white Christian nationalism. King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig This major biography of Martin Luther King Jr. benefits from a trove of newly available sources, from declassified FBI files to recently discovered audiotapes recorded by King’s widow, Coretta Scott King. In elegant prose, Eig presents King in full, capturing both the heroism and the frailties of the civil rights icon. Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond Matthew Desmond’s follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning “Evicted” is a stirring study of why the United States, the world’s richest country, has the most poverty of any advanced democracy. He offers solutions by focusing not only on poor people story continues on page 18 PRINT & E-BOOKS NONFICTION PRINT & E-BOOKS FICTION 1. Fourth Wing (Yarros) 2. Iron Flame (Yarros) 3. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (McBride) 4. The Exchange (Grisham) 5. Icebreaker (Grace) 6. Lessons in Chemistry (Garmus) 7. The Little Liar (Alborn) 8. Holly (King) 9. The Edge (Baldacci) 10. All the Light We Cannot See (Doerr) 1. Oath and Honor (Cheney) 2. The Wager (Grann) 3. The Woman In Me (Spears) 4. Killers of the Flower Moon (Grann) 5. Friends, Lovers, and the Big... (Perry) 6. My Name is Barbra (Streisand) 7. The Boys in the Boat (Brown) 8. Elon Musk (Isaacson) 9. Outlive (Attia/Gifford 10. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk) NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 17
By accessing long-neglected archives and interviewing those who knew her, Judith Tick provides a rich portrait of jazz and blues legend Ella Fitzgerald. The singer not only altered the role of women in the music industry, but also helped define the American songbook. My Name Is Barbra, by Barbra Streisand Barbra Streisand’s exhaustive, exuberant thousand-page memoir has it all. The singer, actor, and director details her difficult childhood and meteoric rise to fame; dishes on her friends, lovers, and collaborators; and argues that she was tarred as “difficult” because men in show business couldn’t accept a woman calling the shots. God Save Benedict Arnold, by Jack Kelly The name Benedict Arnold is synonymous with treason, but Jack Kelly reminds us that Arnold was a hero of the American Revolution before he defected to the British side. The historian’s vivid and fast-paced narrative presents Arnold in full, detailing his ambition, his bravery, and, finally, his treachery. How Migration Really Works, by Hein de Haas Sociologist Hein de Haas analyzes 22 myths about migration from across the political spectrum. He shows that the arguments made by supporters as well as opponents of migration are almost always simplistic, incomplete, and, sometimes, just plain wrong. De Haas offers a rare and welcome voice of evidence-based clarity on one of the world’s hottest and most complex political issues. Starborn, by Roberto Trotta In this gracefully written history of stargazing, cosmologist Roberto Trotta makes a strong and intriguing case that astronomy has been the midwife to all other sciences. Winter reads Best reads of 2023 continued from page 16 continued from page 17 but also on wealthy people and the middle class, who he says unwittingly benefit from the current system. The Wounded World, by Chad Williams This compelling nonfiction book traces civil rights leader and scholar W.E.B. Du Bois’ decades of reckoning with World War I. Du Bois at first encouraged Black men to enlist, believing that their sacrifices overseas would lead to equality at home, but was disillusioned when racist violence escalated after the war. How To Say Babylon, by Safiya Sinclair Acclaimed poet Safiya Sinclair’s searing and lyrical memoir describes her upbringing in Jamaica in a strict Rastafarian household ruled by her autocratic father. As his dreams of reggae stardom wither, he becomes increasingly rigid and violent; through poetry, she imagines a different life for herself. Kennan: A Life Between Worlds, by Frank Costigliola George F. Kennan played a central role in 20th-century American foreign policy and is regarded as the architect of the containment strategy that guided America’s approach to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. But Kennan believed that his ideas had been badly misinterpreted. As the book makes clear, while he was certainly brilliant, he was also a complex and often troubled man. 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. Necessary Trouble, by Drew Gilpin Faust Drew Gilpin Faust is an acclaimed Civil War historian and the first woman to serve as president of Harvard University. Her memoir is both a moving personal narrative and an enlightening account of the transformative political and social forces that impacted her as she came of age as a privileged white girl in segregated Virginia. Gator Country, by Rebecca Renner Florida native Rebecca Renner delivers an engrossing account of wildlife officer Jeff Babauta’s two-year stint as an undercover agent for Operation Alligator Thief. The sting led to the arrest of 11 alligator poachers in the Everglades in a single day. Renner blends fine storytelling with Florida history, local lore, nature writing, and personal anecdotes. The Exceptions, by Kate Zernike Kate Zernike’s gripping and galvanizing account charts molecular biologist Nancy Hopkins’ struggle for equal treatment as one of the few women scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The story takes an inspirational turn when Hopkins teams up with her female colleagues in the mid-1990s. Together, they convince the university to acknowledge and correct its long-standing gender bias. The Cost of Free Land, by Rebecca Clarren Rebecca Clarren’s Jewish family benefited from U.S. government policies in the early 1900s that encouraged hundreds of thousands of people of European ancestry to move west and claim Native American land. Her book grew from a desire to understand, and possibly redress, the role her family played – directly and indirectly – in the denial of land rights to Native Americans. 18 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 REMINDER: PLEASE RESUBMIT AD TO RUN FOR EACH ISSUE. Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISC MODEL TRAIN SWAP Meet. Sunday, December 17, 9am To 1pm. Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39th Ave. For More Information Call Bill @ 262-331-0392 G E R M A N CONVERSATIONALIST GROUP - KENOSHA/RACINE If you speak German or are enthusiastic about the German language and culture, come and join us. There are no membership fees and attendance is whenever you are available to join. Meetings will be held in the Kenosha and Racine area. This is an excellent group to practice speaking German as members' language skills are from beginners to advance and we all have a good time. Please contact me if you are interested in joining - Susan Blust at [email protected]. LIONS CLUB BINGO Come have some fun! Doors open at 4:00. Raffles, pull-tabs and pregames start at 6:45. Bingo 7:00-9pm. Wednesdays. 2700 9th St., Schlader Building, Winthrop Harbor. Food Sales. FOR SALE Four Wheeled Walker by NOVA in Kenosha. Asking $50 or best offer. Call or Text 808-359-8474. Sears sewing machine. Model 1750. Zig zag. All attachments included. $99.00. Joan Pucazo 262-656-6048, Kenosha, WI 53140 [email protected]. CHRISTMAS TREES: FAUX Christmas Tree $100; Ceramic Christmas Tree $50; Faux Christmas Tree $5. Many Christmas Items. Just inquire by calling or texting 262-902-5663. WINTER SPORTS: Women's Edelweis ski pants $25; Women's ski pants $60; Women's Salomon SX52 Lady ski boots $235; Women's ELAN Downhill skis $140; Tingley Men's Medium Size Rubber Over The Shoe Boots $10; Men's Boots$10; Jeep Jacket $200; Boy's Figure Skates $10; Men's Figure Skates $10; Cross Country Ski Poles- 2 pairs $10 each; Men's Snow Pants $10. Call or text 262- 902-5663. Snow Blower 24” Like New 262-771-7860 Beer Cans For Sale 262-694-7573, Leave A Message. Crystal round platter 12 inch diameter $10.00 perfect condition Great for the holidays 317-764-7662 BEADS. Boxes and boxes Of New Beads. All Sorts And Sizes. $49.00 For All. Phone 262-657-6049 CHILDREN'S VINTAGE ITEMS: Riding Wonder Horse-$100; Eddie Bauer Beach Sport Bag With Many Sand Play Toys Included-$8; Speedo Dive Snorkel And Mask (Unopened) $15; Mini Indoor Basketball Hoop- $3; Plastic Kitchen Toys- All For $2; Many Legos- All For $3; Star Trek, The Motion Picture Vhs SeriesAll 8 Tapes-$25; Many Toys (Call With What You Are Looking For!) Call Or Text: 262-902-5663. Two Bicycles, Schwinn $100 OBO and Autobike by CSA, 6-speed $175 OBO Call 262-654-6485 Please leave message M&M Stand, large, new $60 Kewpie Doll, original $15 Rockwell Plates $10 each Air Fryer, new $50 Call 262-771-8764 Save 50% ON Burial Plots! Private Owner Of Two (2) (Side By Side) Section H Sunset Ridge Memorial Park Kenosha, Wi. Dont’ Pay $11,390.00... I’ Selling For $5,695.00 Obo! (262)914-5977 Ed Barbie doll, remote control corvette, that fits two Barbie dolls, about 25 in long x 10 in wide, best offer. Other small auto models available from classic days. Ron 847-340-3446. Beanie Babies - large inventory, includes McDonald's line, price varies. Call 262-654-6485 - please leave message Sony Reel To Reel Tape Decks! TC-630 & TC-580 $200 OBO for both. Call Kent 262-960-0621 [email protected] Two side-by-side burial plots at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, section H, privately owned. Willing to negotiate on price. Please call Ed - 262-914-5977 WANTED. Experienced Grill Cook Flexible Hours, Fun Atmosphere. Lakeside Deck At The Wyndham Hotel Call Kim 262-496-7182 Singer and narrator wanted for Roger Miller tribute.Call 262-554- 8205. Ask for Marv. WANTED TO BUY: Vintage Movie Posters, Comic Books, LP Records, Vintage Toys, Horror VHS, Horror Memorabilia, Science Fiction Pulps & Magazines, Video Store Promotional Items. PH 262-237- 0318. WANTED TO BUY: Old Post Cards, B&W Photos, B&W Photo Albums, Vintage Advertising, Old Hunting Licenses & Advertising, Scrapbooks, Old Misc.Paper, Old Automobile Advertising, Fountain Pens, Gillette Razors & More. Local Collector/Neutral Safe & Secure Site to meet if desired. Cash Paid. Call or Text Stan 262- 496-1822 ARCADE DRIVERS SCHOOL is looking for classroom & driver instructors. Starting pay $17.00 per hour. If interested please call 262-637-9193 or email us at [email protected] LOOKING FOR NURSES Aid for in home care. Call Barbara 262-455-3953 SERVICES. “Tax Preparation & Advisory Services. 20+ Years Experience. Virtual Or In-Person. For Appointment Call Or Text 262-496- 2208. I Will Do Seamstress Work, Run Errands, Do Shopping & Dr. Appointments., Etc.If Interested Please Call Gayle At 262-748-4748 I'M LOOKING FOR house to share for reasonable rent in exchange for household needs for a senior vet consideration. 847-340-3446 Ron. Kenosha/Union Grove area. LAWN MOWING SERVICES Reliable lawn care services in Kenosha & Pleasant Prairie. call/text 262-914-9796 [email protected] TAX & MEDICARE EXPERT. Appointments only. Se Habla Español. 262.833.7070 CHINESE LANGUAGE / CALLIGRAPHY LESSONS: Fun, fascinating and very cool. Beginning and advanced - all ages! Text Dr. Tim at 520.704.3832. FOR RENT Finished Suite private, in-home entrance, in Kenosha. For details call between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, 262-843-1630. DRUM LESSONS Private instruction. Band, orchestra, marching and drum set. Rock and many other musical styles. Learn to read music. Call Tom for details. 262-818-2869. PROFESSIONAL LED TEETH WHITENING for a fraction of the price! $99 at cabana tan spa. call to book: 262-843-2411. 20 minute session = a bright white smile! mycabanatan.com NURSING CARE /CONSULTATION: $35.00/hour. Call or text to (262)758-1974 FAST COMPUTER SERVICE including network support, spyware removal, upgrades and PC repair. For friendly service with a smile, call Vikkex today! Phone 262-694-7746 BABYSITTING YOUNG LADY good with kids can watch 1 or 2 children call 262-620-4745 House cleaning woman + a bucket - reliable, dependable. Also clean vacant houses. Call for estimates - Sandy 262-221-2289 Houses And/Or Business Sun Shine Klean Is Having A Special This Month For First Time Customers Free Upholstery Cleaning With At Basic Cleaning For Only $39.95 262-287-5103 CNAS TO JOIN wellness team at Barton of Zion, five star assisted living. Send resume [email protected] apply within at 3500 Sheridan Road Zion, IL 60099 847-872-1500 FREE HOME HEATING Fuel Oil Removal I will remove your unused home heating fuel oil for free..clean and safe . Inquire about tank removal also ... 262 818 1967 ..ask for Dave TYPING. I am an experienced legal secretary with excellent typing skills wanting to type for you at home. Please contact Alicia at 2 6 - 6 5 8 - 4 4 8 4 . VEHICLES0 2008 HONDA CRV One Owner Well Maintained See In Kenosha At 4121-7th Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 Call Or Text Very Nice Car $5750 1994 Nissan Leopard J Ferie similar to the Infiniti J30 Asking $8500 OBO Low miles and very good condition Text 808-359-8474 with questions SEE IN KENOSHA At 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 Call Or Text. Awd 190k Miles 3 Row Seating $9495 3.5 Liter 6 Cly 2003 soft tail Harley Davidson 18000 miles $5000 worth of chrome added in 2006. Perfect condition Asking $7500 Call Lloyd at 262 694 7359 or 262 515 1366. Located In Pleasant Prairie 95 CAMERO convert green/tan top. many newer parts best offer will trade for other vehicle, negotiate price. 847-340-3446 Ron - dealers welcome to participate. 1997 Jaguar XK8 Convertible 75K in great condition Contact Bob: 262-484-4848 or text 262-945-9224 1973 FORD F250, Camper Special2wd,California Original, Rebuilt Motor/Trans, Auto, Ac, New Interior, Can Send Pics. $13,500 Obo. 630-945-8320. 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA See In Kenosha At 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 262-237-1343 Russ Call Or Text 212k Miles $2950 FREE CLASSIFIEDS! E-mail your 170 character classified to: [email protected] Please include your contact information in the classified. (Name and Phone number / e-mail address) First 3 words will be boldface type. NO ANIMALS. • NO PERSONALS ALLOWED. CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2023 AT 12 NOON FREE CLASSIFIEDS! Employment/Opportunities • Lost & Found • Miscellaneous Real Estate • Rentals • Rummage Sales • Vehicles • Wanted
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 19 health lifestyle community Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center news December 28, 2023 Your Kenosha ADRC Update Online Learning Platform for Family Caregivers Offered Free The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is offering registration support for Trualta. Trualta is a free online educational tool for family caregivers in Wisconsin. Trualta helps caregivers learn about health issues, care techniques, and managing care for loved ones. If you provide care for a loved one, friend or even neighbor, you are a family caregiver. As a family caregiver, it can be hard to find the right resources. Even harder when your time is limited. Trualta’s collection of professional content is designed for the family caregiver to make it easier to manage care at home. Trualta is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 364 days a year. With lessons as short as 5 minutes, Trualta makes it easy for you to fit caregiver training in whenever it works for you. Trualta provides practical caregiver tips and techniques that you can start using right away. With Trualta, you can also learn alongside other caregivers in your area and learn from others’ experiences. In addition to learning skills to manage your loved one’s current care, Trualta’s learning library can help you prepare and plan for what the future holds. Discover ways to connect with your loved one and be confident you’re doing your best. To participate, caregivers will need internet access and access to a computer, iPad or other tablet. Participants will receive an email with a link to register. To register, call Margaret Ricchio at the ADRC, 262-605-6650 or email [email protected] Memory Café Memory Café is a place for persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment, early-stage Alzheimer’s, or related dementia, and their care partners to socialize and have fun. Join the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center’s Dementia Care Specialist, Susan Johnson, on the second Tuesday of every month, 1-2 p.m. The next meeting will be on January 9, 2024, Kenosha Southwest Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Avenue. Registration is required for new members. Call the ADRC at 262-605- 6646. Technical services offered at Redeemer Parkside Senior Dining Support technician” Zander Miller” from Kenosha Public Library . Today using technology is a big part of connecting people with others, learning new information, education, local events, and socialization. Purpose: • Train seniors how to use the basics of technology • Offering support on laptops, tablets, and cell phones • Help connect people with each other • Provide tools for success Cost: Free Eligibility: Everyone 60+ in Kenosha County Tech Support is offered the second Monday of every month 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. The next class will be on January 8, 2023 Location: Redeemer Parkside Church 2620 14th Pl, Kenosha, WI 53140 For more information call, Julie Sosa: 262-287-7469 or 262-658-3508 ext,134
20 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 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. Going on Medicare? Learn about the decisions you’ll need to make The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers no-cost, unbiased, Medicare workshops for those who are new to Medicare, or those who want to learn more. Trained benefit specialists will be available to answer your questions and discuss the decisions you’ll need to make, including the basics of Medicare coverage, options for private health and drug coverage, and public benefits that can help with health care costs. The next Medicare workshop will be held at the Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Road, Entrance North A, Room N2, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 10 a.m. – Noon. Due to limited seating, reservations are required. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make a reservation or to learn more. January ALL Lecture: Current and Future developments in Kenosha Adventures in Lifelong Learning (ALL), an organization of mostly retired people ages 55 and older, offers lectures on various topics. Mayor John Antaramian will present the next lecture, “Current and Future developments in Kenosha” will be on January 12, 2024 at 2 p.m. It will be offered both in person and live-streamed at UW- Parkside - The Rita, Room 131 Mayor Antaramian will speak on present and future developments in Kenosha as well as reflect on past events that have occurred during his tenure as mayor. Adventures in Lifelong Learning is an active senior group with a wide variety of educationoriented activities, a friendly environment, and lots of interactive opportunities. An annual membership fee of $50 includes access to Lectures, Focus groups, Classes, and Day trips at a cost. Learn more at www.uwp.edu/ALL or call 262-595-2793. 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 January 3, 2024. The support group is available in-person or virtually. Facilitated by Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist with the Kenosha County ADRC. To register call 262-605-6646. Your Kenosha ADRC Update
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 21 Dear Amy: A while ago my wife got a cellphone call from “Martine,” a very highstrung woman whom she regarded as a friend. The reception was so poor that she asked Martine if they could talk when she got home. Instead of agreeing, Martine exploded in hysterical anger, screaming that the 40- year friendship was over. This extreme and illogical overreaction left my wife so depressed that I finally wrote to Martine on my own initiative, asking what kind of person she was who would treat a friend in such a shabby and insulting manner. I added that I was writing without my wife’s knowledge or permission (which she wouldn’t have given), but seeing the effect of her rage on my wife, I regarded it as my business, as well as hers. Martine flew into another tantrum, but instead of directing it at me she attacked my wife, who had nothing whatsoever to do with my writing the letter. Martine seemed to be determined to hurt her for no reason, or maybe she was deflecting. I say good riddance and my wife seems philosophical about the matter, but the so-called “friendship” – is clearly over. Initially my wife was not happy with my choice to contact Martine, but now she seems more or less behind it. We agreed to ask for your views on my choice. Your thoughts? – Protective Husband Dear Protective: Your wife seems to have accepted your choice, as well as the consequences that have flowed from it, so asking for my opinion after the fact really puts me in the position of being an armchair referee. Your wife’s relationships are her own to manage. Her feelings and actions are her responsibility. She reacted to “Martine’s” behavior by becoming sad and depressed. After some time had passed, she might have chosen to reach out to her in her own way and using her own words. She might have expressed some worry about Martine’s health or mental health. Or she might have expressed some anger and ended the friendship – on her own terms. You’ve denied your wife these choices. At the very least, you could have told her how you were feeling and let her know that you intended to react. You didn’t do that because you knew she would disagree with you, and so you went behind her back. Your wife might feel like she is standing between two angry people who don’t hear her or respect her autonomy. I assume that she is now threading the needle; appreciating your loyalty to her, understanding your protective behavior regarding Martine, and accepting the fact that – at this point – she can’t do anything about either one of you. Dear Amy: My daughter, who is in college, is attending a wedding in her boyfriend’s family. One of his aunts is getting married. The wedding is on the smaller side. The invitation came to her boyfriend at college and was addressed to the two of them. They do not live together but they have been together for almost a year and have visited each other over the summer, so our daughter has met several of his extended family members. I suggested that she ask for their registry information so she can send a gift. She seemed unsure about doing that. Do you think this is the right thing to do, or is she her boyfriend’s “plus one” and not expected to provide a gift? Should she just send a thank you note for being included among the wedding guests? Or should she do nothing but attend and enjoy? We really like her boyfriend and have met his parents and some of his family members. We just want to advise her to do the right thing. – To Gift or not to Gift Dear To Gift: It seems most logical that your daughter’s boyfriend, who is the primary guest and also a family member, should take the lead regarding a gift, and then the two young people can go in on it together. Given that they are college students, they should keep their gift modest. The boyfriend might locate a family photo (possibly of his aunt as a child) and have it reproduced and framed, as a gift. Your daughter should follow up afterward, congratulate the couple, and thank them for including her – saying what a nice time she had celebrating with family. ask amy Husband interferes with wife’s friendship You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook. seniors edition
22 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Before I write today's column, there are two important and seemingly unrelated observations I must make. No. 1: Regular readers of this column know that I don't like to write about Medicare. Why? Because I'm a Social Security expert, but not much of a Medicare expert. No. 2: It seems like there are a lot of rich (or temporarily rich) baby boomers out there. Why? Very often it's because they are selling off property they own and suddenly have a huge influx of cash. This observation is based on the unusually high number of emails I'm getting from senior citizens telling me about their newfound financial gains. And why they are emailing me is how I bring the two points I made together. Here is one such email I just got today. "My wife and I are in our 70s. We sold some property last year and we ended up with about a million dollars in capital gains, which we duly reported to the IRS. Now the Social Security Administration has sent us a letter telling us our Social Security benefits are being dramatically cut next year. Why in the world are they cutting our benefits? I thought that once we are over our full retirement age, we can make as much money as we want without any reduction in our benefits." There is a little part of me that wants to respond to folks like these and say something like: "Hey, you got a million dollars and you're griping? I sure wish I had your problems!" But here was how I actually replied to this particular couple: First of all, you are mixing an apple with an orange. The apple is the Social Security law that says, as you correctly pointed out, that once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings penalty. You can work and earn as much money as you want and your benefits will not be affected. But the orange is a totally different law. It's a Medicare rule, not a Social Security rule. And in a nutshell, that law says that rich people pay more for Medicare. So, what's happened in your case is that your Medicare premium is going up in 2024. And because that premium is deducted from your Social Security checks, your net benefit went down. I hope you don't think I'm splitting hairs here. But it's important that you understand your Social Security benefits have NOT decreased. You are still getting exactly the amount you are due. But again, your Medicare premium did increase -- and probably temporarily. As I said, I don't like talking about Medicare. But I've got to do it here to help you further understand what's going on. There are two main parts to Medicare. Hospital coverage, or Part A, is free once you reach age 65. (You paid for Part A with the Medicare tax deducted from your paychecks while you were working.) The other main part of the program, called "doctor's insurance," or Part B, is paid for by a monthly premium usually deducted from someone's Social Security check. And even though people always complain about the amount of that premium, $174.70 in 2024, it actually pays for only 25% of the cost of running the program. The taxpayers pick up the other 75%. In other words, senior citizens get quite a subsidy from the government and the taxpayers when it comes to paying for Part B Medicare. So, for years, many people argued that senior citizens should pay a bigger share of the Part B costs. As you might guess, there was a lot of political hemming and hawing on that issue. But eventually, in the early 2000s, President George W. Bush and Congress reached a compromise. They decided that at least wealthy Americans should pay more for their Medicare. How much more depends on a number of factors and on whether you file an individual or joint tax return. To keep things simple, I'll list the cutoff points for folks filing joint returns -- because most of the emails I get come from couples. The income referred to here is your "modified adjusted gross income," or MAGI. (Google that if you want to learn more about what MAGI is.) --If your MAGI is $206,000 or less, your premium is $174.70. --If your MAGI is between $206,000 and $258,000, your premium is $244.60. --If your MAGI is between $258,000 and $322,000, your premium is $349.40. --If your MAGI is between $322,000 and $386,000, your premium is $454.20. --If your MAGI is between $386,000 and $750,000, your premium is $559.00. --If your MAGI is more than $750,000, your premium is $594.00. Where things get messy and cause the most confusion is for people who are "temporarily" rich. And again, here we are usually talking about folks who sold some land or cashed in some investments. And then it gets messier still because of the tax years involved. Here is an excerpt from something I found on the SSA's website. "To determine your 2023 income-related monthly adjustment amounts, we use your most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. Generally, this information is from a tax return filed in 2022 for tax year 2021. Sometimes, the IRS only provides information from a return filed in 2021 for tax year 2020. If we use the 2020 tax year data, and you filed a return for tax year 2021 or did not need to file a tax return for tax year 2021, call us or visit any local Social Security office. We'll update our records." And this is where things start to get too messy for me to understand or to explain to you. If you want more information, at least I can steer you in the right direction. First, you should do a Google search under this heading: "Premiums: rules for higher-income beneficiaries." This leads you to an SSA publication that not only explains the rules (and maybe better than I did in this column), but it also gives you your appeal rights if you disagree with the premium increase. And it also tells you that your premium will go back down once your tax returns no longer reflect any big capital gains. A second good source of information is a Medicare expert. They are called SHIPs. That stands for State Health Insurance Program (counselor). To find the SHIP nearest you, go to www.shiphelp.org. social security Medicare and the 'Temporarily Rich' with Tom Margenau If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast. net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. and you
Meditation offers real benefits to seniors' psychological well-being Meditating for 20 minutes daily for 18 months naturally boosted the psychological well-being of seniors, results from a new randomized controlled trial out Friday show. The trial involving 130 otherwise healthy French speakers aged 65-84 in Caen, France, improved participants' awareness, connection to others and insight, according to the research conducted by a University College Londonled consortium of European Universities and research centers and published in the journal PLOS ONE. "As the global population ages, it is increasingly crucial to understand how we can support older adults in maintaining and deepening their psychological wellbeing. In our study, we tested whether long-term meditation training can enhance important dimensions of wellbeing," Marco Schlosser, a University College London psychiatry research fellow and University of Geneva doctoral candidate, said in a news release. "Our findings suggest that meditation is a promising n o n - p h a r m a c o l o g i c a l approach to support human flourishing in late life." The trial compared the test group, which followed an 18-month mediation program, 9 months' mindfulness training, a 9- month loving kindness and compassion module via weekly group sessions and a retreat day, with a group that received English lessons and a control group, which did neither. The study found meditation training did no better than language classes in improving subjects' quality of life or one of the most commonly used measures of psychological well-being -- but the researchers suggest this may be due to limitations of existing tools for monitoring well-being. The two conventional benchmarks, the researchers said, fail to encompass the qualities and depth of human flourishing that can be by fostered through longerterm meditation training, with the result that awareness, connection and insight benefits go unnoticed. However, the longest randomized meditation training trial ever conducted did find meditation significantly boosted a global score of well-being dimensions of awareness, connection and insight, with awareness defined as "an undistracted and intimate attentiveness to one's thoughts, feelings and surroundings, which can support a sense of calm and deep satisfaction." "Connection" relates to emotions including respect, gratitude and kinship that can help improve relationships with others. Insight refers to a selfknowledge and understanding of how thoughts and feelings participate in shaping our perception and how to switch-up negative thoughts about ourselves and the world around. The worse a person's psychological state is, the greater the benefit the therapy confers. Positive outcomes were most significant among test participants reporting the lowest levels of mental wellbeing at the start of the trial who made the most progress, compared with those who entered the trial with high well-being scores. The researchers say more research is needed to identify groups that might gain the greatest benefit from mediation training and to refine programs so that they deliver the maximum gains. "By showing the potential of meditation programs, our findings pave the way for more targeted and effective programs that can help older adults flourish, as we seek to go beyond simply preventing disease or ill-health, and instead take a holistic approach to helping people across the full spectrum of human wellbeing, said senior author Antoine Lutz of the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center at Inserm. The study was led by the European Union's Horizon 2020-funded Medit-Ageing research group which comprises UCL, Inserm, University of Geneva, Université de Caen Normandy, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, University of Liege, Technische Universitat Dresden and Friedrich Schiller University Jena. In the most recent issue of the Smart Reader we featured a number of caring people from our community who unselfishly took time out of their busy lives to help the Salvation Army in their quest to help others. During the holiday season, the Salvation Army, with its Red Kettle campaign, once again results in their largest fundraising effort of the year with 100% of the money collected staying here in the Kenosha community. We want to thank the many volunteers who made a difference this holiday season including the two families pictured here who we caught up with on Saturday afternoon December 23. Top: Arleen Geary, Brian Dorey, Al Dorey, Keith Dorey, Sue Ketler Lower:Cherie Rizzo, Mary Boris, Steven Boris FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER December 28, 2023 23 The Rod Stewart Experience Tickets ONLY $8 SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2024 8:00PM Take in the bold tones and mastery of the singer-songwriter Clifford Tartaglia as he brings to life one of the greatest rock icons of the 20th century -Rod Stewart! He'll give you a Reason to Believe that Young Turks may be Forever Young, but Some guys have all the luck! 5125 6th Ave. • Kenosha For advance tickets visit hap2it.com, call 262-564-8800 or stop in at 1420 63rd St., Kenosha between 10am-4pm M-F 122823
24 SMART READER December 28, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Senior Citizens Receive a 10% DISCOUNT SR121720 Never Pay Retail! Wholesale Discount Prices Paints and Carpets 2415 - 60th Street • Kenosha,Wisconsin Next to Andreas • 654-5328 Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm, Sat. 8am - 4pm Buy where the professionals buy their pain t at discount prices. SR022517 GGlloriaoria && JJaayy Our Family has been serving great food and offering warm hospitality here for 50 years. Yes, it’s true the building is for sale... but we are absolutely here to serve you well into 2024. Please stop by & cozy up to the fireplace for a delicious meal, or give us a call to book your next gathering or holiday party! The Tradition Continues - 090723 PETER ANTONIOU PETER ANTONIOU February 2 & 3 8PM February 2 & 3 8PM For More Information Visit Hap2it.com or Call 262-564-8800 M-F 10AM-4PM From amazing the judges on America’s Got Talent, to headlining in Las Vegas, to selling out shows in London's West End, Peter ntoniou’s mind reading skills have astounded audiences around the globe. Combining razor-sharp British wit with a stunning ability to know exactly what you are thinking, Peter’s shows are interactive andunforgettable. Join him as he reads minds and tickles funny bones, telling jokes and fortunes live onstage. “You are the total package” - Heidi Klum “You are a wizard” - Simon Cowell “It’s unbelievable what you can do” - Howie Mandel “Sharp and Fast… a balance of humour and amazement” - The Scotsman “Should be put on a pedestal above his competitors” - Broadway Baby 122823 121423 Your Ticket to Local Events