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Cover photos credit: Waynes: Mike Wallace & Chad Greenway; Gordon: UPI Smart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael Communications Editor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael • Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale • Sales/Kim Carmichael, Donny Stancato Editorial Manager/Jason Hedman • Ad Design & Layout/Glen Kelly, Kristin Monticelli • Reception/Sarah Coleman Carmichael Communications 1420 63rd Street, Kenosha, WI 53143 September 7, 2023 - Volume 21 Number 17 262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 • www.hap2it.com California is shrinking. No, the state isn’t falling into the Pacific Ocean. But after decades of growth, America’s most populous state has been shedding residents for the past several years, while rivals Texas and Florida continue to gain. Part of the explanation has to do with trends in immigration, births, and deaths, but an important factor is also people choosing to move across state lines for reasons that can range from jobs or housing costs to things like politics, outdoor amenities, and family ties. As the charts with this article show, it’s not just the largest states that are seeing this kind of ebb and flow. Last year, domestic migration was boosting population growth across much of the South and in mountain states like Idaho and Montana. Meanwhile, a number of states saw meaningful outflows, notably with New York and Illinois losing close to 1% of their population (0.9% and 0.8% respectively), according to U.S. census data. Our first map signals all this, although it also gets more granular – with a focus on cities that are gaining or losing residents to domestic migration. The pace of migration was way up in 2022 over the pre-pandemic year of 2019, although the general trend in recent years is toward Americans actually migrating at a bit slower rates than in the past. Partly this reflects a rising average age of households. And young people, often facing high housing costs and rents, are making fewer within-county moves than in the past. Yet they are still moving to different states at similar rates as in prior decades. The reasons people move are varied. Climate may be a growing factor in places like storm-wracked Louisiana, where the population has been declining. Economic factors play a prominent role, many experts say. A search for more affordable housing (see home prices in our second map) may have accelerated as the postpandemic job market allows more opportunities to work remotely. Higher-tax states (see our third map) are also among the places losing population – sometimes with wealthier residents leading the migratory march. “If these shifts hold or continue, they will have serious impacts on the country’s economic geography, leaving some regions flush with new resources and others struggling to fill eroded tax bases,” notes a new report from the Economic Innovation Group, a nonprofit that researches economic policies. Challenges may be especially big for large cities, many of which have been shedding population relative to suburbs and exurbs. Still, demographer William Frey at the Brookings Institution cites evidence that an “urban core turnaround” may be underway. By Mark Trumbull, Jacob Turcotte, & Karen Norris Leaving California for Texas? Mapping where Americans move U.S. population trends moved south in 2022, Census data show U.S. population centers are moving to the southern states, home to nine of the 15 fastest-growing cities, though New York City remains at the top, Census Bureau data show. The Census Bureau reported that more people were moving to the South. Of the nine-fastest growing cities in the region, meanwhile, six of them were in Texas. Crystal Delbe, a statistician at Census, said that Georgetown, Texas, was the fastest-growing city in the United States among places with a population of at least 50,000 people. Georgetown saw its population increase by 14.4% year-on-year in 2022. "New York remained the nation's largest city, despite its recent population decline," she said. "At 8.3 million, its population was more than twice that of the next largest city, Los Angeles, with a population of nearly 4 million." Santa Cruz, Calif., recorded the second-fastest growth after Georgetown, while Chicago came in third for the highest overall population. Three cities, meanwhile, joined the ranks of those boasting a population of more than 50,000 people -- Wake Forest, N.C., Rockwall, Texas, and Eagle Mountain, Utah. In terms of housing necessary to support population shifts, data show a 1.2% expansion between July 2021 and July 2022. That marks a slight increase over the 1% expansion over the prior one-year period to 2021. By state, California had the largest number of housing units, followed by Texas and Florida, respectively. Utah, meanwhile, had the fastest rate of expansion for housing at 3.3% over the year to July 2022. Housing, however, has come under pressure due to successive rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported an increase of 9 basis points to 6.57% for a 30-year, fixedterm mortgage. That in turn led to a 5% decline in mortgage applications, the slowest pace in a month. By Daniel J. Graeber 2 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800
rMore Americans are moving to areas where wildfire risk is high Some Americans appear to be moving from areas with frequent hurricanes and heat waves to places threatened by wildfire and rising heat. They're trading in the risk of one set of natural disasters for another because the wildfires are only beginning to become a national issue, according to researchers. "These findings are concerning, because people are moving into harm's way - - into regions with wildfires and rising temperatures, which are expected to become more extreme due to climate change," lead author Mahalia Clark said in a news release from the University of Vermont. She's a researcher at the university's Gund Institute for Environment and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. The researchers studied the issue by combining U.S. Census data with that on natural disasters, weather, temperature, land cover, demographics and socioeconomic factors. Between 2010 and 2020, the top U.S. migration destinations included cities in the Pacific Northwest; Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah in the Southwest; Texas; Florida, and a large area of the Southeast from Nashville to Atlanta to Washington, D.C. They moved away from the Midwest, the Great Plains and areas along the Mississippi River, including many counties hit hardest by hurricanes or frequent heat waves, the researchers said. "These findings suggest that for many Americans, the risks and dangers of living in hurricane zones may be starting to outweigh the benefits of life in those areas," said co-author Gillian Galford, a research associate professor at UVM. "That same type of tipping point has yet to happen for wildfires and rising summer heat, our results suggest, probably because they've only become problems at the national level more recently." The team was surprised by how little the obvious climate impacts of wildfire and heat seemed to affect migration. "Most people still think of wildfires as just a problem in the West, but wildfire now impacts large swaths of the country -- the Northwest down to the Southwest, but also parts of the Midwest and the Southeast like Appalachia and Florida," Clark said. The top migration destinations shared common qualities, including warmer winters, proximity to water, moderate tree cover, moderate population density and better human development index (HDI) scores in addition to their wildfire risks. People tended to leave counties with low employment, higher income inequality and more summer humidity, heat waves and hurricanes. City planners may need to consider discouraging new development where fires are most likely or difficult to fight, the researchers said. Also, policymakers must consider fire prevention in areas of high risk with large human population growth. "We hope this study will increase people's awareness of wildfire risk," Clark said. "When you're looking for a place to live on Zillow or through real estate agents, most don't highlight that you're looking at a fire-prone region, or a place where summer heat is expected to become extreme. You have to do your research." By Cara Murez U.S. overdose deaths involving counterfeit pills rise sharply A growing number of overdose deaths in the United States involve counterfeit pills, health officials reported. Overdose deaths involving counterfeit pills were twice as common in the latter half of 2021 as they were in the last six months of 2019, accounting for about 5% of overdose deaths, according to a new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Western states, those rates tripled during the same period. The drugs are made to look like prescription opioids or stimulants to treat ADHD. About 75% were made to look like oxycodone, the researchers said. Most were transported to this country from Mexico, "infiltrating drug markets in western U.S. states," the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said in a public safety alert issued two years ago. The alert warned of fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine. In 2021 alone, law enforcement seized more than 9.5 million pills, a steep increase. In the latest study, about two out of five overdose deaths were caused by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. The drug was found in nearly all overdose deaths that contained evidence of counterfeit pills. Methamphetamine was also found in about 25% of deaths involving counterfeit pills. Other drugs, such as cocaine and benzodiazepines, were found in one in eight cases. While deaths from these pills were more common in the West, Hispanic people and those younger than 35 were more at risk. The findings were published in the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Fentanyl test strips and similar products can help identify pills' contents, while the overdose antidote naloxone may also help save lives. People should only use pills prescribed to them and received from a pharmacy or healthcare provider. By Cara Murez FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 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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Hidden somewhere beneath the Snake River’s flowing brown water lies the exact dividing line separating one of America’s most liberal states from one of its most conservative. But according to a group of rural, conservative secessionists, the Oregondaho border should be moved 300 miles west. It may be a pipe dream, but the Greater Idaho movement has been picking up steam over the past few years to become the most active secessionist movement in modern America. These eastern Oregonians say their home state’s politics, dominated by infamously progressive Portland in the west, don’t reflect their values. So they’re trying to get their rural, conservative neighbor, Idaho, to absorb them. “If you stuck someone who’s lived in the city all their lives over here in the rural areas, they wouldn’t know how to survive,” says Toni Foster, who owns a wrecking yard and upholstery business in Harney County, the state’s most sparsely populated county, with fewer than 8,000 people. The state government in Salem is always telling the rest of Oregon “how they want you to live your life,” says Ms. Foster, taking a break from canning vegetables in her kitchen. “And that just makes rural areas angrier and more upset. We’re not being listened to.” With cities increasingly voting Democratic and lesspopulated areas increasingly voting Republican, this urban-rural divide has become a defining factor in U.S. politics. And as the political parties grow further apart ideologically, that gaping red-blue split isn’t just between states – but also often within them. Almost nowhere in America is this dynamic starker than in Oregon, where the land west of the Cascade Range is characterized by rainy, dense fir forests and Democrats, while east of the mountains are dry high deserts and Republicans. And while it’s unlikely that Oregon’s border will ever actually move from the Snake River – such a shift would require approval from both states’ legislatures and the U.S. Congress – the Greater Idaho movement’s incremental successes of late show how deep the country’s urban-rural divide has become, and the lengths to which some voters may be willing to go to claw back a sense of power. “We were forced into this grouping a long time ago, and it doesn’t make sense. Our communities are too different. It creates this feeling of, ‘You don’t understand us, you don’t respect us, and you don’t listen to us,’” says Matt McCaw, spokesperson for the Greater Idaho movement. “Unless we help people get the government they want, we’re going to have this bitterness.” A values gap Mr. McCaw moved from a Portland suburb to Powell Butte in 2020 with his wife and seven children. They had always felt a little different than their neighbors – more conservative, more religious. But when the state government took what they viewed as a “heavy-handed” approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, the McCaws, who own a wedding venue and math curriculum consulting business, decided they needed to move east, where people were similarly frustrated by the restrictions. Yet even after they settled in Crook County, which former President Donald Trump won by almost 50 points in 2020, they found themselves still feeling frustrated. “Eastern Oregon was forced into all of these pandemic policies that we didn’t want – and right next door in Idaho it was totally different,” he says. In Idaho, families were going to church and kids were going to school. So when Mr. McCaw heard about the Greater Idaho movement, “it clicked.” “If the government is going to have that much control over your life, you really need to make sure that that government matches your values,” he says from his home in Powell Butte, where the smell of juniper trees and sagebrush fills the air. “COVID brought the bluered state divide into stark contrast.” Other recent measures have heightened that sense of a values gap. Ballot Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and meth, passed statewide in November 2020 despite opposition in the double digits from every eastern Oregon county. In 2022, Measure 114, which requires permits from local law enforcement to buy firearms and prohibits ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, passed with only six counties – three in and around Portland and three in and around Salem – voting in favor. “We have just watched western Oregon get more and more progressive,” says Sandie Gilson, a smallbusiness owner and fifthgeneration eastern Oregonian. At first, she says, she was inclined to shrug it off. “It was like, ‘Well, just let them do what they want to do.’” But increasingly, Ms. Gilson says, it feels like the state’s progressive policies are becoming a threat to their lives. Where she lives in Grant County, which is slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut, the police are often hours away. If she were to face a situation like a home intrusion or an approaching cougar or wolf, “I’m supposed to run back in my house, unlock my safe, find my bullets, load it, before I can save somebody? We just live a totally different lifestyle,” she says. In November 2020, eastern Oregon’s Jefferson and Union counties approved ballot measures requiring county commissioners to hold meetings about relocating Break free from Portland? Why eastern Oregon wants to join Idaho Matt McCaw, spokesperson for the Greater Idaho movement, stands outside his home in Powell Butte, Oregon, July 23, 2023. story continues on next page 4 SMART READER SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Live Music Series on Kenosha’s Waterfront Rain in Sight? Will the show move into the spacious Lakeview Ballroom? Check Facebook just before the show to find out! 090723 September 10 • 12-3pm Simply Yacht Rock Refreshing drinks, Tasty food, Awesome Entertainment and a Stunning Harbor View! Open Fri at 4pm • Sat & Sun at 11am 5125 6th AVE. KENOSHA FOR EVENT TICKETS VISIT HAP2IT.COM STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. 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the Oregon-Idaho border. Over the next three years, 10 more counties approved similar measures, including most recently Wallowa County, which voted in May to require biannual meetings on the subject. The ballot measure failed in two southwest Oregon counties, leading the Greater Idaho movement to redraw its original proposed map that would have included them. Now, its “Phase 1” map focuses only on Oregon east of the Cascade Range (while carefully carving out Bend, a fast-growing liberal city in central Oregon). And a possible “Phase 2” would include rural parts of Northern California and southeast Washington. Is a boundary redraw possible? Advocates like Ms. Gilson say they are confident they can get there. When she went door to door in Grant County gathering signatures to make it onto the ballot, she says 3 out of every 4 people signed her petition before she even finished her pitch. But passing a ballot measure that simply asks local officials to discuss the idea is a far cry from persuading two state legislatures as well as the U.S. Congress. “There are so many barriers to getting it done that there would have to be a strong feeling across the board that we need new boundaries,” says Francis Buckley, a professor at George Mason University School of Law and author of the 2020 book “American Secession: The Looming Threat of a National Breakup.” State boundaries have been moved before. Virginia and West Virginia split over disagreements during the Civil War. In 1958, Congress passed a law approving a slight boundary change between Oregon and Washington to track with a shifting river. A few years later, a similar law was passed for the boundary between Minnesota and North Dakota. But Mr. Buckley thinks a statewide secession from the United States is actually more likely at this point in American history than a boundary redraw – he posits that California, for example, might consider seceding if Mr. Trump wins in 2024. Still, he says movements like Greater Idaho aren’t necessarily a bad thing, “if the goal is to sort ourselves out better.” For that to happen, Republican lawmakers from eastern Oregon would have to agree to lose a chunk of their own constituents (and hence their own power) while Democrats in western Oregon would have to be convinced there are “political gains to be made” by lopping off such a big swath of land and voters. Both seem highly unlikely, says Mr. Buckley, given that Democrats’ statewide control isn’t currently threatened by the hundreds of thousands of Republican voters to the east. Oregon has had a Democratic governor for over three decades and Democratic super-majorities in at least one chamber of the state legislature for 10 of the past 20 years. Portland has more residents than all of eastern Oregon combined. But Greater Idaho advocates are convinced that their proposal is a win-win. Idaho would gain around 400,000 new residents who vote similarly to the rest of the state (these Oregon counties voted for Mr. Trump in 2020 at similar rates to Idaho’s statewide average), and Oregon could “cut their losses,” as Greater Idaho’s website puts it, by getting rid of the half of the state they currently subsidize with tax dollars. What’s more, Greater Idaho President Mike McCarter and his colleagues say that while they are pursuing this divorce from Portland and Salem civilly and peacefully, their efforts act as a kind of pressure valve for stronger frustrations roiling beneath the surface. And it’s not just in their own state. Mr. McCarter says he’s been contacted by rural voters in both North Carolina and Illinois who want to pursue something similar. He’s been in touch with secessionists in Atlanta who want to break away from the city. “People ask me, ‘Well, if you want to be a part of Idaho, why don’t you just pick up and move to Idaho?’” says Mr. McCarter, as his dog, Sable, splashes in the banks of the Deschutes River. He and his fellow members say it’s not that simple. This is where they own property and have families, and they shouldn’t have to move just because western Oregon is silencing their voice. “Our movement is trying to offer a solution,” says Mr. McCaw. “It will lower political tension, and I think we can create a road map out here in Oregon for other places where it makes sense.” “I happen to love Oregon” Of course, not all eastern Oregonians are on board with the idea of merging with Idaho. “I really do appreciate the concept, but I happen to love Oregon,” says Doris Davison, sitting outside the laundromat she owns in Hines with her two grandsons. Some locals here point to potential downsides. Oregon’s minimum wage is nearly double that of Idaho’s – a change that could hit workers here hard. They’d also lose the benefits of Oregon’s lack of sales tax. Then there’s the growing business of legalized marijuana. Ontario is an Oregon border city of fewer than 12,000 that airs Idaho news stations and shares a time zone with Boise. But last year, it produced more than $100 million in cannabis sales, second only to Portland’s Multnomah County. That growing source of revenue would be illegal in Idaho. Giving rural economies like Ontario’s, where the poverty rate is almost double the national average, more of a share of cannabis tax revenue could help ease some of east Oregon’s frustrations, says Antonio Sunseri, vice chair of the Malheur County Democrats. The Democratic Party also needs to do a better job of appealing to voters here, particularly young ones, and particularly around the issue of guns, he adds. Gun ownership is a part of rural life, says Mr. Sunseri, who is also a member of the Democratic Party of Oregon’s Gun Owners Caucus. Mr. Sunseri, a fifthgeneration resident of Malheur County with its rolling expanses of onion farms, is part of a group currently campaigning to get a repeal measure on the ballot in 2024 for a “revote” on the border relocation issue. But if it fails, he says he’ll likely drop the effort. “If that vote fails and the majority of people in my county really want to join Idaho, I’m just going to have to change my mind about it because I’ve lived here my entire life,” says Mr. Sunseri. “It’s more important to me that this place is my home than one state or the other.” By Story Hinckley Oregon continued from page 4 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 5DT2023-2 $28 Eye Exam 262 - 554 -1121 • 3701 Durand Ave. Racine $18 Eyeglasses Place SR090822 Eyeglasses exam $49 without purchase of eyeglasses. See store for details. DELIVERY HELP NEEDED Part-time position available to deliver Happenings Magazine. Fill Out An Application At 1420-63rd Street, Kenosha, WI • Dependable individual w/ your own vehicle & automobile insurance • Available on Wednesday afternoons & Thursdays mornings • Able to lift & carry at least 50 lbs Monday - Friday from 10am-4pm 090723 REQUIREMENTS
More than 100 British schools ordered to remain shut due to unsafe concrete Britain has ordered more than 100 schools and colleges not to open when the new academic year begins Monday because they are constructed from a type of "life-expired" pre-cast lightweight concrete that could cause them to collapse without warning. The Education Department issued the order late Thursday covering 104 schools across England telling them to vacate buildings or spaces where the concrete is present. Issues with crumbling Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, widely used in public buildings including schools, hospitals and courthouses from the 1960s through the 1980s, have been known for at least five years and spaces with RAAC in "critical" condition were taken out of use for repairs. The decision to shut schools at the 11th hour was taken after it emerged that RAAC previously thought to be stable, was declared unsafe by the Health and Safety Executive and "liable to collapse with little or no notice." "Nothing is more important than making sure children and staff are safe in schools and colleges, which is why we are acting on new evidence about RAAC now, ahead of the start of term," said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan. "We must take a cautious approach because that is the right thing to do for both pupils and staff. The plan we have set out will minimize the impact on pupil learning and provide schools with the right funding and support they need to put mitigations in place to deal with RAAC." The government pledged to cover the full cost of repairing or replacing affected buildings and reimburse schools for spending on temporary accommodation, on or offsite, and other additional expenses incurred. That support will enable schools to gradually get students back into class over the coming weeks and many to partially open next week but some students will be forced to study online from home. Teaching and education unions reacted angrily to the news coming so soon after the disruption to young people's education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which saw schools closed for many months at a time. The NASUWT said it was the result of "willful underinvestment" in school upkeep. "Although we welcome that the DfE has finally taken action to safeguard pupils and teachers, it would appear that mere luck rather than judgment has prevented a major disaster from occurring," said General Secretary Patrick Roach. The school leaders union, the NAHT, said that while the decision to shut schools was the correct one, they would not be in their current predicament without education spending cuts. "NAHT has repeatedly raised concerns about these buildings for a long time now, so while this news is shocking, sadly it is not hugely surprising. What we are seeing here are the very real consequences of a decade of swingeing cuts to spending on school buildings," said General Secretary Paul Whiteman. "The government is right to put the safety of pupils and staff first -- if the safety of buildings cannot be guaranteed, there is no choice but to close them so urgent building work can take place. "But there is no escaping the fact that the timing of this couldn't be worse, with children due to return from the summer holidays next week." By Paul Godfrey British Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said that the government was taking a "cautious approach" in closing schools with walls, roofs or floors constructed from a type of pre-cast lightweight concrete that may crumble and collapse without warning. Narcan, a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdose, will be available on U.S. drugstore shelves and online starting this week. People who want to carry Narcan, the nasal spray version of naloxone, will be able to find it at Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS for a suggested retail price of $44.99 for a box of two doses, the drug maker reported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Emergent BioSolutions' overdose antidote in March in response to record numbers of overdose deaths, largely due to powerful synthetic drugs like fentanyl. "We think really everyone should be thinking about putting this into their first aid kit," Walgreens chief medical officer Dr. Kevin Ban told CNN. "It's really unlimited in terms of the folks who should make sure that they get some naloxone in the off chance that they come across someone who was experiencing an overdose. This is a way to reverse that overdose. It'll save people's lives." Most U.S. states already had standing orders to allow pharmacies and other qualified organizations to provide this antidote without a prescription for those at risk, but this provides even more availability. The drug can revive a person who is overdosing within minutes. "It is excellent news that there's an over-the-counter naloxone product," said Maya Doe-Simkins, codirector of Remedy Alliance/For the People, which aims to increase access to affordable naloxone. Yet Doe-Simkins noted that most people get naloxone from organizations and governments who buy it in bulk, CNN reported. "This is the evidencebased model that is proven to save lives," she said. Community groups, first responders, state and local governments and harm reduction groups will be able to purchase Narcan for a cheaper price than the general public, $41 per twodose carton starting September 7, the manufacturer said. Narcan could soon be joined by another naloxone nasal spray, called RiVive. The nonprofit Harm Reduction Therapeutics will sell it at cost - $36 for a two-pack - starting in early 2024, CNN reported. There may still be some barriers to accessing Narcan. CVS plans to offer it for sale behind its pharmacy counter, as well as at the register and for order via pickup and delivery. Walmart and Rite Aid plan to sell it on pain care aisles. Walgreens will stock shelves with cards that someone can bring to a register to access the actual medication, CNN said. "That allows there to be sort of easy requests without having to ask for it," Ban said. "That's one of the things we wanted to remove. We realized that a lot of people just don't want to ask for the medication. So we came up with that mechanism to grab this card, then you can either bring it to the front of the store or the back of the store." Any barriers may still deter people from accessing the medication, DoeSimkins said. "Anything that's layered on to naloxone access is a barrier," she said, noting its over-the-counter availability is something the community has waited for. "We've been advocating for that for well over a decade," Doe-Simkins noted. "It's about time." Injectable naloxone is still available by prescription at a much lower cost. By Cara Murez Over-the-counter Narcan to hit drugstore shelves People who want to carry Narcan, the nasal spray version of naloxone, will be able to find it at Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS for a suggested retail price of $44.99 for a box of two doses. 6 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800
There are many events and activities to look forward to this Fall in the Kenosha Area! Go to VisitKenosha.com/FallFun for ideas on how to enjoy the season! Here’s a sampling: Of course, Jerry Smith Produce & Pumpkin Farm is THE place to visit in the Fall. September 16 is when their fall/pumpkin season starts. There is no cost to see the fun and amazing hand-painted pumpkin displays! Be ready to take lots of photos! The paid activity area has many activities to enjoy – including hayrides, a corn maze, and more. There’s also the country store to visit, a petting zoo, and delicious frosted cookies to stock up on. Produce, pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, and more fall décor are available to purchase. Also find fresh produce and fall-themed decorations from vendors at the two Saturday Farmers Markets in Downtown Kenosha: Kenosha HarborMarket and Kenosha Public Market. The markets are outdoors through October, then they move inside. Or make your own décor! Create Halloween or Fall-themed art at Alpaca Art or Pinot's Palette. Alpaca Art is a potterypainting studio. During open hours, choose from a selection of plates, bowls, banks, boxes, and figurines. Then sit, relax, and paint. Make your own unique candy dish! Pinot's Palette is a paint studio that offers guided painting classes. Their upcoming event calendar includes such themes as: Harvest Sunset, Under The Harvest Moon, Autumn Sunset, A Perfect Fall Day, Autumn Brook, Spooky Vineyard, Spooky Lake, Having A Gourd Time, and Midnight Scarecrow. Also this Fall, experience a private or public Ghost Tour through Downtown Kenosha. This fun and informative tour is offered by Lakeshore Pedal Tours each October. Speaking of ghosts and spooks, the Kemper Haunted House is open each Saturday evening in October at Kemper Center. More events in the coming weeks include: Old Settlers Oktoberfest at Old Settlers Park and Walk in the Woods Art Fair at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum on September 9. The Petrifying Springs Biergarten Oktoberfest is September 15-17. September 16-17, Oktoberfest happens at Union Park Tavern. The Fall Fun Festival and World Migratory Bird Day at Pringle Nature Center / Bristol Woods Park is September 16. September 24 is a Rooftop Oktoberfest VIP Party at The Apis Restaurant. September 28 to October 1 is the Rustic Road Brewing Company Lakeside Oktoberfest at HarborPark Celebration Place. September 29 to October 1 is the Port of Fear Film Festival at Kemper Center. The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha's Brat Trot is September 30 at HarborPark Celebration Place. The Wolf Lake Trail Run/Hike at Richard Bong State Recreation Area is September 30. October 6 is the day of the Fall Senior Scramble at Brighton Dale Links. October 7 is Fall Fest at the Kenosha YMCA, as well as Flannel Fest with the Jockey Undie Run at Petrifying Springs Park. The Fall edition of Sip & Stroll in Downtown Kenosha is also October 7. October 14 is the City of Kenosha’s Fall Into Fun Festival at Veterans Memorial Park. The Lakeside Players production of “Blithe Spirit” opens on October 27 at Rhode Center for the Arts. The Halloween Horror Golf Tournament at Brighton Dale Links is October 28. That’s also the day of Trunk Or Treat at the Kenosha YMCA. The Bristol Woods Trail Run is November 4 at Bristol Woods Park. Go to VisitKenosha.com to find more events, things to see and do, and places to eat and stay at. Visit Kenosha has been Kenosha’s official travel resource since 1986. All event information is subject to change. Fall Fun in Kenosha by Meridith Jumisko, Visit Kenosha Meridith Jumisko is Public Relations Director at Visit Kenosha. Contact her at [email protected] FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 7 AUTUMN 2 02 COMEDY 3 EVENTS 5125 6th Ave. Kenosha 5125 6th Ave. Kenosha If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! FOR EVENT TICKETS & MORE ACTS VISIT HAP2IT.COM STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 10AM-4PM OR CALL (262)564-8800 M N in o Drink imum! MARSHA WARFIELD UPCOMING: OCTOBER 27 & 28 GREG SCHWEM NOVEMBER 3 & 4 MR. SHOWTIME DAVID SCOTT • NOVEMBER 17 & 18 TIM MEADOWS 090723 8/9 SEPT NATHAN “TRICKY” ALLEN 13/14 RICH GUZZI 20/21 OCT 15/16 SEPT KEVIN FARLEY PETER ANTONIOU 22/23 SEPT WITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST STEVE CASEY MAGIC & COMEDY ALL IN ONE! ‘PSYCHIC’ COMEDIAN COMEDY HYPNOSIS SHOW LYNNE KOPLITZ 6/7 OCT
8 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 You have a county coroner who conducts autopsies on those who have been sent back to Heaven. I too perform autopsies each week. A lot of them. Homeowners reach out to me asking why their repair or remodeling job has gone off the rails. Or perhaps your new-home project is sinking faster than the Lusitania. To help prevent you from losing vast sums of money, I’m going to share a few recent tales as well as my autopsy results. Often there’s a common thread. It’s my hope you’ll soon see that you need to hold back the trust you place in contractors. Let’s get started. Recently, Michael reached out to me. Months ago, he invested many thousands of dollars in a new concrete sidewalk, driveway and front porch at his home. Not too long after the work was completed, he noticed a large crack in the sidewalk leading to his porch. The crack was getting wider by the week. He asked me, “Is this normal cracking for new concrete, and should I accept a patch or should another repair method be used?” I responded that it’s normal for concrete to crack. I pointed him to a past column in which I explained in great detail the dynamics of concrete. You can read this column at AsktheBuilder.com. In a nutshell, concrete cracks because tension forces build up within a slab as it cures. On average you can expect concrete to shrink 1/16 inch for every 10 feet of slab length. Cracks happen for lots of other reasons as well. Expert concrete masons install control joints in slabs to try to encourage the crack to happen where it can be disguised rather than a random irregular crack across the slab. I shared with Michael that if he had purchased a small guide I created a few years ago, that the crack might not have appeared. In the guide, I share an illustration showing how inexpensive reinforcing steel could have been used to minimize the crack, ensuring it never grows beyond a hairline crack. I gathered from Michael’s tale of woe that he had placed far too much trust in the contractor. He assumed the contractor would do everything right to ensure the concrete would look great for decades. Misplaced trust often leads to disappointment. Michael should have invested a few hours time to discover how to prevent concrete cracks. Days before I heard from Michael, I was talking on the phone with a woman who has hired me as her virtual general contractor. She’s in the midst of a massive remodel of a home in Maine. A flaw in the house’s block foundation was discovered by a contractor doing demolition work. The project architect never saw it — or, if she did, she didn’t think it was a big deal. I’m not sure if an ASHI home inspector was used when the house was purchased. An inspector might have spotted the flaw, allowing the woman to negotiate a better price on the house. The block foundation now has to be removed, and a new cast-concrete foundation will go in its place. I estimate this will create an immediate, painful cost overrun of about $60,000. Imagine having to swallow that so early in a huge project. It’s very possible the flaw would have been identified in a $650 house inspection by one of the top inspectors out there. The day after dealing with the block foundation issue, I spoke on the phone with Rita. She’s invested in past consultation calls with me about a failed garage foundation. This time it was an issue with her son’s new three-story townhouse. The temperature on each level varies by a great deal. She wanted to know what could be done to create more even temperatures throughout the residence. I shared a few options that might work. I also shared with her that I didn’t have that issue at all with the heating and cooling in any of the houses I have built. My houses had all the correct-sized ducts leading to each room. Detailed calculations were performed to determine exactly how much hot or cold air needed to be put into each room to keep it at the desired temperature. Each room except kitchens and bathrooms had strategically placed return air ducts. You can avoid financial and emotional heartache by investing time BEFORE you sign a contract. Never before has it been easier to get up to speed on the right way to do things. Many manufacturers and trade associations have fantastic videos you can watch to get a feel for how products are supposed to be installed. It’s your job to watch these or read installation instructions ahead of time so you can determine in conversations with bidding contractors if they know how to do the job correctly. You can also hire me to help you get up to speed. The last thing I want to do is perform an autopsy on your failed project. Do your due diligence or suffer the consequences. Will your DIY project kill or injure yourself or others? Ilive in rural central New Hampshire. It’s the "Live Free or Die" state. I believe in that motto to a very large degree, but I’m also interested in making sure innocent people don’t get hurt or killed should a building or deck collapse. Just a few days ago, I was driving along a back road to get groceries. Lo and behold, out of nowhere a small pole barn was taking shape. I was stunned simply because I had not seen any excavation or foundation work in progress. Understand that I travel up and down this road at least four times a week. I decided to stop by, say hello to the owner and ask if I could look at the large framed building. The homeowner was very cordial and welcomed me. “I’ve got four days labor into this, and just yesterday the building inspector nailed a STOP WORK sign on it,” said the perturbed man. “The inspector told me not only was it too close to the road, but it has to come down. He said there are all sorts of mistakes and it’s unsafe,” said the DIY homeowner. I offered him as much consolation as I could muster, as I didn’t want to come out and say that I was in total agreement with the inspector. There were far more things wrong with the structure than were right. I felt his story was worth sharing because had this structure not been seen by the inspector, there’s a very good chance someone could have been killed or severely injured when it collapsed in the next windstorm or snowstorm. Allow me to share many of the mistakes I saw standing just 20 feet away. Then I’ll offer up how to build something the right way if you should get the itch to swing a hammer. First and foremost, this small pole barn had no foundation. I’ve seen some New Hampshire barns built where the giant timber base plate is set on stone. But this homeowner had tacked together treated landscape timbers and simply laid them on the grass and some coarse gravel he scattered about. He did a very poor job of leveling the ground, and one wall had a huge sag in it. The vertical wall supports were just the same landscape timbers as the top plate of the walls. He had used regular 16-penny nails toenailing these thick timbers together. It was the worst framing job I’ve ever seen. Any structural engineer would have nightmares about this, while personal-injury lawyers would be salivating. There were crude, small diagonal braces at the base of some of the vertical supports, but these were no doubt temporary. They would have to be removed to install whatever siding was going to cover the walls. Diagonal bracing in walls is necessary so they don’t rack and fold up like a row of dominoes might fall when you tip the first one. The roof rafters were the correct size, but the center ridge board was very much undersized. The wellintentioned DIYer installed small collar ties just under the ridge but their location offered minimal resistance to the roof collapsing under three or four feet of wet snow, which is quite common in this part of the state. How do you avoid this situation if you’re trying to be a weekend warrior or hire the job out to a carpenter? Step one is to obtain a very basic understanding of all the structural elements in what you’re building. There are all sorts of books you can read, but I have a nifty PDF ebook written specifically for homeowners like you. No matter what you’re building or remodeling, this is something you should have handy. Once you have an idea how to build something, visit your city or town zoning office to see what laws or ordinances are in place that you must follow. You’ll discover that most residential building lots have no-build zones adjacent to the property lines. The zoning employees will share what the distinct setback lines are. Assuming you can build what you want on your lot, now it’s time to secure a building permit. You’ll need some plans for this. There are any number of websites that sell plans that should enable you to secure a permit. If there are deficiencies in the plans, the plan reviewer will instruct you what you need to add to the plans to get the permit. This will give you a good start, but realize that plans are no substitute for decades of building experience. If you intend to do the work yourself, you must to establish a lifeline with a seasoned pro who can offer advice. If you decide to hire the work out, you must invest the time to go visit finished jobs of the pro to prove to yourself she/he can meet or exceed your quality expectations. How not to waste thousands of dollars on home improvement projects 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 Tues., Sept. 19th at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP This new concrete sidewalk cracked within months. The homeowner was distraught. There are things he could have done to prevent or minimize the crack. While you may think this structure looks sound, it’s not. Fortunately, the town inspector saw it and is forcing the owner to tear it down.
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 9 health lifestyle community Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center news September 7, 2023 Your Kenosha ADRC Update Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans ADRC offers free assistance beginning October 17 Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period is October 15 - December 7. It’s an important time of year for those on Medicare to review current coverage and see if any changes are needed for the coming year. Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan details often change every year. Sorting through all the options to find the right plan for prescriptions can be confusing but Benefit Specialists at the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center can assist. There are four basic reasons to check your plan: • Your plan may cost more next year • Your plan may no longer cover all your medications • Your plan may have put restrictions on some of your medications • You may be taking different medications now ADRC Benefit Specialists offer objective and reliable information and assistance. There is no charge for this service. The Benefit Specialists do not sell or endorse any insurance plans. Benefit Specialists at the ADRC are trained to carefully review current coverage and compare plans with other options based on medications and other details. Benefit Specialists also check to see if beneficiaries qualify for programs or benefits that can save money. Workshops will be offered throughout Kenosha County beginning on October 17. Kenosha County Center, 19600 75th St., Bristol • Tues., October 17, 9:30 - 12:30 • Tues., October 24, 9:30 - 12:30 Salem Lakes Fire and Rescue, 11252 254th Ct., Trevor • Thursday, Nov. 2, 10:30– 1:30 Westosha Senior Center, 19200 - 93rd St., Bristol • Tuesday, Nov. 14, 10:30 – 1:30 Northside Library, 1500 27th Ave., Kenosha, Rm. A • Tuesday, Nov. 29, 9:30 - 12:30 Festival Foods Community Room, 2nd floor 3207 80th St., Kenosha • Thur., Nov. 30, 9:30 – 12:30 Southwest Neighborhood Library, Rm. A, 7979 - 38th Ave., Kenosha • Thur., Nov. 9, 9:30 – 12:30 • Tuesday, Dec. 5, 11:30 – 2:30 Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Rd., Kenosha, Door A • Thursday Oct. 19, 9:30 – 12:30 • Thursday, Oct. 26, 9:30 – 12:30 • Tuesday, Oct. 31, 10:30 - 1:30 • Tuesday, Nov. 7, 1:30 - 3:30 • Wednesday, Nov. 15, 9:30 - 12:30 • Tuesday, Nov. 28, 9:30 - 12:30 It’s recommended that participants bring their own laptop, tablet or smart phone if possible. For further information or to make reservations call the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center at 262-605-6646. You’re There for Them, We’re Here for You Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a free, six-week, educational series, intended to teach skills on how to take care of yourself while caring for a loved one. The class helps family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources. The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is now accepting reservations for its next Powerful Tools for Caregivers course. The classes will be held virtually using Zoom, Wednesdays, October 25 – November 29, 4 – 6 p.m. Don’t know how to use Zoom? No problem! We can walk you through it. RSVP by October 18, 2023. To register, call 262-605-6646 or click the red registration button at http://adrc.kenoshacounty.org. The ADRC also offers classes in Spanish, call for dates and information!
10 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Wisconsin is ranked #1 in the nation for falls Reduce Your Falls Risk! Wisconsin is ranked #1 in the nation for falls that lead to death among the elderly. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. The Kenosha County ADRC wants to change those statistics with Stepping On! Stepping On is a free, seven-week educational series, to help reduce falls in older adults. The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is hosting a Stepping On course, to be offered at Salem Community Library, 24615 89th Street, Salem, beginning on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 10 a.m. – noon. In Stepping On, participants learn how to build and maintain the physical strength and balance needed to walk confidently. From footwear to prescriptions, participants learn what increases the risk of a falling and how to avoid it. Participants also make an individualized action plan to stay on to help them stay on their feet, living life the way they want. If you have questions or wish to register, call the ADRC at 262-605-6646. Medicare Minutes: Changing Part D Plans Medicare Minute presentations are offered monthly by the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center. These free programs provide information on a wide range of Medicare topics. October’s Medicare Minutes will focus on the Changing Part D Plans. The program will be offered virtually on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, from 10 – 11 a.m. Medicare Minutes are developed by the Medicare Rights Center as a State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) National Technical Assistance Center service. The Medicare Rights Center is a national, non-profit consumer service organization. They are one of the SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) National Technical Assistance Center partners. To participate and for reservations call the ADRC 262-605-6646. A Zoom link will be provided. Caring for an adult family member or friend? Family Caregiver Support Group Meets in-person and virtually The role of a family caregiver, while rewarding, can also be challenging when trying to balance life’s responsibilities along with supporting the needs of another individual, family member or friend. The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers a Family Caregiver Support Group, the first Thursday of every month. Family caregivers often don’t see themselves as caregivers, they simply think of themselves as the husband, sister, daughter or friend. Defined, a family caregiver is a person who provides support for an adult who needs assistance with daily living activities, such as cooking, driving, shopping, laundry and paying bills. If you are a family caregiver, this group is for you! Join fellow caregivers, either virtually or inperson, as you share your experiences, ask questions and learn from others. The group is facilitated by the ADRC’s Margaret Ricchio, Caregiver Support Specialist, and Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 5, 4-5 p.m. In-person location is 8600 Sheridan Road, entrance D. To register, learn more or to receive the virtual link, call the Kenosha County ADRC, 262-605-6646. Free Healthy Living with Diabetes Class offered! Healthy Living with Diabetes is a 6-week evidence-based program from Stanford University that has helped people world-wide: • Be in control and feel better • Have more energy • Use new tools to manage their diabetes • Create new goals The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is offering this free class for those want to learn more about diabetes. The class will be offered, Thursdays, 5 – 7 p.m., October 12 – November 16, at Kenosha Southside Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Avenue, Kenosha. If you are a Kenosha County resident, age 50 or older and have diabetes or care for someone who does, and would like to attend Healthy Living with Diabetes, or learn more about it, call the ADRC at 262-605-6646. An Evening for Family Caregivers Free event held at the LGBT Center of Southeastern Wisconsin The LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin, along with the Aging & Disability Resource Centers of Kenosha and Racine County, are hosting an evening for family caregivers. If you are caring for an adult family member, friend, or neighbor— whether grocery shopping, doing laundry, running errands, driving them to appointments, assisting with banking, bathing, or all of the above—you are invited. Family caregivers, also known as informal caregivers, don’t generally see themselves as caregivers. Most simply see themselves as the sister, daughter, husband, wife, father, grandchild, or friend they are. Yet these caregivers have become much more than that to the person they are caring for. In doing so, caregivers often face several challenges which can be emotionally, physically and even financially draining. Often there isn’t enough time in the day to complete the tasks needed, and caregivers begin to take less care of themselves, missing work, their own doctor appointments, not having time to exercise, and not getting enough sleep or time to relax. The ADRCs of Kenosha and Racine Counties offer support, information, financial support options, and free classes that can help lower the stresses that come with caregiving. Join the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin and the ADRCs of Kenosha and Racine Counties for a casual evening of conversation, refreshments, resources, and information. An Evening for Family Caregivers will be held on Thursday, September 15, 5-7 p.m. at 1456 Junction Avenue, Racine. Registration is appreciated as it will help plan for enough refreshments and resources. Please call the LGBT Center at 262-664-4100. Your Kenosha ADRC Update
Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center Presents Free In-Depth Training for Family Caregivers Six-week Course Offers Education on Caring for an Older Adult with Dementia The Aging & Disability Resource Center is offering a free, six-week program designed to provide family caregivers with clinical level education and training. “The Savvy Caregiver” will be held on six consecutive Tuesdays, beginning September 26, 4 – 6 p.m. The series will conclude on October 31. This workshop is open to those providing care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. The Savvy Caregiver training program is a unique approach to family caregiver education. The central concept is the notion of strategy. Throughout the program caregivers are invited to learn, develop, and modify strategies for their particular caregiving situation. Participants will gain increased understanding of dementia and how it affects the person as well as the family, skills to assess abilities of a loved one with dementia, confidence to set and alter caregiving goals, strategies to manage activities of daily living, and perspective on the course of the diagnosis as it relates to the person for whom they are caring for. Offered both virtually and in-person, the Savvy Caregiver workshop provides 12-hours of faceto-face training, a caregiver manual and access to community resources. To learn more and to register please contact Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist with the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center, at 262-605-6602.. Memory Screen Mondays The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers free, confidential memory screens every Monday, 8 a.m. - noon. Memory screens are suggested for anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history, or who wants to check their memory now for future comparison. Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat memory loss. Memory screening can: Provide relief for individuals concerned about normal memory loss Lead to diagnosis of treatable conditions Offer the ability to make lifestyle changes early when they have the greatest potential for positive effect and the opportunity to participate in making future decisions Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion over daily routines, and personality changes. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam. Appointments are recommended. Interested persons may call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make an appointment. Your Kenosha ADRC Update FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 11 call 262.653.9132 SR032423 JR PROPERTIES 2409 - 52nd Street, Suite 3 • Kenosha 2 Bedrooms $875 Includes: FREE Cable Heat & Water John and Shelley Rogowski, Owners
There are so many misconceptions about the Social Security disability program. I've written a book called "Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts." It puts to rest all the crazy rumors that are out there about the entire Social Security program. But I could probably write another book just setting the record straight about Social Security disability benefits. For example, lots of people think it's not really Social Security -- even people getting disability benefits. They will write to me and say something like, "I'm getting disability benefits and will soon reach age 65. When will I get real Social Security?" I answer that question by telling them they are already getting "real" Social Security. It just happens to be a disability benefit instead of a retirement benefit. To further answer their question, I tell them that when they reach full retirement age, they will be automatically switched from the Social Security disability program to the Social Security retirement program. But the changeover will essentially be transparent to them because their benefit amount remains the same. And that's because a Social Security disability benefit pays the same rate as a full retirement age benefit. Others seem to think that Social Security disability is some sort of welfare program. It's not. If you've worked and paid taxes for a specified amount of time and become disabled before reaching full retirement age, you would get disability benefits whether you are rich or poor -- just like you could get retirement benefits whether you are rich or poor. What's prompting this column is an email I got today from a guy who said: "They should take all the drug addicts off the disability program. My philosophy is this: if you have a disability you brought on yourself by poor life choices, then you should not be able to get Social Security disability." I had to clarify a couple things for this guy. First, you do not get Social Security disability benefits just because you're a drug addict. However, if that addiction is bad enough that it's led to other severe physical or mental impairments, those conditions might qualify you for disability checks. And as far as his philosophy about poor life choices disqualifying you for benefits, what would he do about a guy who smoked all his life who at age 55 ended up with emphysema and lung cancer and started getting Social Security disability? Should we kick him off the program because of his poor life choices? What about a woman who was in an abusive relationship and turned to alcohol for some form of relief and ended up an alcoholic who got cirrhosis of the liver and ended up on disability. Once again, do we kick her off the program because of her poor life choices? I also know that many people think that Social Security disability benefits are handed out like candy to anyone who walks into a Social Security office claiming to have some minor problem. But the opposite is true. Please, dear readers, believe me: As someone who's worked with the disability program for about 50 years now, I know you must really be severely disabled to qualify for benefits. Of course, I'm not naive enough to think that out of the millions of Social Security disability beneficiaries, there aren't a few bad apples in that big barrel who are getting benefits they don't deserve. But I assure you their numbers are few and far between. The Social Security disability program is universally recognized as one of the most difficult programs to qualify for. You simply don't get benefits if you have a bad back or a bum knee. You must have a severe physical or mental impairment that is expected to keep you out of work for at least 12 months -- or a condition that is terminal. Let me clear up another myth about disability benefits, which claims that once you're on the program, the monthly checks will just keep rolling in for the rest of your life. Actually, the law says that every Social Security disability claim must be reviewed from time to time to make sure that the person getting monthly checks from the government still meets the legal definition of disabled. How often a claim gets reviewed depends on the severity of the impairment. In cases where the person's medical condition is expected to improve, the rules say the claim must be reexamined every six to 18 months. In situations where medical improvement is possible, but not probable, the claim should be reviewed every three years or so. And even in cases where medical improvement is not expected, the law still requires that the case be reviewed once every five to seven years. social security Disability Myths 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. continues on next page 12 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SR081023SR061622 SR082423
Social Security continued from previous page Finally, because I'm guessing most people reading this column are senior citizens, here's a few quick words about older people who are disabled. If you are over your full retirement age, forget about it. Once you reach that age, disability benefits are no longer payable. Or to put that another way, the retirement benefit you are getting pays the same rate as any disability benefits you might be due. If you are under age 62 and disabled, then you should definitely file for Social Security disability. If you are over 62 and not yet on Social Security, then you should file for retirement and disability benefits at the same time. The Social Security Administration can start your retirement payments right away. Then if your disability claim is eventually approved, they will switch you to the higher disability rate. But if you are between age 62 and your full retirement age and are already getting Social Security retirement benefits, you may or may not be eligible for disability payments. I don't have enough space left in this column to explain, but the closer you are to your full retirement age, the smaller your disability boost will be -- and you may decide it's just not worth all the hassle of filing a disability claim to get a few extra bucks per month. Dear Amy: My longtime male friend and I have been together for over 15 years. He lives just a few miles away. We talked about marriage for a while, but that impulse waned as time went by. I think we both believe that we have a good relationship and that marrying or living together might change that. He is a great, easygoing man who I do love dearly, and I know he loves me, too. Here is the caveat: We both have grandkids from our previous marriages. I feel as most grandmothers do that my grandkids are the loves of my life. He feels the same about his grandchildren. When it comes to sitting with the little ones, however, he is over the top. He babysits several days during the week, as well as staying overnight when his kids take a trip. As time goes by, I find myself alone more and more. We used to do things together during the day (take drives, visit museums, bike, golf, etc.), but now days like that are few and far between. I never say anything because I understand his feelings for his grandchildren, and I don’t want to start any fights or create ill feelings. Lately, I’ve started noticing other men – I think more out of the need for companionship than anything else. And yes I have dated a few other men and have been intimate with two men. I do feel some guilt, but not enough to cease looking. What can I do? – Lonely in the Sunshine State Dear Lonely: Your friend has taken on a new family. His interests have shifted. Because his new interest involves actual physical caretaking for the little loves in his life, you can either join him in this pursuit or find a new golfing partner. Some grandparents completely suppress their other identities in favor of their role as a grandparent, and while this can be great for the grandkids and their folks – this new avocation will swamp other relationships. He is making choices that serve his interests and passions, and you have the right to do the same. You are already engaging in pursuing other companionrelationships, and the way not to feel guilty about this is to tell this man the truth. ask amy Gentleman friend excludes me from his family activites 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 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 13 SR061519 30 GUARANTEED DAY LOWEST PRICE WE WILL MEET PRICE BEAT OR ANY ADVERTISED ON ANY TIRE WE SELL WITH THE PURCHSE OF 4 TIRES FREE LIFETIME ROTATIONS OVER 18 BRANDS INCLUDING BFGOODRICH, BRIDGESTONE, MICHELIN, GOODYEAR & MORE! 262-694-1500 7110 74th PL, Kenosha, WI “Located next to Menards” YOUR CERTIFIED GM SERVICE CENTER... WE USE GENUINE GM PARTS WE ALSO SERVICE ALL VEHICLE MAKES AND MODELS SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN’S LARGEST TIRE DEALERSHIP! $ 20 OFF $ 20 OFF $ 10 OFF 10% OFF Transmission or Coolant Flush PALMEN BUICK GMC CADILLAC Cannot be combined with any other coupons See advisor for details. Expires 10/8/23. PALMEN BUICK GMC CADILLAC Cannot be combined with any other coupons. See advisor for details. Expires 10/8/23. PALMEN BUICK GMC CADILLAC Cannot be combined with any other coupons. See advisor for details. Expires 10/8/23. 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14 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 books The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride In Chicken Hill, the Black and Jewish neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where immigrants and longtime residents strive and struggle, Chona Ludlow runs the local grocery with a fearless, open heart. When an attack at the store leads to an orphaned boy’s arrest, community members rally. Frank and affectionate, this latest triumph from James McBride stresses the challenges of accessing America’s promises. Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett A mother recounts her days as an actress in Hollywood and summer stock theater to her three grown daughters. Set on a northern Michigan cherry farm during the pandemic, the quiet novel awakens gratitude for life’s lessons. Three Fires, by Denise Mina Denise Mina delivers a taut imagining of the rise and fall of a religious zealot in late 15th-century Italy. Girolamo Savonarola, a proud young man smarting from rejection and appalled by church corruption, embarks on an increasingly militant moral crusade. It doesn’t end well. Weaving together present-day lingo and dry asides, Mina spotlights the traits and tragedies that lead to fanaticism. The Last Ranger, by Peter Heller Peter Heller’s adventurous novel centers on a Yellowstone National Park ranger with a poet’s heart and a troubled past. The ranger’s endeavors to solve mysteries, keep the peace, and safeguard a cherished friend are reverence in action. Heller’s lyrical prose captures gorgeous natural landscapes, captivating wildlife facts, wolf folklore, and a vibrant community of characters. The Continental Affair, by Christine Mangan A woman convinced she’s irredeemable. An upstanding man dogged by his past. Purloined cash – and the crooks who want it back. Christine Mangan’s novel plunks these characters and that loot into Europe in the 1960s; the resulting slow-boil pursuit by train, bus, and foot recalls James Bond. But this is no romp. The troubled protagonists wrestle with regret, forgiveness, and a longing for home. Good Fortune, by C.K. Chau This retelling of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in New York’s Chinatown ticks all the right boxes. When Darcy Wong’s company offers to buy out the failing community center that Elizabeth Chen cherishes, sparks fly. 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 new 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. How the Cultural Revolution shapes Chinese families decades later In Red Memory: The Afterlives of China’s Cultural Revolution, British journalist Tania Branigan reveals the profound yet often hidden presentday reverberations of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution. During the fanatical campaign unleashed by Mao Zedong, Red Guards persecuted and killed millions of people across China. Betrayal and mistrust divided students and teachers, neighbors, and even families. Then, in a jarring shift, China’s postMao leaders denounced the Cultural Revolution as a “catastrophe” as they redirected the country’s energies away from the pursuit of a communist Utopia and toward market-oriented economic growth. Ordinary Chinese people were allowed to speak about the ordeal, for a time. But Beijing, eager to control the historical narrative and mute criticism of Mr. Mao, gradually began to suppress all but brief mentions of the disastrous campaign. Enter Ms. Branigan, who began meeting with individuals and capturing their stories while covering China for The Guardian from 2008 to 2015. You studied politics and sociology, and were drawn to reporting as a teenager. What led you to become a China correspondent? China is the story of our time, and it seemed to me an unmissable one. I was working as a national reporter at The Guardian, and I kept badgering my editors saying I wanted to go to China. In 2008, the Olympics year, they agreed to send me out, and I stayed for seven years. I was incredibly privileged to be there then. It was a transition time from a point where there still seemed to be a real sense of possibility, with a lively civil society, and then from 2011, ultimately a turn toward a much more repressive and closed environment. You write that it is impossible to make sense of China today without understanding the Cultural Revolution. What are the key insights from that tumultuous decade? The most obvious impact is in the field of politics. The message from the Communist Party to ordinary Chinese is: “Accept party rule, because if you don’t, there will be chaos and turmoil, and we’ve seen how bad it can get if we’re not running things and we don’t have a firm hand.” In very personal terms, family relationships have been deeply shaped by the Cultural Revolution, whether it’s people who never really got to know their parents because they were sent away to labor camps ... or parents so traumatized by their experiences that they are teaching their children that it’s impossible to trust anyone. How have memories resurfaced recently, such as during the pandemic? People drew parallels with the very draconian “zero-COVID” policies and the experience of people barging into your house and dragging you out. We’ve also seen it on the streets, when there was a protest against “zero-COVID” and you saw people with a sign saying, “We want reform, not the Cultural Revolution.” Why is China’s current leadership so determined to suppress public commentary about that formative period in the country’s recent past? You describe a kind of collective “amnesia” that authorities are working hard to maintain. They don’t like talk about anything that reflects badly on the Communist Party. And while they have not walked away from the official verdict that it was a catastrophe, they don’t want people to dwell on it. They want to unite people and move on. ... If you criticize Mao himself, then you’re really attacking the very roots of communist rule. Finally, if you acknowledge that people have a right to criticize former leaders, why shouldn’t they be criticizing current leaders? It’s just not a precedent that the party wants to set. They don’t want to grant people that space. If people can judge history, they can judge the present as well. Yet, as you note, memories are persistent. When painful memories are not allowed to be aired or recognized by society, what happens to the psychological trauma? It takes an immense toll. ... We see this transgenerational trauma, when you see the trauma handed down and experienced through the generations. It plays out in these family relationships and in the way people view the world. I talk about a young student at university who seemed tremendously well behaved and obedient. Suddenly, he posted this very graphic account .. of attacking and killing one of his lecturers. When he’s eventually seen by a mental health professional, and his parents come in to discuss it, it suddenly emerges that his grandfather was murdered by Red Guards in front of his father, and his father over al these years has never spoken a word of this to his son. He was trying to protect his son. But he had brought up his son with this sense that strong emotions are something that have to be repressed at all costs. You could not show any anger, any frustration. Tell me about the person you met while writing this book who stays with you the most. They all stay with me in one way or another. ... I think of Wang Xilin, the composer who almost died in the Cultural Revolution. He ... said, “If somebody calls my name out on the street, my blood runs cold.” That took him back to the struggle sessions [public rallies where so-called class enemies were accused and attacked] and waiting for the moment that somebody would call his name and he would be beaten. All these decades later, he retained that sense of vigilance, that sense of living with perpetual uncertainty. Yet in spite or because of his experiences, he has such an extraordinary thirst and passion for life. People have not only survived but even managed to thrive They have gone on to live their lives and in the case of Wang Xilin, really to embrace life. The Cultural Revolution shows how terrible human beings can be, but humans are also remarkable. What lessons can we learn from your book about dealing with collective memories? It wasn’t a book just about Chinese people but about all people. It’s a really important reminder to us, that we have to be honest about our pasts. By Whitney Eulich more on next page Transition and renewal: The 10 best new books
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 15 The Women of NOW, by Katherine Turk This illuminating account tells the story of the National Organization for Women through three diverse but littleknown core members. In recounting their achievements and struggles, Katherine Turk highlights both the radical roots of the women’s rights group and its lasting impact on American society. Dream Town, by Laura Meckler Laura Meckler examines the history of racial integration in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and the parallel struggle for racial equity in the city’s public schools. She anchors each chapter with the narrative of a person who helped the town, bringing to life this story of perseverance in the face of imperfection. Daughter of the Dragon, by Yunte Huang Chinese American actor Anna May Wong’s 40-year stage and film career ranged from bit parts in the 1920s to supporting roles in big-budget hits. Yunte Huang exposes the racist policies and conflicting attitudes that limited her rise. Wong persevered; her individuality and style still inspire today. . s n d t r t l d o p g o d u o r e e f e k s s ] t e s f h r s d y . s, o n n m h e a t . hReader Recommendations I just finished The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. It is the story of a young Jewish woman in the 17th century, Ester Velasquez, who yearned for intellectual discourse with the great minds of her day. Restricted by both gender and the shadow of persecution, she assumes various male pseudonyms to engage in clandestine correspondence. Interwoven with Ester’s story is that of a modern-day historian, Helen Watt, who is researching those letters. Helen experiences self-discovery and strength through the bond with this kindred soul who lived centuries earlier. - Richard Boatman, Pleasant Hill, Iowa In The Deagon Deviation, Rob Cramb portrays a fictional research institute in Brisbane, Australia, threatened by an algorithm-driven management scheme. Cramb, who is a professor at the University of Queensland, writes with authority and dry humor. This work will especially resonate with readers who have experienced institutional dynamics. All the parts of the story fit smoothly together into a finely crafted, rewarding read. - Richard Montgomery, Gig Harbor, Washington I’m currently reading and enjoying “The Midnight Library, a magical realism novel by Matt Haig that explores the idea of considering what our lives would be like if we had chosen various different paths. - Cindy La Ferle, Royal Oak, Michigan Best new books continued from page 14 Making ‘Necessary Trouble’: A historian rises above her roots Drew Gilpin Faust’s 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 in the 1950s and ’60s. It’s an apt combination from an acclaimed historian who’s also a powerful storyteller. Necessary Trouble: Growing Up at Midcentury describes Dr. Faust’s upbringing as a privileged white girl in segregated Virginia, where she chafed at constraints placed on her because of her gender and was outraged by the racial discrimination she saw around her. (The book opens with a copy of her handwritten letter to President Dwight Eisenhower, penned at age 9, asking him to end school segregation.) By the time “Necessary Trouble” concludes in 1968, with Dr. Faust’s graduation from Bryn Mawr College, she had rejected the culture in which she was raised, embracing the civil rights and anti-war movements and daring to imagine a different future for herself. She went on to become a scholar of the American South and, later, the first woman president of Harvard University, a position she held from 2007 to 2018. She recently spoke with the Monitor. What led you to write this book now? As a historian, I’ve spent so much time listening to voices of the past, be they the voices of bereaved people in the Civil War [in 2009’s “This Republic of Suffering”] or others in the South. I decided it was time for me to be a voice instead of a recorder of voices. How did you go about balancing the personal and the political? I was influenced by my work to think that I could explain my life better by situating it within the context of its times and seeing how my choices as an individual had been structured by the events and social expectations that surrounded me. Even as a child I was very concerned about the world beyond my little Virginia farm. How did the social expectations you describe set you up for conflict with your family? I hope I paint a sympathetic picture of both my mother and my grandmother. I wanted to show how limited their choices were. They both ended up as unhappy people even though one could say that everything was available to them. They came from very privileged backgrounds, and yet the limits on their ability to pursue meaningful work and make meaningful choices in their lives were enormous. In my lifetime, things were beginning to change in ways that enabled me to find paths that they had not been able to. As a young girl, you rejected notions of racial hierarchy. How do you account for your keen sense of justice? I think my awareness of race grew out of my own resentment about the limitations on me for being a girl. I had three brothers, and they could do certain things while I had to do other things. The expectations of us were very sharply different. I was suffused with a sense of “this isn’t fair.” But when I looked around me, I saw social structures that were even more unfair in the ways that Black people were treated in segregated Virginia in the 1950s. How did books help you see beyond the limitations placed on you? Nancy Drew and Anne Frank and “To Kill a Mockingbird” and other books showed tough young women who were forging their own paths. They empowered me in ways that continued to influence me into high school and college. You write that from an early age you recognized “the force and the burden of history.” Can you say more about that elegant phrase? I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley in the years leading up to the Civil War centennial, so the war was very much around me, and it was very much a hagiographic approach to the "Lost Cause." Understanding that this event that had happened 100 years ago was still something people felt so vividly was part of my learning about the sense of history. Then I came to understand that what that war had really been about was slavery. [In the aftermath of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, when there had been] a rather genteel approach to race relations on the part of white Virginians, where race was not much talked about, race was suddenly talked about constantly, with a need to resist the mandated integration of schools. I could see links between this Civil War heritage and this [challenge to integration]. So in that sense, history was always present, and its implications were essential elements of my life. Your title was inspired by U.S. Rep. John Lewis. What did he mean to you? I had the great privilege of getting to know him during my years as Harvard president. He agreed to speak at my last commencement. Before he started speaking, he turned to me and said, “Thank you, Madam President, for making necessary trouble.” That moved me greatly. When I was thinking about this book, it seemed to me that that was absolutely the right phrase for my childhood, that in a way I had no choice: If I was not going to be miserably unhappy like my mother and grandmother, if I was going to lead a life that seemed just and fair, I was going to have to make trouble. And so it was necessary trouble for me. By Barbara Spindel PRINT & E-BOOKS NONFICTION PRINT & E-BOOKS FICTION 1. Fourth Wing (Yarros) 2. Dead Mountain (Preston/Child) 3. Tom Lake (Patchett) 4. After That Night (Slaughter) 5. The Housemaid (McFadden) 6. Too Late (Hoover) 7. Shadow Dance (Feehan) 8. Lessons in Chemistry (Garmus) 9. It Ends With Us (Hoover) 10. Red, White and Royal Blue (McQuiston) 1. Killers of the Flower Moon (Grann) 2. Gambler (Walters/Keteyian) 3. Outlive (Attia/Gifford) 4. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk) 5. American Prometheus (Bird/Sherwin) 6. The Wager (Grann) 7. Necessary Trouble (Faust) 8. I’m Glad My Mom Died (McCurdy) 9. Crying in H Mart (Zauner) 10. Braiding Sweetgrass (Wall) NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS
16 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 An apple a day may be just what the doctor ordered. New research on "produce prescription" programs finds that when access to free fruits and vegetables is offered, recipients see measurable benefits in health and hunger. "To me, this shows that there's a very strong proof of concept behind produce prescriptions and this should, I think, add to the growing momentum to continue to expand access to these programs, but in particular, to increase the quality and the robustness of the evaluations," said first author Kurt Hager, who did the study as a doctoral student in nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston. He is now an instructor at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. The study, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, included people at risk for heart disease. Each received gift cards or vouchers for free produce at retail grocers or farmers markets. When participants ate more fruits and vegetables as part of a produce prescription program, their blood sugar and blood pressure improved, the study found. Some also lost weight. Food insecurity -- lacking reliable access to enough food -- can cause stress, anxiety and poor diet, which all have a big impact on health, Hager said. Some people may decide to forgo good-quality food in order to pay for housing, utilities and medications. Produce prescriptions aren't new, but they're not widespread. The concept of "food as medicine" is catching on, however. At a White House conference last fall, partners discussed a policy proposal for eradicating hunger in the next 10 years in the United States. "There's a big momentum at the moment, but it's really important to acknowledge that for the vast majority of Americans who could benefit, these programs are not accessible to them at the current moment," Hager said. For this study, researchers looked at about 1,800 children and nearly 2,100 adults who participated in a food prescription program operated by the nonprofit Wholesome Wave between 2014 and 2020. The data included 22 produce prescription sites across 12 U.S. states. Participants attended nutrition classes and received a median $63 per month to buy produce. (Half received more money, half received less.) Programs lasted four to 10 months. "It remains possible some of the improvements we saw could be due to other changes, like changes in medication, perhaps more exercise, but we hope that our findings add to the momentum to continue to evaluate these programs with stronger research moving forward," Hager said. Among other gains, adult participants increased their produce intake by nearly 1 cup per day. Children increased theirs by a quarter-cup per day. Both measures of blood pressure improved. Systolic pressure -- top number in a blood pressure reading and a measure of the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats -- dropped more than 8 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Diastolic blood pressure, the pressure between heartbeats, decreased nearly 5 mm Hg among adults who had high blood pressure at the study's start. Blood sugar, as measured by HbA1C levels, decreased by 0.29 to 0.58 percentage points among adults with diabetes. Adults were 62% more likely and children were more than twice as likely to report better health status by the end of the program. Participants were also one-third less likely to report food insecurity than before the program. One limitation of the study is that researchers did not have data from people without a produce prescription for comparison. "Poor dietary intake is an issue across income levels in the U.S. Dietary intake does tend to be slightly worse for those with lower incomes," Hager said. "And this makes sense if we think there's been research that shows that healthy food tends to be more expensive and lowincome families are often making very challenging decisions between paying for food, for rent, for medications." Candice Myers, director of the Social Determinants and Health Disparities Lab at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, wrote an editorial that accompanied the findings. "Produce is, obviously, important because the consumption of fruit and vegetables is key for a healthful diet and healthful diet is key for overall health," Myers said. Produce prescription programs like those in the study ease financial strain, address food access and affordability, and allow individuals to incorporate fresh produce into their diet, she said. "There are almost certainly clinicians who are actively engaged in their local communities and see how food insecurity impacts their patients," Myers said. "And so having buy-in from clinicians to have the knowledge and then connect patients to such resources as a produce prescription program is really important." She said funding and evaluating programs might need buy-in from insurers and other organizations. The programs studied were all short-term and funded by grants, Hager noted. Even if patients' health improved, there wasn't funding to continue. "I think to scale these programs across the U.S. in a sustainable manner, especially if future research continues to show meaningful improvements in health outcomes, then there is an opportunity for federal health insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid to begin covering the services," Hager said. By Cara Munez Produce prescription programs yield measurable health benefits health When participants ate more fruits and vegetables as part of a produce prescription program, their blood sugar and blood pressure improved, the study found. Some also lost weight. Keeping weight stable may improve longevity for women For women, keeping a stable weight after the age of 60 may boost their odds of reaching the advanced ages of 90, 95 or even 100. Older women with a more stable weight were 1.2 to 2 times more likely to live that long than those who lost 5% or more of their weight, the study showed. Women who unintentionally lost weight were 51% less likely to survive to the age of 90. Gaining 5% or more weight, compared to stable weight, was also not associated with exceptional longevity. "It is very common for older women in the United States to experience overweight or obesity with a body mass index range of 25 to 35. Our findings support stable weight as a goal for longevity in older women," said first study author Aladdin Shadyab, an associate professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California, San Diego. "If aging women find themselves losing weight when they are not trying to lose weight, this could be a warning sign of ill health and a predictor of decreased longevity," Shadyab said in a university news release. For the study, the researchers used data from more than 54,000 women who enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative. Throughout the follow-up period, more than 30,000 women, or 56% of the participants, survived to the age of 90 or beyond. According to the study authors, the findings suggest that general recommendations for weight loss in older women may not help them live longer. Yet, women should heed medical advice if moderate weight loss is recommended to improve their health or quality of life. This research, published online in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, was partly funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. By Cara Munez
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My mother has been experiencing unusual and persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, and jaundice. After undergoing a CT scan, her doctor diagnosed her with cholangiocarcinoma. What is this type of cancer? And what treatment options are available? ANSWER: Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer that develops from the bile ducts, which are slender tubes that carry the digestive fluid bile and connect the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. The tumor can occur anywhere along the biliary “tree” and is divided into three subtypes based on where it starts. The intrahepatic subtype starts in the bile duct inside the liver and typically appears as a mass in the liver, which may affect the organ’s function. The second subtype, called perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, occurs just outside of the liver, where the bile ducts come together and exit the liver. Patients diagnosed with this form of cholangiocarcinoma typically present with jaundice. Distal cholangiocarcinoma is the third subtype. It occurs in the portion of the bile duct that is outside of the liver and nearest to the intestine. This subtype also typically presents with jaundice. An initial CT scan can be suggestive of cholangiocarcinoma, but additional testing, including a biopsy or brushings, is required to establish the diagnosis and the stage. For all three subtypes, a health care professional typically also will order a CT scan of the chest to look for any signs of metastasis, or spread, to the lungs. If there is blockage of the bile ducts and jaundice, symptoms most commonly occurring with the perihilar or distal subtypes, then a health care professional may perform an endoscopic evaluation with an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. This allows for collection of a sample of the area of concern and placement of an internal stent to open the bile ducts so the liver can drain appropriately. Biliary drainage helps relieve signs and symptoms of biliary blockage, which can include jaundice, poor appetite and itching. For intrahepatic tumors that present as a liver mass, it is common to have an ultrasound-guided biopsy performed by a radiologist to establish the diagnosis and obtain tissue for further testing, such as sequencing studies. There are several options for treating these rare tumors, but determining the optimal approach for your mother will depend on the stage, location and subtype of her tumor. For example, most patients with localized disease, meaning the cancer has not spread to any other organs, are candidates for surgery to remove the tumors. If your mother is diagnosed with intrahepatic or perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, removing part of the liver may be required. However, standard surgical approaches to remove the tumor may not be possible for some patients diagnosed with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. In certain situations, a liver transplant may be an option instead. Finally, the most common surgery to treat distal cholangiocarcinoma is called the Whipple procedure, which is a complex operation that involves removing a portion of the pancreas. Surgery is the only curative treatment option for these tumors, but for those patients who are not candidates for surgery, other treatment options should be considered. These include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiation and radioembolization. These treatments often are given in combination, and the combination and order of the treatments is dependent on the specific tumor subtype and extent of the disease. As part of the testing for patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, it is now common to perform an analysis for mutations, called next-generation sequencing. These tests can identify certain mutations in tumors for which we have targeted therapy options, and these mutations occur more frequently in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Finally, for patients who have not responded to standard treatments or have tumors that have progressed on standard treatments, we recommend considering enrollment in clinical trials evaluating new treatment strategies. Ultimately, if your mother has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, it is important that she be seen at a cancer center with experience treating these tumor types because the treatment options, and determining which patients are candidates, is complex. — Rory Smoot, M.D., Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Mayo Clinic What is cholangiocarcinoma and how is it treated? Sudden cardiac arrest may not come on so suddenly after all. Fully 50% of people who experienced a sudden cardiac arrest had a telling symptom 24 hours before, and these symptoms are different in men than women, a new study suggests. For women, the most prominent symptom of an impending sudden cardiac arrest is shortness of breath; for men, it is chest pain and pressure. "Yes, warning symptoms are associated with cardiac arrest, and these symptoms are sex-specific," said study author Dr. Sumeet Chugh. He is the chair in cardiac electrophysiology research and medical director of the Heart Rhythm Center in the department of cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute of Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. It's been thought that cardiac arrest comes on without warning, which is why the overwhelming majority of people who experience it outside of a hospital die within minutes, but that may not be the case and identifying any warning signs can give folks a fighting chance, Chugh said. Typically caused by heart rhythm abnormalities, cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other organs. Every year, as many as 450,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. When the researchers reviewed data from two community-based studies of people who experienced sudden cardiac arrest and compared their symptoms to those in people who sought emergency care but didn't experience cardiac arrest, they found that 50% of people who had a sudden cardiac arrest experienced at least one telltale symptom the day before, namely chest pain in men and shortness of breath in women. What's more, smaller groups of men and women experienced palpitations, seizure-like activity and flulike symptoms before they suffered cardiac arrest. One study took place in Ventura, Calif., and the other took place in Portland, Ore. And both yielded similar results. Still, Chugh cautioned that chest pain and shortness of breath can occur for other reasons and don't necessarily mean a person is on the verge of cardiac arrest. However, when these occur in someone who also has high blood pressure, diabetes or underlying heart disease, they are more likely to be associated with cardiac arrest. In the future, apps or smart watches may further narrow down who is most at risk for sudden cardiac arrest, he said. "We have to combine other features with warning symptoms to help people understand if they are likely experiencing a cardiac arrest and need help right away," Chugh said. If you experience an unexpected onset of chest pain or shortness of breath call 911, especially if you have known heart disease. If you witness someone collapse, start CPR right away, he said. If CPR isn't started within two to three minutes of cardiac arrest, brain injury can occur. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are also more readily available in many public places. These analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock to reestablish an effective rhythm. Immediate CPR or AED use were among the reasons that Bronny James, the 18-yearold son of NBA player LeBron James, and Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin, survived their cardiac arrests. The new study was published online recently in The Lancet Digital Health journal. Heeding any warning signs of cardiac arrest may help save a person's life, said Dr. Raman Mitra, director of the electrophysiology laboratory at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. "We think of sudden cardiac arrest as a person being perfectly fine and then collapsing, but there may be a way that we can identify these people earlier so that help can be alerted," said Mitra, who had no ties to the new research. "If chest pain is new and associated with shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, passing out, sweating or nausea, seek medical attention." By Denise Mann Study finds telling symptoms day before cardiac arrest For women, the most prominent symptom of an impending sudden cardiac arrest is shortness of breath for men, it is chest pain and pressure, a new study found. health FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 17
18 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 The most dynamically Latino thread of DC Comics’ latest film “Blue Beetle” will be lost on most cinema audiences. The deft hand that director Ángel Manuel Soto and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer played for this superhero film is genius. Yes, “Blue Beetle” is a long-awaited, culturally specific Latino superhero. In that genre, it follows the usual script, with brown flairs. There’s Jaime Reyes, the good-hearted young man who has been “chosen” by the blue scarab and transforms. Cast as MexicanAmerican, a first generation college grad, Reyes (played by actor Xolo Maridueña) soon morphs through a blue iridescent exoskeleton when the scarab attaches itself first to his back, then embeds itself into his being. As the Blue Beetle, he gains extraordinary abilities, once he grows wise enough to manage them – flight, tremendous physical strength, forcefields and bringing to reality any power that he can imagine. Kaboom! Bang! Pow! Also cast is a beautiful, initially unreachable (because of a class divide) heiress as the superhero’s love interest. A battle of good vs. evil then unfolds. The evil ones pursue modern manifestations of gentrification greed and plot for world domination by manufacturing invincible soldiers. Then comes a nod to history’s uncomfortable truths. Blue Beetle taps at the reason the U.S. can be held complicit in the devastation of many Latin American countries, perpetrating human rights violations that pushed many Latinos to emigrate from these countries, for work and safety. Susan Sarandon’s character (Victoria Kord) desires global domination by first discovering then harnessing the power of the blue scarab, which had already chosen the young Reyes as a host. Early in the film, Kord boasts that her enforcer, the man who appears as her right hand man/tough guy, “is a graduate of the School of the Americas.” She also makes reference to the anti-communist counterinsurgency. Full head snap to attention for this moviegoer. It’s a good bet that Sarandon, long known for her social activism, was well-aware of what those brief lines in the script evoked. For decades, the U.S. Army’s School of the Americas at the former Fort Benning in Georgia was also known as “the school of the assassins,” as ardent critics nicknamed it. For more than half a century, our military ran the school, which was to be a training ground for Latin American military leaders. But its graduates were long linked to atrocious Film ‘Blue Beetle’ takes a shot at the US Army’s tainted School of the Americas with Mary Sanchez Readers can reach Mary Sanchez at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @msanchezcolumn. Anyone who has cringed at the sound of fingernails scratching on a chalkboard has likely experienced the same feeling whenever President Biden speaks. The president visited Maui this week (which he mistakenly referred to as “the Big Island”) and did little to relieve the pain of those who have suffered a monumental loss from wildfires that killed at least 114 people with more than 800 missing and many homes completely destroyed. In this heavily Democratic state, Biden was greeted with signs that said, “go home” and expletives that can’t be printed in a family newspaper. He pledged a paltry $700 in relief aid to each family, which one critic said barely covers the cost of high-priced groceries. Apparently they haven’t gotten the message that Bidenomics “is working,” according to the president. Some rightly asked why Ukraine is receiving billions of dollars in U.S. aid and Maui is getting chump change by comparison. Good question. In a bizarre statement the president said: “I don’t want to compare difficulties (which he proceeded to do), but we have a little sense, Jill and I, of what it’s like to lose a home. Years ago, now 15 years ago, while I was in Washington doing ‘Meet the Press’ it was a sunny Sunday and lightning struck at home on a little lake outside our home – not a lake, a pond.” Glad he cleared that up. Biden said the spark went through wires and into the heating ducts and then the kitchen. “To make a long story short (we wish) I almost lost my wife, my ’67 Corvette and my cat.” In fact, according to AP, firefighters arrived in time to contain the fire to the kitchen, which was nothing like the massive loss of homes in Maui. This is supposed to qualify as empathy for families who have suffered far more serious losses. Biden asked a rescue team whether their boots were reinforced, mentioning the “hot ground” beneath. The Daily Mail called the remark “a tone-deaf attempt at humor.” After his brief visit, the president returned to what seems like his endless summer vacation, this time in the Lake Tahoe home of billionaire Tom Steyer. The house is said to be worth $18 million. The White House claims the Bidens are paying “fair market value” for their time there but won’t say how much. Math was not my best subject in school but fair market value on such an expensive house has to run into five or six figures depending on the length of their stay. Does anyone believe the Bidens will be paying that much, if anything? Perhaps Hunter Biden, who is also a guest, can underwrite the cost from the money he’s allegedly received from his business dealings about which the president claims to know nothing. The New York Post reports Nevada officials are investigating the Biden visit because it could violate a local housing law. Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, are still waiting on a promised visit by the president. It’s been nearly seven months since a train carrying toxic chemicals and combustibles derailed, poisoning water, killing thousands of fish and displacing residents. Watching the video of the president’s remarks in Maui, his continuing confusion, his inappropriate jokes and attempts to identify with the pain Maui residents feel is painful in itself. Democrats are worried as evidenced by polls that show a majority don’t want the president to seek reelection. Polls show it’s the same when it comes to Donald Trump. No wonder Vice President Kamala Harris is seeking a political makeover. In baseball, one might say she is the relief pitcher for the Democrat team, warming up in the bullpen. The problem for her and for him is that their images are already deeply embedded in the public’s mind. Scratch, scratch. Nails on a chalkboard with Cal Thomas Readers may email Cal Thomas at [email protected]. Look for Cal Thomas’ new book “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States” my turn continues on next page Puerto Rican director Angel Manuel arrives for Warner Bros' "Blue Beetle" premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, Aug. 15, 2023.
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 19 Tragedy has almost as many definitions and meanings as it has actual examples. In terms of foreign policy, tragedy can mean a collision of two seemingly valid principles that come into conflict. In Vietnam, the noble aim of bringing some measure of peace, stability and justice to a war-ravaged country was unachievable under the guise of preventing the spread of "Godless, monolithic communism." Tragedy is also inevitable when the obvious best outcome has no chance of surviving the brutal realities and harsh conditions required to end a conflict or war. Ukraine is the clearest example, as this tragedy continues to devastate that country and take too many lives of its citizens and Russian occupiers. The reasons are self-evident. Ukraine wants its sovereignty and territory restored and Russian invaders expelled. For that to happen, at least one miracle is needed. Ukraine could shatter Russia's defenses, forcing its army to surrender or leave. For the time being, that outcome does not seem likely. Of course, Russian morale could collapse and its army could disintegrate. Russian President Vladimir Putin could change his mind or be replaced with a leader who is prepared to abandon this "special military operation." As the German generals failed to assassinate or arrest Adolph Hitler, Putin seems very secure. Further, to the degree polls are reliable in Russia, Putin enjoys support from a majority of his citizens. Despite Western naysayers, unless or until Putin does leave his post, this possibility must be considered very unlikely. NATO, or a coalition of willing members, could conclude that Putin's invasion of Ukraine is such a danger to the West and to the rule of law that military intervention is justified. NATO has the capability to eviscerate Russian forces inside Ukraine if it chooses. But U.S. President Joe Biden has exercised an absolute veto on that option, stating he has no intention of provoking World War III or deploying U.S. forces to fight in Ukraine. Finally, external parties such as China, India or Saudi Arabia could broker some sort of a deal if one were remotely acceptable to the two warring states. The outline of such a deal is vague, although one possible option has been floated. Ukraine would be invited to join NATO in exchange for permitting Russia to maintain control of part of its territory in Donbas and Crimea with further negotiations to discuss boundaries and means to end this war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected exchanging peace and NATO membership for land. Yet, realistically, what options does he have? While the United State and NATO have promised support "for as long as it takes," how long is that? In the United States, public consensus is eroding. Two Republican presidential aspirants have said they would end that war if elected. In a perfect world, Ukraine deserves an outcome that reverses Russia's illegitimate aggression, assures reparations and brings war criminals to account. The tragedy is that, barring some very unlikely event, this outcome is improbable if not impossible to achieve. Ukraine may have no choice except to continue to wage a war it may not be able to win, risking a Pyrrhic victory that could disintegrate the country. Analogies do not always fit. This is not China in 1937; Munich in 1938; Korea in 1953; or Kuwait in 1990. Those who fear that a Russian victory in Ukraine will make Putin more eager to move further west do not understand that NATO possesses an overwhelming conventional military advantage over a very weakened Russian army. Hence, what is the least worst outcome for Ukraine that somehow leaves open a path for neutralizing hostile Russian intent and aspirations may prove to be the only viable one. The vital and currently unanswerable question is what would Kyiv accept as the least worst outcome? And is Putin open to any negotiation? To prevent further tragedy, the United States must confront these questions. But will it? In today's highly toxic political environment, where even a scratch can become life-threatening, Democrats and Republicans of goodwill -- there must be a few left -- have to come together and agree on a strategy for Ukraine that reflects these tragic realities and possible outcomes, good or bad. More of the same simply defers making tough choices while Ukrainians pay the price. As distasteful as it sounds, thinking the heretofore unthinkable may be the only way to end this tragedy that at least gives Ukraine a fighting chance to survive. And that itself is a further tragedy. Ukraine needs a miracle to avoid unthinkable outcome with Harlan Ullman my turn Dr Harlan Ullman is senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and the upcoming book "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Harlan Ullman joins Happenings Q&A on Thu., Sept. 21st at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected exchanging peace and NATO membership for land. Yet, realistically, what options does he have? acts of violence and destruction, including the El Mozote massacre in 1981 of nearly 1,000 villagers and the 1989 murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero and six Jesuit priests in El Salvador. The late Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega was a graduate. The U.S. has a scandalous record of backing corrupt and cruel leaders in Latin America. Under the banner of fighting communism, we’ve given aid to members of bloody military coups who have overthrown democratically elected leaders because they were socialists. One of the primary ways of doing this was through the former School of the Americas. Technically, the school closed in late 2000, shuttered after heavy criticism. The Department of Defense took it over and renamed it the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Again, none of this is detailed in the film, not explicitly. Other Latino themes in Blue Beetle are easier to spot, yet they remain fresh, not filtered through trite interpretations. The hero (Reyes) receives guidance and a blessing from the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe as he dramatically transforms into the Blue Beetle for the first time. Spanish is used during significant dialogue sequences. Bilingual moviegoers get an extra bonus, but the context is full. No one is left waiting for a translation. George Lopez’s character (Uncle Rudy), in one short frame, imparts this soul-baring truth of migration: Anglos assume that crossing the U.S.- Mexico border is the rough part, but it’s the 20 years that follow to build a life anew that’s difficult. The careful cultivation and preservation of family honor is another theme. Doing so, in a new land where you’re often discounted, is shown repeatedly in the film. Starting over, often after tremendous loss, is the act of migration. Deep into the Blue Beetle film, there’s a flashback sequence to a “Escuela of the Americas” sign. And – huge spoiler here – the full backstory shows that the brute that nearly kills the Blue Beetle was orphaned as a little boy by military fighting. Presumably, he was trained at the School of the Americas. The child soldiers of Guatemala’s decades-long civil war lived this flashback scene. Considering how many Latin American countries were impacted by the school’s trainees, this part of the film is a throughline that some immigrants to the U.S. can relate to. Latinos represent nearly 19 percent of the U.S. And yet, this is our first Latino superhero within the DC universe and the first predominantly Latino cast and crew of the franchise. The disregard equals lost dollars and a good dose of disrespect. But maybe, previous reluctance to back such a project gave the film some creative room. It’s possible that the film’s theme of U.S. government overreach into the political and military functioning of Central and South American countries slipped past the usual gatekeepers – industry execs who probably had no idea of the full history of the school. Too late now! And you thought this was just a DC version of AntMan. Here’s looking forward to an equally entertaining and culturally enriching sequel. Sanchez continued from page 18
20 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 As we close out the last weeks of the summer, my inbox is begging for responses. I will spend the next few weeks plowing through a bunch of your great questions. This week, we are concentrating on estate issues and real estate Question: I’m 80 years old, retired, and single and have an updated simple will, executor, and health care directive. I have consolidated most of my investments and also have some CDs and annuities with designated beneficiaries. I also own a condo with a transfer on death deed. My net worth is roughly $3,000,000. My question is simple: Is there any reason why I would need a trust? Answer: There’s no reason why somebody in your situation needs either a revocable (changeable) or irrevocable (not-changeable) trust. Trusts can be helpful when you have an estate tax liability (for federal taxes, the threshold is $12,920,000), have a closely held business or you want more control over the disposition of your assets. However, they can be costly to establish. Question: My friend’s father passed away. She and her three brothers are his closest relatives. One of her brothers claims to have a will, and that he is the executor, but nobody has seen a copy of it — what should my friend do? Answer: This could get messy, which means that it’s essential that your friend finds a qualified estate attorney. If there is indeed a will, it’s going to have to be filed with the state and when that happens, your friend should have the opportunity to contest the will, hence the need for a qualified estate attorney. Question: My husband recently passed away and when we refinanced our mortgage in 2020, we applied for it in my husband’s name only, because I had just started a business and we didn’t want to jump through all of the hoops associated with small businesses. Now I have a house that is in my name, but a mortgage that is in my deceased husband’s name. I am scared because the current rate is so low (3 percent) and if I have to refinance in my own name, the rate would be 7%. What should I do? Answer: Many surviving spouses have had this problem and the good news is that most banks have updated their policies around this very topic. You should contact the lender, send them the death certificate, and let them know the situation. In many cases, the bank will allow you to be the successor on the loan. That means that as long as you stay current and make the scheduled payments, there will be no need to refinance. Question: I’m 85 years old and have been told that I should transfer ownership of my $600,000 home into my children’s names now, to protect it, if I need to go into a nursing home and also to avoid probate. Answer: If you transfer the house now, you will also be transferring your cost basis to them. So, when they eventually sell it, there could be a hefty capital gains tax due. Conversely, if they inherit the house after you pass, then they would be entitled to a “stepped-up cost basis,” meaning that when they sell it, the IRS will look to the date of death valuation as the basis, not the original purchase price. Regarding Medicaid, remember that any gift or transfer made within five years of applying are added back to your asset base for purposes of government assistance. Finally, if you want to avoid probate, find out if your state allows for a “transfer on death” deed, which would be a simplified way to pass the house to the kids, while avoiding probate. Question: We are a 38- year-old couple and have been looking for a house for over a year and are discouraged. When we have gotten close, the deal either falls apart or we get outbid. Help! Answer: Home prices have skyrocketed since the pandemic. The median sales price for an existing home in February 2020 was $270,100, compared with the most recent data (through July), which showed an eye-popping $406,700. You do not have to be a math genius to see that home price appreciation has far outpaced the overall inflation rate. For people like you, the process of finding a home is simply exhausting. If you can’t stand it anymore, why not take a time out on the search and see if new inventory hits the market after the end of the year. Question: Is it crazy to buy a house now that mortgage rates are above 7 percent? Answer: For would-be homebuyers, the headlines that proclaimed the highest mortgage rates in two decades were depressing. According to Freddie Mac, the average rate on a 30- year fixed rate loan was 7.23% as of August 24, the highest rate since 2001. That said, there have been plenty of times in the past when homeowners made a purchase with loans that were even higher. The key to feeling more secure about a purchase when rates are high is to run the numbers. If you can manage the payments now, there will likely be some time in the future when you will be able to refinance to a lower rate. Question: With 30-year mortgage rates high, should I consider an adjustable-rate loan? Answer: An adjustablerate mortgage (ARM) is a loan that has two distinct periods: comprised of an initial period where there is a fixed rate of the loan during which the interest rate stays the same. The initial period can range from six months to 10 years. The second period is the tricky part. That’s when the loan adjusts to prevailing interest rates, with a predetermined formula which outlines when and how often the interest rate can change. The strategy of using an ARM is that you are hoping to lock in a lower rate for the fixed period, during which you would either move or attempt to refinance to a traditional fixed rate loan. The problem today is that ARM rates are not much of a bargain, compared with traditional 30-year fixed rate loans, which means that you may need to consider whether the risk of the adjustment period is worth it to you. Question: Is it worth it to pay points to push down my mortgage rate? Answer: “Points” refer to a percentage of the mortgage amount. So, if you are purchasing a $500,000 home with a $400,000 mortgage, one point equals 1% of the mortgage amount, or $4,000. Points are used to permanently lower the mortgage rate, usually by 0.25%, depending on the market and lender. If you want to push down your monthly payment amount, paying points could be worth it. But when determining whether or not to do so, you should factor in how long you plan to be in the house, so that you can recoup the upfront investment. Additionally, the IRS considers points as prepaid interest, which means that they may be deductible as home mortgage interest, as long as you itemize deductions. If you can deduct all of the interest on your mortgage, you may be able to deduct all of the points paid on the mortgage. (The IRS has a handy tool to use: https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/ can-i-deduct-my-mortgagerelated-expenses) Summer Mail Bag — Estate 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]. Check her website at www.jillonmoney.com Trusts can be helpful in situations where you have an estate tax liability (for federal taxes, the threshold is $12,920,000). The key to feeling more secure about a home purchase when rates are high is to run the numbers. If you can manage the payments now, there will likely be some time in the future when you will be able to refinance to a lower rate, writes Jill Schlesinger.
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 21 Dear Cathy, When our son was in his carousing years, and we had our border collie, she would sleep in his room until he got home in the wee hours. She would get up and go to the front door when she heard his 1982 Datsun turn onto our block from 10 houses away. How could she hear any car that far away, and how would she know it was his car? That was 40 years ago, but it still amazes me. — Richard, Westbury, New York Dear Richard, Dogs have a much keener sense of hearing than we do. In fact, in most instances, dogs can hear 100 times better than humans, depending on the frequency of the sound. Human adults cannot hear sounds above 20,000 Hertz (Hz). On the other hand, dogs can hear sounds as high as 47,000 to 65,000 Hz. So, your dog can not only hear the car as it turns onto the street but recognizes some higher frequency engine sounds that you and I can't hear. That incredible sense of hearing, combined with your son perhaps arriving around the same time during those wee hours, is how your dog knew your son would be pulling into the driveway at any moment. Dear Cathy, I had the opposite advice from my local animal control about a neighbor's barking dog. They told me to speak with my neighbor before making an official complaint. I did so, but it didn't make a difference, so I went back to animal control, and they said I could take them to court. I didn't do that because I didn't know what kind of people I was dealing with and feared possible retaliation. We have been putting up with the barking. — Carol, Newington, Connecticut Note: Carol is referring to a letter in which I had suggested the reader call animal control to report a barking/noise complaint and let them handle it rather than confront a neighbor they don't know well. Sometimes, approaching neighbors can be difficult since most people get defensive in these circumstances and become adversarial. Letting the experts at animal control handle something like this is always better because they can educate the pet owner about local pet ordinances. Dear Carol, I contacted the Connecticut Humane Society to see what their suggestions would be in your state. I have since learned that Connecticut's local government handles things a little differently than local governments in other states. Barking is generally a complaint handled by animal control, but in your area, it could be handled under a noise ordinance and by code compliance, depending on the town you live in. So, CT Humane suggested contacting your local mayor or selectman (the executive and administrative branch of your town government) to see if they can guide you. You can find their contact information by visiting https://www. newingtonct.gov and opening the town council page. Let me know what you find out. Dear Cathy, In response to the letter from Susan, of East Northport, New York, who had a neighbor's dog peeing in the same place in front of her house. Many years ago, I had a similar problem. I resolved it by sprinkling black pepper on the area (where the dog was peeing). It covered the odor from previous visits. In my instance, I saw the dog sniff the area and pass it by. His owner was puzzled that the dog didn't relieve himself (on that same spot). I did not have to speak to the dog owner. My solution did not require adding any elements to our environment. I did not have to go shopping for the solution. It only cost pennies. And, best of all, the dog owner saw no evidence that I had taken any action at all. Over time, I had to repeat the application, but for me, it was an easy, cost-effective solution to an annoying problem. I hope this can be a solution for readers of your column. — Diane, Glen Burnie, Maryland Dear Diane, Thanks for sharing your tip. Susan's issue was that a neighbor’s dog was peeing on the street in front of her house, and she could smell it. I am not sure how this would work on a street where cars will dissipate the cover up quickly, but black pepper and vinegar are two products that, when applied to certain areas, may discourage a dog from peeing in the same spot. The reason that I recommend products over home solutions is that I know they are humanely developed for this purpose and give application instructions on usage that I know will be safe for animals. Pet World with Cathy Rosenthal How does my dog know my son was coming home? 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]. Cat living at Home Depot in New Jersey becomes an online star A cat living at a Home Depot store in New Jersey has become a full-fledged social media celebrity -- and has even been drawing new customers to the business. Jeffrey Simpkins, whose TikTok videos of Leo the cat went viral, said he wanted to document the feline after first encountering him at the Mount Laurel store last month. "The very first one I did, the first day it hit 4.5 million [views]," Simpkins told WTFX-TV. "I'm happy if I get 1,000 views on a video before this." Simpkins told WPVI-TV that Leo's devoted fans admire "his unique personality, like he's friendly, he wears clothing unlike other cats, and he has several places he sleeps at." Store employees said Leo was a former barn cat brought to the store about a year ago to help solve a mouse problem. The employees take care of Leo and make sure he gets regular vet check-ups and has a place to sleep when the store is closed on holidays. Police encounter modified car with bull riding in the passenger seat Police in Nebraska detailed an encounter with an unusual vehicle that had been modified to allow a Watusi bull to ride in the front passenger sear. The Norfolk Police Division said officers responded to a call about a vehicle on eastbound U.S. Route 275 with a bovine riding shotgun. "The officers received a call referencing a car driving into town that had a cow in it," police Capt. Chad Reiman told News Channel Nebraska. "They thought that it was going to be a calf, something small or something that would actually fit inside the vehicle. The officers were shocked to discover the bull-grown Watusi bull was riding in the passenger seat of a modified car. "The officer wrote him some warnings," Reiman said. "There were some citable issues with that situation. The officer chose to write him a warning and ask him to take the animal back home and leave the city." Area residents said the driver, Lee Meyer, and bull, named Howdy Doody, are a common sight on Neligharea seats. Curious deer strolls into Washington candy shop The owners of a Washington candy store shared security camera footage of the moment a sweet-toothed deer wandered into the business to browse the sweets. Jenn Strobel, owner of Buddy and Howie's Candy Store in Ocean Shores, posted photos and video to the store's Facebook page showing the deer peering in through the open door before calmly coming inside for a closer look. The deer appeared transfixed by the store's taffy boat display. "He came in and the only damage done was he might have got a piece of wonderful taffy," Strobel told KOMO-TV. The deer left the store on its own after a few moments of browsing, the video shows. Runaway bull captured after six days on the loose in Illinois Officials in a Chicago suburb said a 1,600-pound bull has been captured after about six days on the loose. The bull escaped in the area of Route 62 and Old Sutton Road in Barrington Hills on Aug. 25 and was caught on a resident's security camera. Barrington Hills village officials said the owner of the animal hired Wesley Bush of 2B Wild Cattle Catching Services LLC to recapture the bull. The village said Bush located the bovine near its owner's property and "successfully brought the bull under control." Park closed due to alligator on the loose Police in New Jersey announced a public park will remain closed for 72 hours while authorities search for an alligator confirmed to be on the loose in the area. The Middlesex Borough Police Department said it received a report of an alligator at Victor Crowell Park and further sightings were reported on subsequent days. The department said officers were able to locate the alligator and one officer discharged a firearm in an attempt to neutralize the gator, but it was unclear whether the shot connected. Local residents reported spotting the alligator and local police resumed their search alongside New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Conservation Police. "In the interest of the public safety of our community, Victor Crowell Park will be closed to the public for a minimum of 72 hours or until such time that the alligator is deemed to no longer be a threat," Middlesex Police Chief Matthew Geist said Monday on the department's Facebook page. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is asking anyone who spots the alligator, estimated to be 3 to 4 feet long, to contact Fish and Wildlife officials so they can set a humane trap.
22 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Getting your kids to eat healthy can be challenging, especially in the hectic mornings before school. But there are ways to make the morning rush less hassled and create a habit they will continue through adulthood. Start with something easy that the entire family takes time to share. Kids who see their parents eating breakfast are much more likely to eat it themselves, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Breakfast is a great meal to share with your children. As children grow older, they are more likely to skip breakfast, which could affect their academic performance. I encourage parents to serve as role models by practicing a healthful morning routine that includes breakfast," says registered dietitian, nutritionist and Academy Spokesperson Amy Reed of Cincinnati. A 2013 analysis of 36 articles examining the effects of breakfast on inclass behavior and academic performance in children and adolescents, both undernourished and wellnourished, found evidence of a positive effect of breakfast on behavior in the classroom. The analysis found evidence that the frequency and quality of habitual breakfast had a positive effect on children's academic performance, with clearest effects on mathematic and arithmetic grades. In addition, increased frequency of habitual breakfast was positively associated with overall academic performance. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Children should fuel their mornings with food from the different food groups; try to include a protein, fruit or vegetable, and whole grain. Foods made with whole-grain flours, such as whole-wheat flakes, whole-wheat bread or whole-grain waffles, contain carbohydrates for energy and provide dietary fiber, as do fruits and vegetables. Including protein foods, such as eggs, Canadian bacon or low-fat cottage cheese from the dairy group, can help keep them full until lunch. Here are some practical ideas for a healthy breakfast. -- Make overnight oatmeal by mixing oats with fresh or frozen fruit, low-fat milk and low-fat yogurt for a ready-to-eat morning meal. -- Buy frozen wholewheat waffles to toast and spread with a nut or seed butter or top with fruit, such as a banana. -- Prepare homemade egg bites with vegetables the night before, then reheat in the morning. -- Repurpose leftover roasted vegetables to make hash with eggs and turkey sausage. -- Add sliced turkey, ham or chicken and a slice of low-fat cheese to a toasted English muffin. -- Use last night's spinach to scramble or bake into a quiche with eggs and lowfat cheese. Q and A Q: Are plant-based yogurts as good for you as dairy-based yogurts? A: It depends. In a May 2023 study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, researchers found that plant-based yogurts overall contained less sugar, less sodium and more fiber -- but less protein, calcium and potassium -- than dairy yogurt. Nutritional information for the study was collected through a database that included many types of yogurt, which were each given a nutrient density score. They found almond and oat yogurts scored the highest followed by low-fat and nonfat dairy, full-fat dairy, cashew and coconut yogurts. Your best bet? Read the labels. Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Ill. For comments or questions, contact her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRd. food & recipes Charlyn Fargo joins Happenings Q&A on Thu. Sept. 14th at 10:20am on AM1050 WLIP Helping Kids Eat Healthy Nutrition News with Charlyn Fargo Servings: 4 1/2 cup natural-style peanut butter 4 whole-wheat tortillas (about 9 inches in diameter) 2 bananas, peeled and sliced 4 large pitted dates, chopped 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Spread 2 tablespoons peanut butter on each wrap. Evenly distribute banana slices and dates among wraps. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll wraps and seal in aluminum foil for eating on the go. Per serving: 450 calories, 13 g protein, 60 g carbohydrate, 19 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 0 cholesterol, 7 g fiber, 320 mg sodium. Peanut Butter & Fruit Wrap Serves 4 1/4 cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon sugar Salt and pepper 1 ripe avocado, halved, pitted, and chopped coarse 1 (2 1/2-pound) rotisserie chicken, skin and bones discarded, meat shredded into bite-size pieces (3 cups) 8 slices hearty white sandwich bread, toasted 1 head Bibb lettuce (8 ounces), leaves separated 2 tomatoes, cored and sliced thin 1. Combine buttermilk, lime juice, oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add avocado and mash into dressing with a fork. Stir in chicken until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 2. Place heaping 1/2 cup chicken salad on each of 4 bread slices. Divide and arrange lettuce and tomatoes over chicken salad, then top with remaining bread slices. Serve. Tired of routine? We have a new recipe for you! Great for a weekend lunch, a weeknight dinner or even a working lunch, this spin on chicken salad is sure to tickle your taste buds. We combined tangy buttermilk, mashed avocado, and a lime vinaigrette to switch up the traditional chicken salad recipe. Chicken-Avocado Salad Sandwiches
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER September 7, 2023 23 Labor Day serves as a reminder that the summer season is coming to a close, and a time to reminisce about our favorite memories of the summer and that might include your visit to the State Fairs -- and these celebrations bring with them a number of unusual traditions. The first State Fair was held in Syracuse, New York, in September 1841 and today the events are held in 48 states, with the exceptions being Connecticut and Rhode Island. Some states, including Texas, Alaska and Washington, have multiple State Fairs each year. The celebrations are perhaps best known for deep-fried foods, carnival rides, musical performances and agricultural demonstrations, but some State Fairs' claims to fame are a bit more unusual, with traditions including butter cows, hot air balloon races and giant cabbage competitions. Here are five of the oddest traditions celebrated at U.S. State Fairs. Butter Cows -- Ohio, Iowa, Illinois The figure of a cow sculpted from hundreds of pounds of butter was first displayed at the Ohio State Fair in 1903, and it was followed by similar sculptures that debuted at the Iowa State Fair in 1911 and the Illinois State Fair in 1922. Several other states unveiled their own version of the butter cow in recent decades, including Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas. Some states have added their own spin on the tradition, with accompanying butter sculptors of calves, other animals, local agricultural icons, sports heroes and historical figures. Today, Sarah Pratt serves as the sculptor for both the Iowa and Illinois butter cows. She said it takes several weeks to craft each buttery bovine. Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off -- Alaska Several State Fairs feature competitions for giant pumpkins, including Alaska, but the state is also famous for a unique spin on the agricultural contest: the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off. The contest features farmers from across the state tipping the scales with their most corpulent cabbages to compete for $2,000 in prizes. The 2012 Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off saw a world record set when Palmer resident Scott Robb's gargantuan greenery weighed in at 138.25 pounds. That's a lot of coleslaw! Hot Air Balloon Race -- Indiana The Indiana State Fair held its first hot air balloon race in 1975, and the contest proved so popular that it is now the inaugural event of the fair -- weather permitting. The race follows the "hare" and "hound" format, in which a balloon dubbed the "hare" leads the competitors on a chase while the teams in the "hound" balloons attempt to toss a bean bag with a streamer as close as possible to the center of the target marked with an "X." The balloon race has been called off several times due to unsuitable weather, including, unfortunately, this year. Giant Slides -- Wisconsin, Minnesota Since 1968, the Wisconsin State Fair has invited visitors to experience the original low-tech thrill ride: a fivestory-tall Giant Slide. An identical slide made its debut at the Minnesota State Fair the following year. Both slides, which send riders seated on burlap sacks down a 170-foot-long track, were created by Fred and Beverly Pittroff, who were inspired by a similar -- but much smaller -- slide they encountered in Santa Cruz, Calif. The couple created 42 of the slides, but the ones found at the Minnesota and Wisconsin State Fairs are the only ones still operated by the Pittroff family. The couple's daughter, Stacey Pitroff, held her wedding at the top of the slide during the Minnesota State Fair in 1993. Rooster Crowing Contest -- Kentucky The Kentucky State Fair annually plays host to one of the most ear-splitting competitions imaginable: a Rooster Crowing Contest. The contest features Kentuckians bringing their most vocal birds to see whose rooster can crow the most times in a 15-minute period. The crowing competition has been an annual tradition since at least the 1960s. John Ball, the fair's crowing commissioner, said legend has it the contest started as a means to settle a dispute between two feuding farmers. The contest winner goes home with $5 and a bag of chicken feed. By Ben Hooper The State Fair: 5 odd traditions When UPI journalist Ben Hooper came up with his list of State Fair traditions, he missed the famous cream puffs at the Wisconsin State Fair, which have been sold every year since 1924 - an average of 400,000 are consumed each year! REMINDER: PLEASE RESUBMIT AD TO RUN FOR EACH ISSUE. Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISC G E R M A N CONVERSATIONALIST GROUP - KENOSHA/RACINE If you speak German or are enthusiastic about the German language and culture, come and join us. There are no membership fees and attendance is whenever you are available to join. Meetings will be held in the Kenosha and Racine area. This is an excellent group to practice speaking German as members' language skills are from beginners to advance and we all have a good time. Please contact me if you are interested in joining - Susan Blust at [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 INDOOR FOR SALE ITEMS: VANCE'S BAR GYM BAG-$8; GENUINE HARLEY BIKE COVER- $10; LADY REMINGTON SHAVER- $2; MINI INDOOR BASKETBALL HOOP-$3; TURNTABLE-$11; DOG/CHILD GATE-$5; STAR TREK VIDEOS-$5 EACH; CAT LITTER BOXES X 2 AND SCOOP- $5; RCA TV-$25; HANDS FREE CPR-$2; THROW PILLOW-$2; FELT-LIKE MAT-$2; NEW BRAUN HEAD REFILLS X2-$8; CHILD'S PLAY MAT-$5; PLANT LAMP-$5; DINING TABLE-$550; CALL/TEXT-262-902- 5663. OUTDOOR ITEMS FOR SALE: LARGE BIRDFEEDER ON A POLE- $15; MANY TEES & GOLF BALLS- $5; MUD FLAP-$5; MANY MONGOOSE BIKE PARTS-$5; SKI TOTE-$10; BOY'S FIGURE SKATES- $10;MEN'S FIGURE SKATES- $10; PINNACLE WOOD BAT-$25; 2-SETS CROSS COUNTRY SKI POLES- $10; CEMENT CURE & SEAL-$5; CATCHER'S MIT & 11 BALLS- $10. CALL/TEXT 262-902-5663. LADIES ITEMS: LADIES O'NEIL WET SUIT-$100; EDELWEISS SKI PANT $60; A SECOND SKI PANT- $25. CALL OR TEXT 262-902-5663 MEN'S SALE ITEMS: WET SUIT- $200; BOOTS-$10; GENUINE LEATHER HARLEY JACKET-$500; HARLEY SCARVES-$5; SUIT JACKET $50. CALL OR TEXT TO 262-902-5663. 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 AIR FRYER, BRAND NEW $55 ALL (262) 771-8764 BARBIE DOLL, REMOTE CONTROL CORVETTE, THAT FITS TWO BARBIE DOLLS, ABOUT 25 IN LONG X 10 IN WIDE, BEST OFFER. OTHER SMALL AUTO MODELS AVAILABLE FROM CLASSIC DAYS. RON 847-340-3446. BEANIE BABIES - LARGE INVENTORY, INCLUDES MCDONALD'S LINE, PRICE VARIES. CALL 262-654-6485 - PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE SONY REEL TO REEL TAPE DECKS! TC-630 & TC-580 $200 OBO FOR BOTH. CALL KENT 262- 960-0621 [email protected] MEDLINE WHEELCHAIR. BARELY USED. ASKING $100 OR BEST OFFER. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY. IN KENOSHA AND CALL OR TEXT 808-359-8474. TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE BURIAL PLOTS AT SUNSET RIDGE MEMORIAL PARK, SECTION H, PRIVATELY OWNED. WILLING TO NEGOTIATE ON PRICE. PLEASE CALL ED - 262-914-5977 V.F.W. VINTAGE BANNER VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS BANNER WITH LOGO, PROFESSIONALLY FRAMED UNDER GLASS. VERY LARGE & IN GREAT CONDITION. $175. LEAVE MESSAGE IF NO ANSWER. 262- 914-4767 VIPER GOLF CLUBS, GREAT SECOND SET $100 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 COMPOUND MITER SAW 10" $50 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 SEARS RADIAL ARM SAW $50 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 CIRCULAR SAW BLADE 32" DIAMETER $60 OBO 262-654-6485 QUILTS, HANDMADE. FIVE, VARIOUS COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM. $54.00 EACH. PHONE 262-657-6049. JASON/EMPIRE MODEL 218 7X35 BINOCULARS. FIELD 358 FT AT 1000 YDS. FULLYCOATED OPTICS, & CASE. NEVER USED. CASE HAS SHELF WEAR. $25.00262-620-4301. IF NO ANSWER PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE. 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. STREET PAVER BRICKS wanted Please call 262.697.3545 and leave a message. WANTED TO BUY: Vintage Movie Posters, Comic Books, LP Records, Vintage Toys, Horror VHS, Horror Memorabilia, Science Fiction Pulps & Magazines, Video Store Promotional Items. PH 262- 237-0318. WANTED TO BUY: Old Post Cards, B&W Photos, B&W Photo Albums, Vintage Advertising, Old Hunting Licenses & Advertising, Scrapbooks, Old Misc.Paper, Old Automobile Advertising, Fountain Pens, Gillette Razors & More. Local Collector/Neutral Safe & Secure Site to meet if desired. Cash Paid. Call or Text Stan 262- 496-1822 ARCADE DRIVERS SCHOOL is looking for classroom & driver instructors. Starting pay $17.00 per hour. If interested please call 262- 637-9193 or email us at [email protected]. LOOKING FOR NURSES Aid for in home care. Call Barbara 262- 455-3953 SERVICES. APARTMENT FOR RENT: 2 BDR LOWER, SHARED BASEMENT, LAUNDRY HOOK UP, GARAGE. $950 + UTILITIES +SECURITY. CALL 262-654-1869 LEAVE MESSAGE WITH FULL NAME AND PHONE NUMBER. NO EVICTIONS, NO PETS, NO SMOKING. ONE YEAR WORK HISTORY. 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 256- 658-4484. TAX & BOOKKEEPING. 30 Years experience Audits handled enrolled agent appointment only call 262- 595-8242 CAREGIVER SELF-EMPLOYED live-in caregiver with 20 years experience giving 24 hr. care references. Looking for job. If you need me, please call Teresa 262-497- 0502. VEHICLES0 95 CAMERO convert green/tan top. many newer parts best offer will trade for other vehicle, negotiate price. 847-340-3446 Ron - dealers welcome to participate. 1997 Jaguar XK8 Convertible 75K in great condition Contact Bob: 2 6 2 - 4 8 4 - 4 8 4 8 or text 262-945-9224 1973 Ford F250, CAMPER SPECIAL2WD,CALIFORNIA ORIGINAL, REBUILT MOTOR/TRANS, AUTO, AC, NEW INTERIOR, CAN SEND PICS. $13,500 OBO. 630- 945-8320. 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 262-237-1343 RUSS CALL OR TEXT 212K MILES $2950 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-237-1343 CALL OR TEXT NICE CAR AT A NICE PRICE $5450 174K MILES 2016 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY $6950 184K MILES SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-237-1343 CALL OR TEXT NICE VAN AT A NICE PRICE. FREE CLASSIFIEDS! E-mail your 170 character classified to: [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 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 AT 12 NOON FREE CLASSIFIEDS! Employment/Opportunities • Lost & Found • Miscellaneous Real Estate • Rentals • Rummage Sales • Vehicles • Wanted
24 SMART READER September 7, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 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 061523 AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT MADE EASY! AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT MADE EASY! Ask about our investment loan program that allows you to use 100% rental income to qualify. Great for owner occupied first-time buyers or investors. Senior Citizens Receive a 10% DISCOUNT 083123 SR121720 3625 Roosevelt Road, Kenosha, WI 53142 sdrautorepairwi.com “Serving Kenosha Since 1979” 082423 We’ll keep you on the Road! Total Auto Repair & Transmission Center 654-0075 A/C Service $ 1000 OFF Expires 9/30/2023 Alignments $ 1000 OFF Expires 9/30/2023 Some restrictions apply. Please see store for details. Some restrictions apply. Please see store for details. Your Ticket to Local Events