Your Eye On Kenosha... Bot h Cit y & Count y!June 11, 2026Volume 24 - #12WE SALUTE OUR CROSSING GUARDS... JOB WELL DONE!SP ON S O R E D B YVisit us at 3016 75th St., Kenosha“Everyone at Casey Family Options was so helpful and supportive, I was extremely satisfied.”-Kenneth R. “Everyone at Casey Family Options was so helpful and supportive, I was extremely satisfied.”-Kenneth R. SR112025
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3 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Smart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael CommunicationsEditor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael • Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale Sales/Kim Carmichael, Madison Giannini • Reception/Sarah Coleman Ad Design & Layout/Glen Kelly, Dylan Valenta, Francis Flex • Editorial Manager/Jason HedmanCarmichael Communications 1420 63rd St. Kenosha, WI 53143June 11, 2026Volume 24 Number 12262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 •www.hap2it.comWhere Route 66 begins: A tale of boom, bust, baseball, and a ‘big house’Just a few blocks from theOld Joliet Prison, JohnnyWilliams is standing outsidea tire shop, waiting for arepair.He’s a lifelong resident ofthe Joliet area, a father of sixand grandfather of 10, and heremembers back in the daywhen the prison was part ofthe economic engine thatmade Joliet run.“I remember when peopleused to sit out there visitingtheir people — on thebuses, you know?” Mr.Williams says. “I have plentyof people whose parents anduncles worked there.” Hegestures toward the 25-footlimestone walls, still toppedwith razor wire. “And as achild, I would always wonder— what’s behind that wall?”So, he still marvels at howthe once imposing formerstate penitentiary has beentransformed over the pastdecade. Today, the peoplewalking through its frontgate are not prisoners orstaff, but tourists andAmericana-lovers there tohave fun and celebrate thecentennial of Route 66. Theiconic roadway, noted inhundreds of anthems aboutAmerica, passed right by theprison until 1940, when itwas rerouted a few blocksaway.The prison once housedsuch infamous criminals asRichard Speck, James EarlRay, and John Wayne Gacy.But since its closing in 2002,it has become a site forconcerts, film viewings, andtoday, an event dubbed “TheBig House Ballgame.”People wondered aboutthe prison for decades, saidQuinn Adamowski, boardpresident of the Joliet AreaHistorical Museum, whichnow runs the prison, beforethe game. “This site definedJoliet in many ways.”After the prison closed, itwas largely abandoned,becoming a liability, Mr.Adamowski said, especially inthis neighborhood. “In 2017,160 years after the firstinmates arrived, we had theopportunity to wonder whatthis site could be,” he added.“It was our time – Joliet’stime – to define the prison.”The Big House Ballgameon April 30, which is the100th anniversary of thenaming of Route 66, featuredthe Joliet Slammers, aFrontier League baseballteam co-owned by actor BillMurray. It was one of thefeatured events of an officialfive-city kickoff of eventscommemorating America’s“Mother Road.”Baseball was also part ofthe prison’s history. In theearly 20th century, inmatesformed teams and playedgames against one anotherand against outside clubs,part of a broader effort toimpose order and routinewithin the prison. The BigHouse Ballgame today is, inpart, an attempt to revivethat history — to connectthe present moment tosomething that had oncetaken place on the sameground.What happened to Jolietover the past century and ahalf happened, in someversion, to nearly every cityand town along Route 66.The collapse of jobs, travelroutes, and movement west– and then a slow, uncertainreinvention.The roadway passedthrough working America,and then through Americaafter the work was gone. Thecentennial is, among otherthings, a celebration of thesurvival of places that keptgoing when the economiesthat made them no longerexisted.Curt Herron, like Mr.Williams, has lived in thispart of Will County hiswhole life, growing up inLockport, a small city justnorth of Joliet, beforespending 45 years as a sportsreporter covering highschools, the Slammers, andnearly every sporting eventin between. Today, he’s anassistant at the historicalmuseum.“Joliet was always a realworking-class city,” he says,pausing in the shadow of aguard tower as a group oftourists photographs thecellblock windows abovehim. “The second biggeststeel city in the country afterPittsburgh. And then, on topof that, a prison city — twoprisons within a few miles ofeach other, runningsimultaneously for 75 years.Almost nowhere in Americacan say that,” he says, notingthat the area’s other prison,Stateville CorrectionalCenter in Crest Hill, is still inoperation.The steel came first. In1869, the Joliet Iron andSteel Works opened alongthe Des Plaines River,drawing on the region’s coaldeposits and its limestone –the same blue-gray stonethat built the prison walls,the same stone quarriedfrom just beneath the city’ssurface – to become one ofthe great industrialenterprises of the GildedAge. At its height, itemployed thousands of menand produced the railroadrails that stitched togetherthe American West.Joliet drew immigrantworkers in successive waves:first, the Irish who dug theIllinois and Michigan Canal inthe 1840s; then Poles,Lithuanians, and EasternEuropeans; then AfricanAmericans and Mexicanmigrants during the FirstWorld War. Joliet became, inthe language of the era, a cityof stone and steel – proud ofits grit and defined by itslabor, built on the convictionthat hard work in a hardplace was its own kind ofAmerican story.Then, the steel left. By theearly 1980s, the mill wasgone, and the unemploymentrate in Joliet climbed to 26%– among the highest of anycity in the United States atthe time. The limestone ruinsof the ironworks sat emptyalong the river for decades,overgrown with vegetation,before the Forest PreserveDistrict turned them into aheritage trail.A wound, converted intime into a park.“We were known forbeing a hardscrabble place,”Mr. Herron says. “Because ofthe prisons and the steelindustry and a lot ofworking-class people. Butthat’s not a bad thing. It’s alsoled to a real competitive area– a lot of great athletes havecome from here, a lot ofpeople who’ve gone on todo remarkable things.” Theseinclude actors NickOfferman and MelissaMcCarthy, two Super Bowlwinning football players, anda WNBA champion.But transportation hasbeen, and remains, a majordriver of Joliet’s economicengine. The Illinois andMichigan Canal and therailroads that followed in the19th and 20th centuriesonce spurred its growth.Today, vast inland portcomplexes make Joliet oneof the major freight hubs inNorth America.And then, Route 66, whichran directly throughdowntown, across the DesPlaines River at the RubyStreet Bridge, helped makeJoliet a destination fortravelers.The state is betting thatRoute 66 travel will continueto help the local economy,said Catie Sheehan, theIllinois deputy director oftourism and a Route 66Centennial commissioner.“Joliet is one of nearly 100communities along theIllinois stretch of the MotherRoad. These towns bringRoute 66 to life in so manydifferent ways.”Her tourism office hasfunded a suite of newroadside attractions for thecentennial: a 20-foot “TireTower” for Joliet’sChicagoland Speedway, a 12-foot penny for Lincoln,Illinois, and a 14-foot statueof Abraham Lincoln forGranite City.“A lot of Midwesternindustrial towns have fallenby the wayside and haven’trecovered,” Mr. Herron says.“Transportation saved theday – it’s always been aboutroads and waterways here.”Dan Goedert is sitting inthe stands at The Big HouseBallgame, dressed as aprisoner with a black andwhite striped shirt.A retired emergencyroom nurse, Mr. Goedert hasposed for a few picturesalready. “I just read about thisyesterday,” he says. “So, I justcame to have a little funtoday.”The group Billy Branchand the Sons of Blues havebeen playing in the oldprison yard, along with localblues singer SherylYoungblood. They do aspirited version of “(GetYour Kicks on) Route 66.”But the old prison, likeRoute 66, has a legendarypop cultural connection.“We like history, and we’reold, so we remember the‘Blues Brothers,’” says SueBradley, a special educationteacher sitting on the grassbefore the game with herhusband John, who works infinance. She gestures towardpeople wearing fedoras andblack suits and ties. “You’llsee people dressed like themeverywhere here today. Thisis the prison they got out ofat the beginning of themovie.”It’s a movie that fewpeople in Chicago haveforgotten. In the openingscene of the 1980 film, aparoled convict played by thelate Chicago native JohnBelushi – “Joliet” Jake Blues –walks out of the same prisongate here to meet hisbrother Elwood, also a smalltime criminal, played by DanAykroyd.By Harry BruiniusCurt Herron, an assistant with the Joliet Area HistoricalMuseum, stands near the front gate of the Old Joliet Prison,April 30, 2026. He is a lifelong resident of the area andspent 45 years as a local sports writer.
4 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Argentine retirees havebecome one of the groupshardest hit by PresidentJavier Milei's fiscal austeritymeasures, which havepushed a growing number ofolder adults back into theworkforce to supplementincomes that no longercover the cost of living.Over the past two years,the number of employedArgentines age 65 and olderincreased 12.7%, sociologistCandelaria Rueda, aresearcher at the ArgentinaGrande Institute, told UPI.The trend has had aparticularly strong impact onwomen. Labor forceparticipation among peopleolder than 65 increased14.5% for women, nearlyfour percentage pointshigher than the 10.8%increase recorded amongmen, according to a reportby the think tank based onofficial data from theNational Institute ofStatistics and Census, knownas INDEC.One of those women isPatricia Guscione, 63. Sheworked as a teacher fordecades and retired in 2021at age 60, the legalretirement age for women inArgentina.But rising living costsgradually eroded the valueof her pension, leaving herunable to cover householdexpenses. When a call forretired teachers was issuedin 2024, she applied. Today,she is back teaching in publicschools.\"I lived on my pension forthree years, but the reality isthat it lost so much valuethat there came a pointwhen I could no longermake it to the end of themonth. I still have twoteenage children whodepend on me,\" she toldUPI.Rueda said inflationremains a defining factor inArgentina's economy and\"causes incomes to losevalue at an unusually rapidpace.\"\"In addition, there hasbeen a clear politicaldecision to deregulateprices, which has led privatehealth insurance premiumsto rise 400% over the pasttwo years,\" she said.At the center of the issueis Argentina's minimumpension, the basic benefitreceived by more than halfof the country's retirees. Itcurrently totals 450,300Argentine pesos per month,or about $320. That includesa government assistancebonus that has remainedfrozen since early 2024.Because the supplementhas not been adjusted, thepurchasing power of theminimum pension has fallenby nearly 10% comparedwith late 2023.At the same time, foodprices have continued to risesharply, further reducingretirees' spending power.Economic pressures havealso intensified followingcuts to free prescriptiondrug coverage providedthrough the ComprehensiveMedical Care Program,known as PAMI, Argentina'smain public healthcaresystem for retirees andpensioners.Mario Perelli, 70, spentmost of his career as anaccountant, but now drivesfor ride-shareing platformsto supplement his income.\"I had never seen aneconomic situation like theone we are living throughnow. It keeps getting harder.I thought I had completedmy working years and thatretirement would allow meto enjoy life, travel and rest.Instead, I ended up drivingfor an app because I need tohelp support my household,\"he said.Juan Gómez, 76, faces asimilar reality. After yearsworking at an accountingfirm, he now work for Uberand drives a taxi.\"I lived through differenteconomic periods, and therewere difficult momentsunder other governments,but this is terrible. I see it inretail stores, butcher shops,auto parts stores and oilchange businesses. There arehardly any customers. I hopethings can be resolved andthat we can move forward,\"he said.Gala Díaz Langou,executive director of theInternational Panel on SocialProgress, linked the crisis topublic spending cutsimplemented by the currentadministration.\"In 2024, which was theyear of the deepestadjustment, 19% of fiscalspending cuts were appliedto the pension system,\" shetold UPI.She also pointed to thecontinued freeze on thebonus supplement for lowerpensions and the end of aprogram that allowedworkers who had notcompleted the legallyrequired 30 years ofcontributions to qualify forretirement benefits.The trend of older adultsextending their workinglives is not limited toArgentina. It has become aregional phenomenon asLatin America faces a rapiddemographic transition,lower levels of economicdevelopment and weakersocial protection systems.According to theEconomic Commission forLatin America and theCaribbean, employmentamong older adults isincreasing across much ofthe region because pensionsare insufficient to coverbasic living expenses.\"As a result, employmentamong retirees functions asa refuge from theshortcomings of the systemrather than a choice. Whensomeone who contributedfor decades ends up cleaninghouses at age 82 or sellinggoods on the street, whatthat reflects is a protectionsystem that failed to sustainthe old age it helped create,\"the commission said.Carlos Román, executivedirector of SeniorLab UC, anaging innovation laboratoryat the Pontifical CatholicUniversity of Chile, told UPIthat 1 in 4 older adults inLatin America was part ofthe labor force in 2024.He said the trend isparticularly visible in Chileamong older age groups,where a significant share ofpeople who have alreadyreached retirement agecontinue working.For Román, theLatin America send retirees to workstory continues on page 4Over the past two years, the number of employed Argentinesage 65 and older increased 12.7%, said sociologist CandelariaRueda, a researcher at the Argentina Grande Institute.FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Prepay for your funeral now and the price will be guaranteed. 8226 Sheridan Rd. 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5 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Extreme weather is posinga growing threat to thepower supplies Americansrely on.In 2021, a fierce winterstorm left millions of Texanswithout electricity andwater for days. HurricaneHelene in 2024 knocked outpower to about 5 millioncustomers across the U.S.Southeast.Beyond the immediatehuman and economic toll,major blackouts like theseoften leave behind the sameunsettling contrast: Oneregion goes dark whilenearby places still havepower.This raises a question: Ifelectricity is still availablesomewhere nearby, whycan't it be sent where it isneeded most?There has to be a wireinto the crisisThe U.S. bulk powersystem is not one seamlessnational grid, but threemajor grid regions known asinterconnections -- theEastern, Western andERCOT -- Electric ReliabilityCouncil of Texas -- systems.There are very fewtransmission lines betweenthem, so if one has too littlepower, the others may notbe able to help much.That limited connectivitymade the 2021 Texasblackout far more severe: Asthe storm knocked out gaslines and power generators,ERCOT was forced intothe largest deliberateelectricity shutoff in U.S.history. Operators cutpower to millions ofcustomers to avoid a totalgrid collapse.More than 4.5 millionTexans lost power, andhospitals across the statestruggled with electricity andwater shortages. At thattime, the total powerERCOT was able toimport from the neighboringsystems could cover onlyabout 6% of the demand.Today, there are proposalsto build more transfercapacity between Texas andneighboring grids.The Southern SpiritTransmission project,announced by theDepartment of Energy in2024, would include a 320-mile transmission lineconnecting Texas withLouisiana and Mississippi.According to the DOE, theproject could improve theTexas grid's resilience duringperiods of high demand andextreme weather. If this linehad existed in 2021, it couldhave reduced the scale ofthe power losses by roughly15%, enough to keepelectricity flowing to600,000 additional Texashomes during peak demand.The wire has tosurvive the disasterThat physical constrainton where power can flowbegins with how the U.S. gridis organized.At the broadest level, it isdivided into the threeindependentinterconnections. Withinthose larger networks,multiple regional grids canshare power with oneanother. But movingelectricity across them stilldepends on the availability oftransmission paths.Extreme weather candamage transmission linesand substations, making itimpossible to bring inadditional electricity.Hurricane Ida showedwhy this matters.In August 2021, all eighttransmission lines feedingNew Orleans were damagedby the storm and knockedout of service. That left thewhole city without normalgrid power and set the stagefor a recovery that tookweeks in some of thehardest-hit areas. Across thewider network, the stormalso disabled 216 substationsand more than 2,000 milesof transmission lines. Whenthe main lines for electricityare broken, nearby powercannot flow in.The answer to bolsteringpower grids is not just tobuild more high-voltagetransmission lines. It is alsoimportant to harden thetransmission corridors thatalready exist so they canwithstand extreme weatherand be restored morequickly after a disaster.In New Orleans, that isalready shaping investment.Entergy New Orleans, thecity's main electric utility, hasan accelerated gridhardening plan that aims toreplace existing utility poleswith more fortified poles towithstand higher winds andselectively move some linesunderground in high-riskareas. The first phase,scheduled through 2026,covers about 63 miles ofpower lines at a cost of $100million.At the federal level, theFederal Energy RegulatoryCommission has requiredtransmission providersto report how they assessrisks to transmission assets,how those risks affectsystem operations and howthey plan to reduce them,including under extremeheat and cold.The hidden regulatoryrules for sharingpowerWhen the power goes outin one area, a nearby gridmay look fine and keep itsown lights on, but that doesnot mean its surplus powercan be easily shared. Federalstandards requiretransmission providers tohave enough electricityavailable in reserve to servetheir own local homes andbusinesses safely. In plainterms, only excess electricityabove that safety thresholdcan realistically be treated aspower available to helpneighboring grids during anoutage.Decisions also have to bemade quickly, and thelogistics for sending powerfrom one company have tobe arranged before theblackout begins. The gridfacing power shortages mustknow which sources willsend extra power, whichlines can carry it and what todo if the transfer createsoverloads elsewhere.The emergencyoperations manual used byPJM, which coordinateselectricity flows across largeparts of the Midwest andmid-Atlantic region, saysoperators are expected toact immediately when theirpower demand exceeds thesupply to stabilize the grid. Ifthe shortage lasts too long,protective systems begindisconnecting parts of thegrid to stop a wider collapse.Once those systems aredisconnected, even powerthat arrives later may nolonger reach the areaswhere it is needed most.Neighboring grids tothe rescueIn early September 2022, abrutal heat wave pushedCalifornia's power grid tothe brink. On Sept. 6, thestate hit an all-time recordpower demand of 52,061megawatts.That same evening, whenthe system was moststrained, a crucial lifeline ofabout 8,000 MW ofelectricity flowed in fromneighboring areas. Thismassive external supportmet 12.5% of the localdemand, successfullymaintaining the powersupply for millions.Analyses after the heatwave confirmed what hadaverted the crisis. TheCalifornia IndependentSystem Operator, orCAISO, concluded that\"imported electricity fromneighboring balancingauthorities played a key rolein maintaining systemreliability\" during thosecritical hours.Crucially, this rescue reliedon established sharingagreements. Beyondprescheduled transfers,CAISO reported that powergenerators in the WesternEnergy Imbalance Market --a system launched in 2014 tohelp Western power systemsshare electricity inemergencies --dynamically delivered anextra 1,000 MW ofemergency power.That event proved howhaving real-time, crossregional coordinationmechanisms already in placecan ultimately save a gridunder siege. Similararrangements already existelsewhere in the UnitedStates. PJM and MISO, theMidcontinent IndependentSystem Operator, have aprocess for schedulingelectricity flows when theregions know help will beneeded. Utilities in theSoutheast use an exchangeplatform to tradepower closer to the time itis needed.While different regionsuse different designs, thebroader lesson is the same:Outside help is most likelyto work when the grid has ausable transmission path,spare electricity to share anda system for moving thatpower before theemergency begins.Yan Wen, a postdoctoralresearch scientist inelectrical engineering at theUniversity of Tennessee,contributed to this article.By Sufan JiangBlackout risks are rising -- why neighboring power grids can't helpphenomenon raises two keyquestions: Under whatconditions do older adultswork and what drives themto remain economicallyactive?Regarding workingconditions, he warned thatlabor informality risessharply with age.\"Labor informality doesnot decline over time. Itaccelerates, rising from27.7% among people ages 60to 64 to nearly 48% in thenext age group andexceeding 60% among thoseolder than 70,\" he said.He added that the impactis uneven across socialgroups.\"Among the poorestwomen ages 65 to 69, nearly9 out of 10 work without acontract or pensioncoverage. About half of olderadults working informally areself-employed workerswithout access to socialprotection,\" he said.While some older adultscontinue working becausethey are living longer andwant to remain active,Román said \"the evidenceshows that, in most cases,the primary reason iseconomic necessity.\"He contended that thetrend reflects a deeperstructural problem that goesbeyond nationalcircumstances.\"Aging arrived in LatinAmerica before the regionbuilt the economic modeland social protection systemcapable of supporting it,\" hesaid. \"Economists oftensummarize this reality with aphrase that has becomecommon in regionaldiscussions: We will grow oldbefore we grow rich.\"He said the region's longterm challenge is to ensurethat longer life expectancydoes not translate into moreyears of economic insecurityand precarious livingconditions.By Banyeliz MuñozLatin Americacontinued from page 3
6 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800By the first week of April,Mohammad Asif could nolonger sleep.The ceiling fan in hisrented room in Delhiwhirred through the night,pushing hot air from onecorner of the room toanother. Even after midnight,the heat lingered.Mr. Asif moved fromKashmir’s cool mountainvalleys to India’s capitalseven months ago to take upa government job in theeducation department. Hearrived after summer hadpassed, and assumed hecould manage the next onewith a fan.Then, temperatures beganto climb.“People had warned meabout Delhi’s summers, but Ithought I would manage,” hesays. “Once the heat set in, itbecame unbearable.”An air conditioner wasnot in his budget. Much ofhis income goes towardsupporting his wife, infantdaughter, and parents stillliving in Kashmir, and thecheapest unit would costnearly a month’s salary. Butas the heat intensified, hefelt he had little choice. Hetook out a loan and boughtan air conditioner for30,000 rupees (about $314).“It didn’t feel like a luxurypurchase,” he says. “It feltlike a necessity.”Across India, millions ofhouseholds are reaching thesame conclusion. As heatwaves become morefrequent and intense acrossSouth Asia, air conditionersare rapidly shifting fromaspirational consumergoods to essential tools forcoping with daily life. Yetaccess remains deeplyunequal. While ACownership is rising, onlyabout 8% to 10% of India’sroughly 300 millionhouseholds currently ownan air conditioner, leavinghundreds of millions ofpeople exposed todangerous heat – or turningto a fast-growing AC rentalmarket.“This trend exposes adeep ‘cooling apartheid’ inIndia,” says Harjeet Singh,founding director of SatatSampada ClimateFoundation, an advocacyorganization based in Delhi.“While affluent householdsrun multiple units without asecond thought, poorerfamilies are pushed intodebt cycles just to keep asingle room livable.”“Every summer isbusier than the last”The need for cooling isbecoming harder to ignore.Temperatures in Delhi andsurrounding states havealready touched 46 degreesCelsius (114.8 degreesFahrenheit) this year,according to governmentdata. In recent years, parts ofneighboring Rajasthan haverecorded temperaturesabove 50 degrees Celsius(122 degrees Fahrenheit).Scientists also warn thatdensely built cities aretrapping heat after sunset,leading to increasingly hotnights and offering littlerelief after scorching days.On the hottest days,Assad Khan’s workshop inthe south Delhineighborhood of Abul Fazalgrows crowded. Techniciansweave between stacks of airconditioners, their phonesringing with constantrequests for rentals,servicing, and emergencyrepairs.Mr. Khan started his airconditioner repair businessabout 25 years ago. Asdemand for cooling grew, hebegan refurbishing olderunits and renting them out,starting with just twomachines.Today, he rents out morethan 150.“Every summer is busierthan the last,” he says. “If Ihad more units and moretechnicians, I could easilyrent out hundreds more.”The climbing heat has alsochanged the nature of Mr.Khan’s business. Airconditioners are running forlonger hours and undergreater strain, leading tomore breakdowns andrepair calls during the peaksummer months.“The hotter it gets, theharder these machines haveto work,” he says. “We’refixing far more units than weused to.”Across Delhi, hundreds ofrental businesses now offerseasonal air conditioners,typically charging between7,000 and 15,000 rupees($73 to 157) for thesummer, includinginstallation and servicing.“Many of our customerssimply can’t afford to buy anew AC,” Mr. Khan says. “Forthem, renting is the only wayto get through the summer.”A climate paradoxAir conditioners savelives, but not without a cost.While cooling Indianhomes, the rattling windowunits rented out in shopsacross Delhi also releaseheat into the surroundingenvironment and placegrowing pressure onelectricity networks.According to theInternational Energy Agency,India could have more than1 billion air conditioners inoperation by 2050, up fromfewer than 50 million in2020. The agency estimatesthat every 1 degree Celsiusrise in outdoor temperaturewas associated with roughlya 7-gigawatt increase inIndia’s peak electricitydemand in 2024.“India is caught in aclassic, tragic climateparadox,” says Mr. Singh,who made headlines inJanuary after being detainedfor his climate activism. “Weare largely using fossil fuelpowered energy to coolourselves from the verywarming that burning fossilfuels has caused.”Breaking the cycle willrequire cleaning up thepower grid and rethinkingurban design. In themeantime, “we cannot tell afamily suffering in 47 degreeCelsius [116.6 degreesFahrenheit] heat that theyshouldn’t buy an AC becauseof emissions,” he adds. Forthe 90% of Indians whowork in the informal sector,air conditioning is becomingan essential tool to earn aliving.Standing beside his mobilesugarcane juice cart on abusy roadside in Haryana,18-year-old Soubit Kumarfeeds cane stalks into a noisycrushing machine as hotwinds sweep across thehighway.Last summer, he realizedthat if he wanted to keepworking through theregion’s dizzying heat, heneeded an air conditioner athome.Unable to afford one onhis own, he pooled moneywith his uncle and rented aunit for 8,000 rupees ($83)for the season. Today, Mr.Kumar’s family and hisuncle’s family – eight peoplein all – sleep in a single 10-by-12-foot room where theair conditioner is installed.“To stand here all day inthis heat, I need at least sixor seven hours of sleep,” hesays over the roar of thecrushing machine. “Withoutthe AC, that wasn’tpossible.”Mr. Kumar, who has beenhelping support his familysince he was 12, no longerviews air conditioning as aluxury.“These days, it feels moreimportant than food,” hesays.By Aakash Hassan‘More important than food’: Extreme heat is shifting how Indians think about ACRoadside vegetable vendor Ajay Kumar, pictured pushing his bike inthe heat in Gurugram, India, says he cannot afford an air conditioner.Like many low-income workers, he relies instead on fans.SR060525Call Alex at 262-344-6736For a free estimateCall Alex at 262-344-6736For a free estimateAlex Fence & Repairs lex Fence & RepairsWhy settle for wood posts when you can get lifetime steel posts. 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7 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800OPINIONPresident Donald Trump’slatest scheme is to print hismug on a proposed $250 bill.The idea is eye roll inducing,for sure.There are so many otherpressing issues for thenation; it’s tempting to stayout of this dog fight.On the surface, Trump’scontinued insistence to placehis image and name on everyentity he desires can seemtrivial compared to theweighty global and domesticquandaries also on his plate.Trump’s efforts around the$250 bill are grounded invanity.But July 4, and the nation’s250th celebrations arenearing. Central to honoringour nation is understandingits founding principles. Toooften, that’s not what’shappening.Instead, too manyAmericans are enamoredOPINIONIn one month, the UnitedStates will observe its250th birthday. It is shapingup more like a memorialservice for a lost loved onethan a party to celebratesomething special. Ratherthan anticipating a happyoccasion, America at 250 isincreasingly characterizedby anger, name- calling andscandals.Performers arewithdrawing fromPresident Trump’s Freedom250 Great American StateFair in Washington, claimingorganizers lied to themabout its partisanship.Trump, who hascontributed mightily to thegrowing divisions among us,is threatening to make a“major speech,” mostly tohis MAGA crowd to fill thevacuum left by those whohave withdrawn. Is thereanything new he could saythat we haven’t hearddozens, perhaps thousandsof times before? Would hisrhetoric be uplifting, ratherthan self-aggrandizing?Based on the past, itdoesn’t seem likely.Contrast this dark moodwith the July 4,1976bicentennial. Gerald Ford, amodest man, was president.The Vietnam War hadofficially ended in April.Richard Nixon haddecamped to Californiaafter resigning thepresidency over theWatergate affair. Americanflags were proudly waved,not ceremoniously burned.Leading up to theoccasion was a newspaperad by British Airwaysfeaturing actor RobertMorley. Tongue in cheek itsaid: “Come home, all isForgiven.”An international paradeof tall ships in New YorkHarbor and later in Bostonbecame one of the mostwidely recognized visualspectacles of the day.Thousands of volunteersfrom every state traveledacross the country, usinghistoric routes in coveredwagons, culminating atValley Forge State Park inPennsylvania.A replica of the LibertyBell toured all 50 states,encouraging all citizens toparticipate in thecelebration.The SmithsonianInstitution hosted a 12-week Festival of AmericanFolklife on the NationalMall. Queen Elizabeth IImade an official state visit.At 2:00 p.m. on July 4,President Ford rang anational Bicentennial Bell inPhiladelphia 13 times (forthe original colonies),prompting communitiesacross America to ring bellsin unison.The American FreedomTrain was a travelingmuseum displaying rarehistorical documents,artifacts and artwork. Itvisited the lower 48 states.Network coverage wasextensive (there were onlythree broadcast networksat the time). CBS’s popularBicentennial Minutessegments, which began in1974 and ran daily,continued through Dec. 31,1976. The final BicentennialMinute was presented byPresident Ford, closing outthe year-long televisioncelebration.What’s changed in thelast 50 years? Many blamesocial media, the educationsystem and politicians whoseem to care more abouttheir careers than thecondition of the country.Can anyone name amember of one party whohas said something niceabout a member of theother party? I doubt a\"Jeopardy” champion couldcome up with one.Here’s a timely quotefrom Ronald Reagan: “All ofus, as Americans, are joinedin a common enterprise towrite the story of freedom– the greatest adventuremankind has ever known,and one we must pass onto our children and ourchildren’s children –remembering that freedomis never more than onegeneration away fromextinction.”It does not appear weare following Reagan’sadvice. Where is thesoaring rhetoric of thepast, even the recent past,that sought to proclaim aunity of purpose? To recallSimon and Garfunkel’smetaphoric line from “Mrs.Robinson”: “Where haveyou gone, Joe DiMaggio?Our nation turns its lonelyeyes to you.”Like Elvis, to mix aperformance metaphor, itappears unity andpatriotism have left thebuilding.Will this be theunhappy Americanbirthday?with Cal ThomasReaders may email CalThomas [email protected] for Cal Thomas’ latestbook “A Watchman in theNight: What I've Seen Over50 Years Reporting onAmerica\" (HumanixBooks).my turnstory continues on page 7‘No Kings’ is why Trump’s face should not be on a $250 billwith Mary SanchezReaders can reach MarySanchez [email protected] follow her on [email protected]. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent shows a proposed $250 bill featuringPresident Donald Trump during a news briefing in the Brady Briefing Room ofthe White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 28, 2026.Mary Sanchez joinsHappenings Q&A on Tues June 23th at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP
8 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800OPINIONMore than half a centuryago, actors Jack Lemmonand Walter Matthau starredin the comedy hit, The OddCouple, about two divorcedroommates reacting tobachelor life.Today, Vladimir Putin andDonald Trump, in the ironyof all ironies, are the oddestcouple. They are drawntogether by classic strategicblunders and failures: Putinin Ukraine and Trump inIran. And both need theother to extricatethemselves from these selfimposed disasters.The irony grows evengreater. In Ukraine, theUnited States is activelyadvising and arming Kyiv inkilling Russians by the manytens of thousands. In Iran,Russia is returning the favorby providing Tehran withtargeting and other aid thatis attacking Americans.Fortunately, U.S. casualtiesare a small, small fraction ofRussian ones.One reason why Putinand Trump have becomeembroiled in thesequagmires -- Putin for fouryears and Trump going onfour months -- is the failureto have sufficientknowledge andunderstanding of theenemies each is facing.Putin took his generals'assertion that Kyiv wouldbe overrun in days. Then,Putin assumed that theoverwhelming advantagesRussia had in all forms ofpower would coerceUkraine to capitulate. Now,Russia has taken over 1million casualties and itseconomy, despite the hikein oil prices, is suffering.Trump, probablyempowered by the ease inwhich Venezuela's presidentNikolas Maduro wascaptured and Israeli PrimeMinister BenyaminNetanyahu's conviction thatby decapitating Iran'sleadership, Tehran wouldcollapse, orderedOperation Epic Fury.Epic Fury is quicklybecoming Epic Fuzzy in thatthe original aims for theattack, never clear, havebecome confused andconflicting. While Iran's verymodest air force and navyhave been eliminated, thestrategy of winning by notlosing seems to be working.To some, Trump's optimismover the progress ofnegotiations that so farhave not been matched byIranian actions, reinforcesthe prospect that Epic Furyhas not and will not work.Of course, Ukraine hasthe advantage of beingactively supported byEurope and the non-U.S.members of NATO. Theseallies understood thedanger posed by Putinshould Ukraine fall.Europe is doing its fairshare to prevent thatoutcome, while suspectingthat Trump remains somuch more favorable toPutin than to Ukrainianpresident, VolodymyrZelensky, that Kyiv could besold down the U.S. river inexchange for betterrelations with Moscow.Iran has no allies in theGulf, although the Arabstates are deeplyambivalent about theirrevolutionary neighbor. TheSunni-Shia conflict remainsan issue. Some 700,000Shias, some not farremoved from their originalhome in Iran, and in Bahraincould form a \"fifth column\"for Tehran.And Iran's attacks againstGulf states infrastructurereflect a vulnerability thatan expansion of the warwould only grow worse.That includes thedesalination facilities onwhich the Gulf states aredependent for virtually alltheir fresh water supplies.How then might themutual need for somereconciliation of theconflicts in Iran and Ukrainebring Putin and Trumpcloser? The quid pro quo iswhat can each do for theother?Trump could indeedpressure Zelensky, as wellas the NATO allies, toconcede to Russiandemands. The threat toleave NATO; reduce thepresence of U.S. forces asTrump is doing in Germanyand increase tariffs arecoercive tools that could beapplied.Putin, likewise, couldbecome the intermediaryregarding the nuclearissues. Russia could offer toremove the enricheduranium, as well as spentfuel rods infused withplutonium-239 and be Iran'sfuture supplier. And Russiacould give Iran someguarantees aboutrestraining further U.S.military action.Any visible signs of a jointTrump-Putin axis to worktogether for each other'sbenefit would likely bedisastrous given theperception of a deceitfulcollaboration no matterhow much strategic sensethis might make.After all, Richard Nixonwent to China and signed anuclear arms agreementwith the U.S.S.R., usheringin an era of detente. Ofcourse, Trump is no Nixon.Whether Putin is a MaoZedong or LeonidBrezhnev remains to beseen.Still, the notion of an\"odd couple\" is appealingbecause it would be odd,indeed. Yet, desperation hasdrawn opposites together.As Ukraine continues tobleed Russia, Iran refuses toquit and gasoline and foodprices rise, who knows howthis may affect Putin, Trumpand the possibility of afuture partnership?The oddest couple:Donnie and Vladwith Harlan Ullmanmy turnHarlan Ullman is UPI'sArnaud de BorchgraveDistinguished Columnist; senioradviser at Washington'sAtlantic Council, chairman of aprivate company and principalauthor of the doctrine ofshock and awe. His next book,co-written with Field MarshalThe Lord David Richards,former U.K. chief of defenseand due out next year, is WhoThinks Best Wins: PreventingStrategic Catastrophe. Thewriter can be reached on [email protected] Ullman joinsHappenings Q&A on Thu June 18th at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIPU.S. President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with RussianPresident Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference at thePresidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018. with imagery: flag-waving forthe sake of symbolism,marching for the same, andendless pontifications topatriotism that are deliveredon social media.And yet, some of thegreatest divides in thepopulation right now can bedissected down tofundamentalmisunderstandings about theoutcomes of theRevolutionary War. Peopleknow the basics. Thecolonists were in rebellionagainst King George III, andultimately formed what wehave now, a self-governingrepublic.Our presidents areobviously elected, withchecks and balances in thebranches of government andcertainly no succession ofposition and power bybirthright. It’s all pretty basicand could be classified aslessons in U.S. Civics 101.And yet, Trump supportersfail to see the problem ofhaving this president’s faceon currency. Worse, there isa loyalty to Trump thatseems to undercut deeperthinking about how so manyof his initiatives undercutbasic democratic principles.There’s a reason thatGeorge Washington refusedto have his image placed onthe first silver coins for thenew nation. He led thebattles to sever this landfrom Britain, ensuring that inthese United States no oneperson would govern like aking.Strangely, that foundationis dismissed today. To Trump’sloyal fans, the No King’smarches were buffooneryput on by theadministration’s critics. Theysaw liberals in cartoonishdisplays of rancor, a bunch ofriled up woke folks bent onshowing their personalhatred for Trump.The recent nationwidemarches did see plenty ofexamples of people ragingagainst Trump as a singularperson. But the overallmessage wasn’t necessarilyabout one man. It was tounderscore that the nation’sleadership is decided byelections, that we are arepublic, most certainly not amonarchy. Hence, the “NoKings” moniker for theprotests.The inability orunwillingness of Trumpvoters to see this point iswhere many discussionsirrevocably split. And that is acentral problem facing theUnited States right now.Everyone should judge theadministration’s actions froma perspective that is deeplygrounded in democraticprinciples.Each of these actions arewhat dictators promote:undercutting electionofficials, undermining pressfreedoms, and sending themilitary into the streets tostifle protests. Dictators alsolike to see their image onbanners, currency, andgovernment buildings.A recent court ruling hasput a pin in Trump’s decreethat placed his name on theKennedy Center. It’s highlyunlikely that his proposed$250 bill will come tofruition in time for 250thanniversary celebrations.Federal law would have tobe changed to allow it, forgood reason. Living peopleare not allowed to bepictured on U.S. currency. Abill to alter the FederalReserve Act has beenintroduced in the Senate, butreportedly it is withouttraction. In addition,processes to guard againstcounterfeit bills would belengthy.Still, Treasury SecretaryScott Bessent showed amockup of what Trump’sdesired $250 bill could looklike at a recent pressconference. And in March,the Treasury Departmentannounced that Trump’ssignature will appear onfuture currency.Trump most certainlydeserves to be immortalizedin the history of the U.S. Butit needs to be for his actions,outcomes that can beattributed to him and hisadministration.Let’s leave U.S. currency toshowcase leaders longdeceased. It’s an honordeserving of those whoselegacies, for better or worse,have been thoroughly vetted.Only then, can a presidencybe placed in history withsuch a public homage.Mary Sanchezcontinued from page 6
9 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800When I see someoneserious about losing weight,they typically have a habit oftracking their calories. Mostuse an app on theirsmartphone such asMyFitnessPal or Lose It! orMyNetDiary. There aremany others as well. Thesehappen to be free (althoughsome offer premiumupgrades for a fee). Besides tracking calories,these apps can helpimprove the quality of yourdiet by helping you knowhow much fiber, vitamins orother nutrients you areconsuming (or notconsuming). Some includemotivational challenges;some let you connect withothers on the same app;some scan barcodes ofproducts to get the mostaccurate nutritionalinformation. Look for onewith a huge database offoods and prepared dishes.It's also helpful to have onewhere you can import arecipe.If all this seems like toomuch to do, realize thatmost of us eat the samefoods over and over. So,once you add a food toyour app, it's there, ready topop in a day's calorie count. Why use an app?Accountability. Trackingyour food intake with anapp can help keep youaccountable and open youreyes to where you're fallingshort nutritionally. A meta-analysis study inthe journal ObesityReviews found that appbased mobile interventionscan improve diet qualityand help with weight loss. Inanother study, researchersfound those who usedmobile apps lost nearly 2pounds more in weightcompared with those notusing an app. Researchersused data from 14 studiesinvolving over 2,000people.While there is plenty ofroom for human error --overestimating orunderestimating portions --there is somethingpowerful about keepingtrack of what you eat. Manypeople have no idea howmany calories a simplepeanut butter and jellysandwich might have orhow many calories are in aglass of wine. A wise dietitian told me(as I worried about losingmy pregnancy weight) thatit really boils down tocalories in and calories out.For most of us to make achange, we have to knowhow many calories we'retaking in. That's where anapp might help.Charlyn Fargo is aregistered dietitian withSIU Med School inSpringfield, Ill. food & recipesWeight Loss by theNumbersNutrition News with Charlyn FargoLemon Mustard VinaigretteMakes about 3/4 cup1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard1 tablespoon red wine vinegar3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juiceFreshly ground black pepper, to tasteSalt, to taste1/2 cup good-quality mild extra-virgin olive oil,plus more as desired1. Whisk mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, pepperand salt together until blended and smooth. Whiskin 1/2 cup of oil in a slow, steady stream untilemulsified; add up to 1/4 cup more oil as desired.Taste for seasoning. Reserve.2 (6- to 8-ounce) salmon fillets, about 3/4-inch thick2 tablespoons pure maple syrup1 tablespoon red miso1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned rice vinegar1 teaspoon refrigerated ginger paste1/2 teaspoon refrigerated garlic pasteNonstick cooking spray16 asparagus spears1 tablespoon olive oilGarnish: orange slices, chopped Italian parsleyPat salmon dry with paper towels; place on a pieplate. Combine syrup, miso, rice vinegar, gingerpaste and garlic paste. Drizzle half of mixture over salmon, and gently rub on fillets. (Save the other half of the mixture forlater). Let salmon stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Preheat over to 425 degrees F. Spray a large sheet pan withnonstick cooking spray, or line with foil. Set aside. Cut asparagus spears into 8-inch lengths. Toss asparagus with olive oil.Arrange the spears along the edges of the sheet pan, leaving room in the center for the salmon. Place salmon in center ofthe pan. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with a fork (145 degrees F) and asparagus is crisp and tender.Brush remaining half of miso mixture over salmon. Garnish with orange slices and parsley, if desired. Serves 2. Per serving: 520 calories; 38 grams protein; 22 grams carbohydrates; 31 grams fat (6 grams saturated); 95 milligramscholesterol; 3 grams fiber; 16 grams sugar, 3 grams fiber. Salmon with AsparagusRoasted shrimp andcorn salad, a colorfulprelude to summerRoasted shrimp and corn make this seafood salad especially fresh andflavorful. Start with raw, peeled, deveined shrimp and roast them withcorn kernels until just cooked through; the shrimp stay juicy and thecorn turns sweet and tender. These are a far cry from the overcookedrubbery shrimp you will find at the market.Use any lettuce you like, cut into small pieces. Marinated artichokehearts pair well with the shrimp. You could substitute hearts of palm forthe artichoke hearts if you prefer. Finish with avocado, pistachios andtomato halves, toss with vinaigrette, and serve immediately. Try a chilledsauvignon blanc to accompany and some crisp, warm sourdough breadfor a satisfying meal.Roasted Shrimp and Corn SaladServes 4 as main course or 6 as afirst course1 pound shrimp (12 to 15 count),peeled and deveinedKernels from 1 ear corn (about1/2 cup)1 shallot, finely choppedZest of 1 lemon1 tablespoon lemon juice1 tablespoon olive oilSeasoning salt, to tasteTo finish the salad:8 cups chopped lettuce(romaine, baby gem, or springgreens)1 (12-ounce) jar marinatedartichoke hearts1 medium ripe avocado, peeledand diced3 small tomatoes, halved1/4 cup roasted pistachiosLemon mustard vinaigrette1. Heat the oven to 400 F.Arrange shrimp and corn on aparchment-lined sheet pan. In asmall bowl, mix the remainingingredients, pour over theshrimp and corn, and toss tocoat. Spread in a single layer.2. Roast for 8 to 9 minutes, untilthe shrimp are pink and opaqueand corn is light brown. Do notovercook. Halve the shrimp,transfer shrimp and corn to adish, cool, and refrigerate untilserving.3. Place the lettuce in a largesalad bowl. Spoon the chilledshrimp and corn mixture overthe greens in four sections.4. Spoon the artichokes betweenthe shrimp sections, creatingeight sections total.5. Arrange the tomato halvesaround the rim, scatter theavocado on top, and sprinkle thepistachios in the center.6. Toss with vinaigrette andserve.
10 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Dear Cathy, Our rescue Jack Russellpup “found us” through ahumane shelter on thesame day I tested positivefor COVID two years ago.We had a few hard weeks,but Barkley fit right in withour other dog and has beenthe typical fun, high-energyguy we thought we werebringing home.But a few months later,we began to get concerned.At what seemed likerandom times, he wouldhop up from his mat, howl,and jump on me in ananxious fit. When it startedhappening more often, Itook him to the vet. After$400+ in blood work andtests, my vet could findnothing wrong. “Just watchhim,” she said.Over the next week, Itried to figure out thetrigger. Was he in pain? Agut issue? It just didn’t makesense, until one afternoon,while I was watching TV, Inoticed that every time aLiberty Mutual insurancecommercial came on, thebehavior started. I beganpaying closer attention, andsure enough, every timethat commercial – with thelittle baby in the highpitched voice saying“Liberty, Liberty, Liberty” –came on, Barkley would goberserk. I can even look athim and sing “Liberty,Liberty, Liberty” and get areaction, no commercialneeded! (I don’t do thisoften. I’m not trying totease him or triggeranxiety.)Unfortunately, thisbehavior has now branchedout to other commercials.We try not to react or giveit attention. He has trainedus to hit the mute buttonquickly. It’s not really aproblem, except at night. Iwill be drifting off to sleepwith the TV playing softlyand Barkley snoring besideme. Then, one of thosecommercials comes on andhe is in full alert mode,howling at the top of hislungs. And just like that, I amwide awake again, waitingfor my heart to settle. Anysuggestions? – Pam,Greensboro, NorthCarolinaDear Pam,What you are seeing ismore common than peoplerealize. Dogs don’t hearcommercials the way wedo. They hear high-pitchedtones, sudden soundchanges, and repetitivejingles that can feel intenseor even alarming. That“Liberty, Liberty, Liberty”jingle hits a frequency rangehe may be especiallysensitive to. Once thatreaction happened a fewtimes, his brain did whatbrains do. It linked thatsound to a strongemotional response. Fromthere, it generalized tosimilar sounds in othercommercials.The good news is thisdoesn’t sound like a medicalissue, especially since yourveterinarian ruled that out.It’s more of a learned soundsensitivity, and Barkley hasessentially trained himself(and you) to anticipate andreact.You’re already doingsomething right by notmaking a big fuss when ithappens. That helps preventreinforcing the behavior.The muting is also apractical solution – and I amsure Barkley appreciatesyour quick reflexes.If you want to take it astep further, you can gentlyhelp him change how hefeels about those sounds.The goal is to pair it withsomething positive beforehe escalates. For example, ifyou catch the start of atriggering sound, toss him asmall treat or engage himwith something he enjoysbefore the reaction builds.Over time, the sound canbegin to predict somethinggood instead of somethingalarming. (You mentionedoccasionally singing thejingle, but that can reinforcethe association, so it’s bestto avoid doing that whenpossible.)Another option is towear headphones (earbuds)at bedtime, so you are theonly one hearing thecommercials as you drift offto sleep.In the meantime, you’renot alone. A lot of dogshave strong opinions aboutcommercials, especiallysince they always seemlouder than the shows.Dear Cathy,I saw the letter from theowners of the Siamese catgoing outside the litter box.I’ve had Siamese cats fordecades, and many areprone to irritable bowelsyndrome (IBS). It’s notcurable, but it can bemanaged. A veterinarian canhelp identify foodsensitivities, and avoidingthose triggers can reduceinflammation. Keeping aconsistent feeding routinemay also help preventstomach irritation. I hopethis is helpful. – Sue, Bethlehem,PennsylvaniaDear Sue,Thank you for sharingyour experience. Litter boxissues can have many causes– medical, behavioral, orenvironmental – so aveterinary check is alwaysthe first step. Keeping a logof accidents, including diet,timing, and changes athome, can also help yourveterinarian identifypatterns more quickly. Whatseems like a behavior issuemay have a physical cause,and attention to diet andoverall health can make areal difference.Why some dogs react to TV – andwhat you can do about itPet Worldwith Cathy RosenthalAs well as being a recuringguest on Happenings Q&A,Cathy M. Rosenthal is alongtime animal advocate,author, columnist and petexpert who has more than30 years in the animalwelfare field. Send your petquestions, stories and tips [email protected] cat adopts babybunny on Oklahomafamily's porchA pregnant cat who showed up on anOklahoma family's porch had onemore surprise in store when she gavebirth to five kittens -- and adopted ababy bunny. Kathy Price said thepregnant cat showed up on her porchabout two months ago. \"I opened thedoor to bring her some cat food, andshe ran into the house,\" Price toldKFSM-TV. The family, who have a long history of taking instray cats, found the new arrival to be a friendly andwelcome addition. \"She was incredibly tame and had beensomeone's house cat, and we were concerned about herbecause she lost her family, they lost her, and she neededsomebody to take care of her,\" Price said. The cat gavebirth to five kittens on Memorial Day, and a few days laterPrice and her husband noticed something unusual aboutthe family.\"We were checking on the kittens, and my husband said,'How many kittens did she have?' and I said, 'Five.' He said,'There's six in here,' and I looked and said, 'That's a bunny,'\"Price said. The mother cat appeared to have accepted thebaby rabbit as one of her kittens. Price's daughter, Christy Moreno, joked her mother is living\"her best Disney princess life.\" Price said she is hoping tofind a new forever home for the unconventional family. Shesaid she has become attached to the animals, but isconcerned about the safety of young kittens so close to abusy highway.Parakeet vandalizescars in ScotlandA parakeet on the loose in a Scottish suburb is beingblamed for causing thousands of dollars in damage bypecking away at the rubber parts of residents' cars.Residents said the small parrot has been seen wanderingloose in Lochardil, a suburb of Inverness, since February.Neighbors said the bird has been pecking at window sealsand windshield wipers, causing thousands of dollars worthof damage. \"Parakeet is not a good word round here inInverness,\" local resident Cathleen MacKinnon told BBCRadio Scotland. \"This little chap causes havoc on the carsaround here.\" \"I have never seen the bird -- I have just seenthe damage it causes,\" she said. Some locals have taken tocovering their cars with tarps when they are not in use.Chrissanne Robertson said she has caught occasionalglimpses of the exotic avian. \"Sometimes it leaves, it can beaway for a couple of weeks, and we think, 'oh we won't seeit again', but then somebody will go out the next day andyou'll here a shout of 'he's back again,'\" she said. A NatureScot representative said experts do not knowwhy some birds attack the rubber parts of cars, but thereare numerous theories. \"Wildlife experts have put forwardthree main theories for this destructive behavior: they aredefending their territory against their own reflection, theycrave certain fats or minerals in the rubber or they aresimply exploring and playing out of boredom,\" thespokesperson said.
11 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Economists, analysts, andfinancial journalists havebeen wrestling with theparadox of the U.S. economy.We are living at a time ofhistorically low confidence,high gas prices, soaringcorporate earnings — andby extension, a rising stockmarket, and a labor marketthat seems to be holding up.So, is the economy good orbad? The answer isunequivocal: It depends.There is never just oneeconomy. The economyencompasses millions ofconsumers, large and smallbusinesses as well as thegovernment, which evenafter DOGE, spends trillionsof dollars annually. Althoughmuch of the data can paint apositive picture of theeconomy from 30,000 feet inthe air, many things can betrue at once: some peopleare thriving, some arestruggling, and the rest aresomewhere in between.My working theory is thatthe recent surge in gasprices, along withuncertainty about how AIwill change the labor markethave coalesced into a doomand-gloom mood that isexacerbated by social media,always a possible scapegoatfor negative vibes in today.This is not to say thatfinancial pressure does notexist – for some, it does. Therecent surge in gas pricescomes after the postpandemic increase in prices.For lower- and middleincome consumers, thecurrent situation has meantthat they are pulling back onbig-ticket items like largeappliances and focusing onstaples, groceries, andconvenience items. Some ofthese folks are forced toborrow to make ends meet,either through credit cardsor buy now, pay laterinstallment loans.Retailers sense the shift.Walmart’s CFO noted thatlower-income consumersare “more budget consciousand perhaps navigatingfinancial distress.” Inresponse, the company hasslashed prices on more than7,200 products — a 20%reduction from a year ago.Grocery store chain Krogeris rolling out its largeststrategic price-cuttinginitiative in years, targetingthousands of items. Yet, as Iwrite, the U.S. stock marketis hovering near all-timehighs-what gives?U.S. companies haveendured and have adapted tofour seismic events over thepast five years: the COVID19 pandemic reopeninginflationary surge,culminating in 9% annualinflation; the Russian invasionof Ukraine, which resulted ingas prices rising to a nominalhigh of $5.016 per gallon inJune 2022; the “LiberationDay” announcement ofTrump tariffs, which injectedmassive uncertainty intoglobal economic trade; andthe Israeli-American attackson Iran, which effectivelyclosed the all-importantStrait of Hormuz. Thenimbleness of companies inthe face of these events hasbeen impressive and haspropelled the U.S. economyand stock market.The most recent leg up inthe stock market has beenpowered by two catalysts ofgrowth: corporate profitsand AI. Companies acrossthe S&P 500 have continuedto post solid earnings,supported by disciplinedcost-cutting (read:periodically cuttingheadcount or not filling jobswhen an employeeleaves/retires) and enoughconsumer spending to boostrevenue.Under the hood, the mainengine of the current U.S.economy and stock marketis the massive build-out ofartificial intelligenceinfrastructure. Tech giantsMicrosoft, Amazon, Google,and Meta are spendinghundreds of billions ofdollars on AI data centers,chips, and cloud capacity.That capital expenditureflows directly into theearnings of semiconductorcompanies, equipmentmakers, and utilities, not tomention the constructioncompanies that are doing thebuildout of the brick-andmortar facilities.Is the economy good orbad? Consumers arespending but some arestretching, inflation hasmoderated but gas pricesremain high, confidence hassoured even as manyfundamental measuresremain respectable, and thestock market is rising, ascorporate America deliversearnings. Whether or not theeconomy is good dependson who you are.Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBSNews business analyst. Aformer options trader and CIOof an investment advisory firm,she welcomes comments andquestions [email protected]. jill on moneyIs the economy good or bad?by Jill SchlesingerTime for another Q&Acolumn! If you have aquestion, send an email to:[email protected]: I have $20,000 ofcredit card debt thatresulted from a medicalemergency. My bank hasoffered me a $25,000 homeequity loan at 9 percentinterest. Should I take theloan and pay off the creditcard, which charges me 27%?A: Of course, 9% is a lotlower than 27%, so yes, thisis a good way to eradicateyour high interest debtfaster. Just make sure youread the fine print of theequity loan before signing.Once you proceed,automate your payments andtry to pay a little extra onthe loan each month so youcan put this debt in the rearview mirror.Q: I’m 65 and havestruggled with my health thisyear, and I don’t think that Ican continue working fulltime. I’m thinking aboutclaiming Social Security now.If I wait two years, mymonthly income will increaseby $270. What should I do?A: There are threeimportant ages when itcomes to Social Securityretirement benefits: 62, 67and 70. While you can claimas early as age 62, doing sowill permanently reduce thebenefit by as much as 25%.That’s why I usuallyadvocate that people waituntil their full retirementage, which is 67 for anyoneborn after 1960. (Waitinguntil age 70 increasesbenefits by up to 8% a yearmore.) That said, if yourphysical condition preventsyou from working full time,consider claiming early andthen try to work part timeto help make your cash flowwork better.Q: When does anumbrella insurance policymake sense? We have a paidfor home worth about$600,000 and the rest of ourmoney is split between CDsand retirement accounts.A: Umbrella insurancemay provide additionalliability protection when thelimits of your auto,homeowners, motorcycle,RV or boat insurancepolicies are exhausted. Youare right that yourretirement accounts areprotected from creditorclaims, but your house andthe CDs are not.The only downside topicking up extra umbrellacoverage is the cost, butthese policies are usuallyaffordable. In order topurchase umbrella coverage,your homeowners’ policyand your auto policy willhave to be up to snuff andmust meet certain minimumliability limits. That meansthat you may need toupgrade your currentpolicies, which could resultin an increase in yourpremium. That said, if you canafford the extra cost,umbrella policies can providean extra level of protectionthat might provide peace ofmind.Q: My mother passedaway and left me a stack ofsavings bonds. My bank willnot cash them — whatshould I do?A: Go toTreasuryDirect.gov. Thereyou’ll set up an account, linkyour bank account, completeForm 1522, and sendeverything to Treasury.Q: We’re in our late 30sand have a new mortgage at6.125%. We are fortunate inthat we have extra moneyeach month, and we don’tknow whether to invest it orto pay down the mortgageearly. It’s hard to pass up aguaranteed 6.125% return.A: Before paying off thenote, it’s important that youhave established anemergency reserve fundwith six to 12 months ofyour living expenses, maxedout your retirementaccounts at work, and arenot carrying any consumerdebt. Then consider whetherlosing access to the moneythat would be used to paydown the mortgage wouldcause any concern. If youhave thought through thoseissues, then paying down themortgage could work.Ask Jillby Jill Schlesinger
12 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800A father is worried abouthis toddler, who has beenrunning a fever for two daysand pulling at one ear. A 65-year-old woman has beengetting winded on hermorning walks and feelingmore fatigued than usual.Both reach for their phonesand type their symptomsinto an AI chatbot.\"Your child likely has anear infection,\" the fatherlearns. \"Your symptomscould indicate a cardiaccondition,\" the womanreads.Those are helpful answers-- and there's a good chancethey're correct. Artificialintelligence is approaching,and in some casesexceeding, doctors' ability tomake accurate diagnoses. AnApril 2026 study foundOpenAI's o1 model had a78% accuracy rate oncomplex diagnostic casespublished in the NewEngland Journal of Medicineand also outperformedexperienced doctors whendiagnosing actual emergencyroom patients. Similarly,ChatGPT, working on itsown, outperformedphysicians in diagnosingcomplex cases, a 2024 studyfound -- even when thephysicians were able to useChatGPT themselves.Making a correctdiagnosis, though, is only halfa doctor's job. The other halfis knowing what to do aboutit -- in other words, decidinghow to manage a patient'shealth condition.I am a doctor and medicaleducator studying howdoctors make thesedecisions, a process knownas management reasoning,and how doctors in trainingdevelop this ability. For clearcut health concerns, an AIdiagnosis may be enough forsomeone to get the carethey need -- a little numbingcream for a baby's gums, say,or an appointment with acardiologist.But uncertainty iscommon in clinical practice.Often, knowing what ails apatient is necessary but notsufficient for determininghow to care for them. Andhow to manage a patient,even after the diagnosis issettled, is a complexquestion.People are seekinganswers for health problemsfrom AI platforms likeChatGPT.Diagnosis categorizes,but managementprioritizesExperienced doctors donot assess each patient fromscratch. Over years ofpractice, they build mentalshortcuts called illnessscripts.Illness scripts are morethan symptom checklists.They capture what a diseasetypically looks like, whotends to get it and how itmost often progresses.When a doctor sees a newpatient, they match whatthey observe against thesemental scripts -- a process ofcategorization and patternrecognition.When a patient appearswith a familiar pattern ofsigns and symptoms, adoctor calls up the matchingmental script almost withoutthinking. This frees them tonotice elements that don'tquite align: a symptom thatdoesn't fit, or a detail in thepatient's history -- a recenttrip abroad, an unusualexposure at work -- thatpoints toward a differentdiagnosis.It's not surprising that AI isgood at this patternmatching process. Largelanguage models likeChatGPT work in a similarway. They predict what wordshould come next in asentence based on patternslearned from enormousamounts of text, includingthe medical literature. In thatliterature, the word\"pneumonia\" reliably followscertain symptom patterns:fever, say, combined with acloudy patch on a chest Xray. Pattern matching, at thislevel, is essentially the samething a doctor does whenfitting a patient's symptomsto an illness script.But deciding what to donext -- what tests to run,what treatments to try, whatto monitor and what tofollow up on -- worksdifferently. Instead of oneright answer, a doctor facesmultiple reasonable options.The art of medicalmanagement is prioritizingwhich among these optionsis best for the patient infront of you.The human advantageSo how does a doctor gofrom diagnosing a patient tofiguring out how best to carefor them? The answer isalmost always, \"It depends.\"Consider two men,Marcus and Tomás, both 68,both just diagnosed withearly-stage prostate cancer.Their biopsies show thesame thing: a slow-growingtumor confined to theprostate.Both are offered the sametwo management options.Treat now, with surgery orradiation, accepting the risksof urinary incontinence andchanges to sexual function.Or monitor closely withregular tests and biopsies,treating only if it grows. Astudy that followed morethan 82,000 men with earlystage prostate cancer for 15years found that fewer than3 in 100 died of theirprostate cancer regardlessof which path they chose,though men who chosemonitoring were abouttwice as likely to see theircancer spread.AI can present bothoptions alongside thosestatistics. What a doctorbrings is knowledge of theperson sitting across fromthem.Marcus has no othersignificant health conditions.His doctor knows this, andknows Marcus well enoughto know that uncertainty sitsbadly with him. For a patientwithout other pressinghealth concerns, a slowgrowing tumor has time toprogress and becomesomething more serious.Both management paths aregenuinely reasonable, butMarcus cannot live withwaiting. Knowing cancer is inhis body, watched butuntreated, is not somethinghe can set aside. He choosestreatment.Tomás has advanced heartfailure, something his doctorhas been managing alongsidehim for years. She knowsthat his heart conditionposes a more immediatethreat to his health than thisslow-growing tumor does.She knows, too, that hewatched a friend go throughradiation and come outdiminished. Treatingaggressively would meanbearing real costs for abenefit that may neverarrive. She recommendsactive surveillance. Forhealthcontinues on page 15ChatGPT gettinggood at diagnosing,doctors remainbetter at treatmentSR052826 SR061126 010826
13 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Barb LudtkeFeb. 4, 1976Bose, Bullen & Strange Jill SandbergAug. 29, 1994SouthportMarch 15, 2000 Forest Park & Grewenow Wayne WilsonAug. 16, 2004 HarveyMarch 18, 2005 Bose & BullenMarch 18, 2005Harvey & Grant Tina BrehmSept. 17, 2008Jeffery & Ruth HarmanSept. 17, 2008Grant, Strange& Washington Karen Ovitt Patty Bella Ernest Fisher Margaret Lynch Karen RoestJan. 28, 2008Various Schoolswww.buildingwaters.comSR061925www.buildingwaters.comSR061925PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL • CARPENTRYHEATING and AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR!PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL • CARPENTRYHEATING and AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR!CALL US TODAY!262-277-4255 62-277-4255www.buildingwaters.comYour One StopShop,Baby,One Stop Shop!story continues on page 14A Safe Crossing, Every Single DayRain or shine, cold or sweltering, they are there. Every morning and every afternoon, school crossing guards take their post at the corner, stop sign in hand, and make sure every child gets across safely. For many guards in the district, that commitment has stretched across years, sometimes decades, and it continues this year as this team of guards completes yet another year without a single injury or accident on their watch.It is the kind of record that does not make headlines, and that is exactly how they like it.
14 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Kari BattisforeSept. 10, 2010 Jeffery & Southport John PetersSept. 13, 2010 Brass, Grewenow& Roosevelt Debra AyersJan. 23, 2015 Strange, Lance& Roosevelt Anthony TrottaAug. 24, 2015Forest Park Penny RuddApril 22, 2016Brass, Grewenow& Lakeview Acad. Megan SalzOct. 22, 2018Lance & Strange Sandy TorresOct. 1, 2019Nash John HeinischNov. 5, 2020GrantAug. 20, 2021Lance Jerry McRae Sarah GarciaOct. 03, 2019 Various Schools April ValdezNov. 05, 2020 Crossing GuardCrew ChiefOct. 27, 2022Various Schools Cathy DaroncoSR061126• Honest Upfront Pricing • 1-3 Hour Response Time • 24 Hour Emergency Service• Expanded Normal Service Hours 7:00am to 5:30pm• Free Camera Inspection with Every Sewer Cleaning20+ Years of Service and Experience has made us the number one sewer, drain cleaning and inspection company in Southeastern Wisconsin.2101 Lathrop Avenue. Racine, WI 53405 EconoSewerAndDrain.comSewer problems? If you have a plugged or compromised sewer line you don’t necessarily have to dig up your front lawn. With our new, state of the art equipment, we can spot repair your sewer line without excavation at 1/2 the cost!Call 262.515.9151 or Visit Us At
15 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Cody BokotaSept. 28, 2023Frank & Brass Gloria Jones SmithSept. 16, 2024Washington Hector LaluzFeb. 25, 2026Various Schoolswww.bwww.buildingwaters.com uildingwaters.comSR061925PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL • CARPENTRYHEATING and AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR!PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL • CARPENTRYHEATING and AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR!CALL US TODAY!262-277-4255 62-277-4255www.buildingwaters.comYour One StopShop,Baby,One Stop Shop!A Safe Crossing For crossing guard Jill Sandberg, the job runs in her family: “My mom was a guard at the time, and they said they needed help,” she recalled. She has been a guard for 26 years, and the mission has never changed: “Make sure the kids are safe to school and back,” thats it. Sandberg is not alone in that legacy. Karen Ovitt’s mother wore the vest too, for 42 years. Ovitt hit her own milestone this February, marking her 50th year as a crossing guard.While drivers speed and distractions multiply, these guards remain a calm, steady presence, a familiar face that both kids and parents count on every single day.For the children, the guards are often much more than a safety figure. They are the first friendly face of the school day. A wave, a good morning, a quick check-in, small gestures that add up over years.When asked what keeps these guards coming back every day, Sandberg’s answer came quickly. “The kids. I get a lot of nice kids and parents.” In this position, Sandberg has been able to watch generations grow up before her eyes: “Watching kids from pre-K, and sometimes from the womb, and getting to cross them as they grow.” The bonds that are formed go far beyond a street corner.When asking Patty Bella, who has been a guard for over 20 years, the same question, she put it simply. “Seeing the kids happy going to school” is what makes those cold or rainy days worth it. Even on those harder days, the purpose is still crystal clear. “I know I have to be here to make sure the kids get across safely.” Onlookers may think the hardest part may come from navigating traffic, but Bella admits it’s a little deeper. “Being with the kids and parents year after year, and then when they leave, it’s sad.”For now, the corners are quiet, and the stop signs are put away. But when the first bell of the new school year rings this fall, these guards will be back at their posts, same corners, same dedication, ready to do it all over again.By Brooke CarmichaelWant to wear the Vest?The Kenosha School District will be opening the hiring process for Floater Crossing Guard positions in mid-July. If you are looking for a part-time position and want to help keep the children of our community safe, this may be the job for you.Floater guards play a very important role in keeping the program running smoothly by stepping in to staff various corners and sometimes permanent placements. This is a flexible position that makes a real impact in a school's community.As the stories of Jill Sandberg, Karen Ovitt, and Patty Bella show, sometimes a parttime position can turn into a decades-long career where meaningful connections are made along the way. If you are ready to make a commitment to safety and have a heart for community, this may be the perfect fit. The job posting will be available on Kenosha.org in MidJuly for those interested in joining the team. A meaningful chapter could be just around the corner!continued from page 12
16 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800DEAR MAYOCLINIC: I started dealingwith relapsing-remittingmultiple sclerosis (MS) a yearago. I have good days and baddays dealing with symptoms.But I have improved with anew medication.I have realized there’s a lotto learn about MS. Beforethis started for me, I did noteven know different MSforms existed and that not allpeople have the samesymptoms. People see meand say I look fine. But it maybe a day I have difficultyfinding words or strugglewith bowel and bladderissues, all related to my MS. Iknow a woman who has hadMS for years and uses awheelchair. Can I expect thatin the future?ANSWER: You are soright that no two peopleexperience an MS diagnosisthe same way. More than 2million people in the worldhave MS, according to theNational Multiple SclerosisSociety. Learning about MScan help manage anunpredictable and oftenfrustrating chronic illness.Talk with your health careteam about diseasemodifying treatment. It isessential to work with ahealth care professional whois well-versed in currentoptions. Early treatment,especially for relapsingremitting MS, has been foundto lower patients’ relapserate, slow their nervedamage and potentiallyreduce the risk of disability.First, some background:Multiple sclerosis is anautoimmune disease, whichmeans a person’s immunesystem attacks their body. Inthe case of MS, the immunesystem attacks the protectivecovering of nerves, calledmyelin, which covers nervefibers in the central nervoussystem.MS is called ademyelinating disease. Myelinoften is compared to theinsulation covering electricalwires. MS tears away themyelin that goes across thenerves, and that createslesions that are seen as whitespots on MRI scans. Just asyou can picture the damagethat happens when insulationis removed from electricalwires, this injury to themyelin causes nerves not tofunction as well. That canhappen in the brain, spinalcord or optic nerves.There are two major typesof multiple sclerosis.Relapsing-remitting MS is themost common type, makingup about 85% of cases.Relapsing-remitting MSmeans patients sometimeshave episodes that we termas attacks.For example, duringattacks, people mayexperience vision loss,double vision, numbness,tingling and other symptoms.These attacks usually comeon, then they plateau, stayingthe same for days or weeks,and then they improve.The second major type isprimary-progressive MS.People slowly, gradually haveworsening symptoms overtime. That’s less common,representing about 15% ofMS cases at the onset of thedisease.Some patients who havethe relapsing-remitting typecan later go on to developsome of that slowprogression. We call thatsecondary-progressive MS.The damage to nervefibers results in symptomssuch as you described:cognition issues, inability towalk and others.As you know, managing achronic disease like MS is noteasy. Accommodations maybe needed at school or withan employer if symptomsflare.With the new, strongermedications that we havetoday for MS, we’re seeinggreat hope for our patients.Fewer patients relapse or getnew lesions. The hope is thatas patients use thesemedications, the risk ofsecondary progressionbecomes lessened.Of course, all medicationshave side effects, so patientsand their health care teamshould work together to findthe right treatment plan forthem. — Eoin Flanagan, M.B.,B.Ch., Neurology, MayoClinic, Rochester, MinnesotaMayo ClinicManaging multiple sclerosis: Types and treatments ChatGPT or Doctor?continued from page 14and a relief.Different managementdecisions are the norm inmedicine. The right path forany patient depends on whothat patient is and what theyvalue, and on a doctor'sjudgment about where theevidence is reliable andwhere genuine uncertaintyremains.Judging risk anduncertaintyTo decide how to managea patient's condition, adoctor first considersevidence from the medicalliterature and then appliesthe available managementoptions to the patient'sparticular circumstances. Thisrequires honestcommunication , shareddecision-making, jointlynavigating risk andacknowledging uncertainty.Some risk can bemeasured. For chest pain,doctors use scoring toolsthat estimate a patient'sshort-term likelihood of aheart attack based on theirsymptoms and test results. AIcan likely work throughthose numbers faster thanmost doctors.But risk and uncertainty atthe bedside or in the clinicare difficult to measure.Scoring systems and practiceguidelines are designed forthe average patient -- anidealized person, who doesnot exist. And both doctors'and patients' sense of riskand uncertainty are shapedby their experience. Formany patients, this includes along and justified history ofmistrust in the healthcaresystem.AI does not know whatyou have been through orwhat risk trade-offs you arewilling to accept. It cannotacknowledge uncertainty theway a good doctor can,returning to it with you asyour circumstances change.This is where diagnosisand management part ways.The father of the feverishtoddler probably got a usefulanswer: AI has seen enoughfeverish toddlers in themedical literature to make areasonable call. But knowingwhat to do next, includingwhen to stop watching andstart worrying, is aconversation best had withyour doctor.By Andrew ParsonsLast week, I shared mybroken boiler saga. Eventhough I did the repairmyself, I was still out ofpocket almost $540. Had Ibeen forced to hire aprofessional to do therepair, the total bill wouldhave approached $1,000. I’msure he would have markedup the $387 fan at least 30%.This week, a $5 stainlesssteel sink strainer remindedme twice how it’s guardingthe 1.5-inch sink drain pipeburied in the wall behind mykitchen sink base cabinet.The first time it stoppedglobs of coagulated cheesefrom entering the pipe. Thesecond time, it filled up withhundreds of pieces of ricesomeone didn’t put in thegarbage can.I don’t live alone in myhouse. Even though I’veshared the gospel abouthow to prevent cloggeddrains, other inhabitantsseem determined toworship a false god whoclaims food scraps andgrease cause no harm todrain pipes.There are hundreds ofprofessional plumbers anddrain-cleaning companieswho survive and thrive onthis home maintenanceheresy! I can tell you fromfirst-hand experience thatgrease and food scraps willclog a drain. It’s a somewhatslow process that eventuallyreduces the inner diameterof the drain pipe to nothing.You can view quite a fewvideos on YouTube thatshow you what the inside ofdrain pipes looks like. Fooddeposits, grease, and anyother things you send downyour drain pipes canaccumulate on the innerwalls of the pipes.This same thing happenson a larger scale in citysewer pipes. Look for videosthat show the buildup ofdeposits in these largediameter pipes. I believeonce you watch thesevideos, you’ll become adisciple of the Tim Carterdrain pipe religion.Since I’m the one whowould be conscripted toclean out a clogged drain,I’ve told all in my family I’llwash the dishes. I take careof it all the time. Here’s whatI do to ensure I never have aclogged kitchen sink drain.First, I have a stainlesssteel screen strainerinstalled above each of thebasket strainers in my dualbasin sink. The normalbasket strainer has largerholes that allow food scrapsto enter the drain pipe. Thestrainers I have capture anyfood particles bigger than atiny undersized peppercorn.The strainers also dodouble duty with grease. I’mnot quite sure how it works,but the screening getsclogged with grease. They’rea must-have in every sink asfar as I’m concerned.I take the time to scrapeout all food from plates,bowls, pots, and pans. It allgoes in the garbage. Myfamily knows to keep wetpaper towels in a bowl onthe kitchen counter. I setthem out to dry and usethem to wipe grease from alldinnerware, pots, and pans.The grease-saturated papertowels are then discarded inthe trash.Baked-on food in pans andpots can be an issue. I fillthem with just enoughwater and soap to cover thehard, dry food scraps. Theseare put on the counter. Iwant the hardened food tore-hydrate. After a fewhours, I use a small plasticscraper to remove the foodfrom the pot or pan. I dumpthis outside on the lawnwhere it magicallydisappears in a few days.Last week, I had a readerreach out to me about tinyfruit flies that buzz up out ofhis sink drain when he turnson the water in his sink. Hewanted to know if he couldput a cap on the vent pipethat projects up out of hisroof to stop the infestation.I shared with him that theflies are not entering fromthe roof. A cap would stopthe much-needed air fromentering the plumbingsystem each time waterflows down the drain andwaste pipes.The flies are feasting onthe biofilm that coats theinside of the drain pipesextending from the bottomof the sink to the top of thep-trap. This coating is rich infood and moisture whichfuels the growth of the flies.Fortunately, it’s easy inmost cases to take apartthese pipes and clean themout using the correct-sizedbottle brush. The black goobiofilm can be cleaned offwith minimal effort.Prevent clogged drainsand nasty flies Ask the Builder with Tim CarterSubscribe to Tim’s FREE newsletter atAsktheBuilder.com. Tim offers phonecoaching calls if you get stuck during a DIYjob. Go here:go.askthebuilder.com/coachingTim Carter joinsHappenings Q&A on Mon June 22nd at9:20am on AM1050 WLIP
17 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Like many institutions inAmerican society, the legalprofession faces a raft ofchallenges. The high cost oflegal services, unequalaccess to representation,long delays in resolvingdisputes, ethical lapses, andthe politicization of thejudiciary have each beenwidely examined. But rarelyhas the role of lawyersbeen analyzed ascomprehensively as inShaun Ossei-Owusu’sLaw on Trial: AnUnlikely InsiderReckons With OurLegal System.The author is wellqualified to tackle thissubject. He grew up inpoverty in the Bronx,received both a Ph.D. and aJD from the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, andworked for a major lawfirm and also as a publicdefender in several cities.Now a professor at theUniversity of PennsylvaniaCarey Law School, he hasseen the legal system frommany angles.Ossei-Owusu considersthe phrase “Equal justiceunder law,” chiseled intothe facade of the UnitedStates Supreme Court, tobe aspirational at best. Hiscentral point is that thepractice of law – startingwith law students andprogressing to firms,prosecutors, municipalattorneys, and even publicdefenders – oftenreinforces and evenmagnifies systemicunfairness in the legalsystem.Law school is devoted toteaching students to thinklike lawyers. He writes,“Part of their training ...involves processing humanproblems into technicalquestions.” But suchthinking has a downside: It“can strip away thesociopolitical, economicand moral factors thatshape lawmaking and legalinequality.” Students arerarely exposed todiscussions of “the role ofspecial interest groups likepolice unions or racebaiting, tough on crimepoliticians.”Ossei-Owususystematically (as onewould expect from a lawprofessor) walks readersthrough seven majorcourses that nearly all lawstudents take, and makesclear how each of them“treats emotionaldetachment like aprofessional imperative.”He continues, “Theseconditions make it possiblefor blatant wrongs tobecome legally contestableor nonissues.” Law schools“confer undue legitimacyon the American legalsystem in part by pushingquestions about money,politics, power and historyto the side.”Many lawyers begin theircareers working in big lawfirms, where both“principled andproblematic work” takesplace. But in looking at thework such firms do inhealthcare, environmentalregulation, and workplacematters, he repeatedlypoints to the problematicaspects and finds little thatis praiseworthy.In healthcare, forexample, hospitalconsolidations – asignificant part of themergers and acquisitionswork at many law firms –often result in the closingof healthcare facilities,service reductions (like theclosing of emergencydepartments and staffingcuts), and the elimination ofcommunity healthprograms. Often theseconsequences are mostdirectly felt in rural andlow-income urban areaswhere healthcare needsare especially acute. Thisdoes not happen becausethe attorneys intend harm.Rather, it occurs because“these lawyers created thelegal frameworks that makethese outcomeseconomically rational fortheir clients” whileoverlooking or softpedaling the likelyconsequences. “Theselawyers exist inprofessional ecosystemsthat reward technicalcompetence while activelydiscouraging moralreflection,” Ossei-Owusuwrites.He acknowledges thathis political leanings fall tothe left of center, but hisanalysis is evenhanded,clear, and accessible. This isa rigorously researchedbook that makes its pointsand places blame on theentire legal system – notsimply on rogue actors. Thesystem itself, he argues,bears responsibility for theinequities that are anunwelcome by-product ofits operations.For lawyers and thosehoping to join theprofession, “Law on Trial”should be required reading.Readers without a legalbackground will find helpfuldefinitions andexplanations. OsseiOwusu’s writing is bright,easily grasped, and theanalysis never flags. Theauthor even injects somehumor into the text.In the end, this is asweeping, broad-basedindictment of the Americanlegal system. Perhaps notsurprisingly, given the scopeof the problem he lays out,the solutions he proposesseem small-bore and, to hiscredit, it’s evident that theauthor would havepreferred to have avoidedthe “What do we do aboutit?” chapter. But the firststep in solving problems isa clear diagnosis of thenature and extent of thechallenge. This book is asuperb and convincing stepin that direction anddeserves to be widely read.By Terry Hartle‘Law on Trial’:Making a case formoral reflection inlaw practicebooksThe 2025 PacificPalisades fire started in thehills above Los Angeles, fedby record-high winds anddrought conditions. Theblaze spread quickly,eventually destroyingthousands of homes andhundreds of businesses. (Aman has since been chargedby federal prosecutors witharson.) It was made worseby a cascade of errors thatincluded poor planning,political maneuvering, and abreakdown in the chain ofcommand.In the aftermath, thedecision of the governorand mayor to fast-trackrebuilding efforts, accordingto CBS Newscorrespondent JonathanVigliotti, has leftresidents and businessowners vulnerable tofuture problems.Torched: How a CityWas Left To Burn,and the Olympic RushTo Rebuild L.A. is anindictment of public officialswho, Vigliotti argues, failedto heed the lessons of LA’s2018 Woolsey fire andbadly fumbled the responsein the Palisades.Compounding themissteps was anunderestimate by civicleaders of the effects ofrising temperatures, highwinds, and prolongeddrought on fire intensityand spread. This was truenot only in California –which already had some ofthe most stringent buildingcodes in the United States– but also beyond. Vigliottiwrites, “Pacific Palisadesisn’t just a Californiadisaster. It’s a globalwarning. A parable of whathappens when we fail toadapt to a changing world.”The author is at his bestwhen talking to experts andHolding the powerful to account:Lessons from an LA firecontinues on next page
18 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Non-Fiction (Print & E-Book) Fiction (Print & E-Book)1. The Divorce (McFadden)2. The Deal (Kennedy)3. The Final Target (Roberts)4. Theo of Golden (Levi)5. Yesteryear (Burke)6. The Mistake (Kennedy)7. Project Hail Mary (Weir)8. The Score (Kennedy)9. Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It (Averick)10. The Midnight Train (Haig)1. The Land and Its People (Sedaris)2. Strangers (Burden)3. The Hero Next Door (Raddatz)4. All We Say (Rhodes)5. Liar’s Kingdom (Weissmann)6. Crisis of the Common Good (Murphy)7. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk)8. Take Me To Your Leader (Tyson)9. London Falling (Keefe)10. Famesick (Dunham)NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERSIn 2017, MaggieO’Farrell published “IAm, I Am, I Am: SeventeenBrushes with Death,” amemoir about howsurviving various hairraising incidents andillnesses amplified her zestfor life. Before itspublication, the Irish-bornwriter was best known forintricately plotted, mostlycontemporary fiction.These novels, including“The Hand That First HeldMine” and “This Must Bethe Place,” featureddramatic revelations aboutfiercely independent,nonconformist women andtheir families.Writing her memoirseems to have unleashedO’Farrell. Threeextraordinary historicalnovels have followed:“Hamnet,” “The MarriagePortrait,” and her latest,“Land.” All are packed withenough drama, misfortune,devotion, and beauty to getyour heart racing.Land, O’Farrell’s 10thnovel, is a powerful epicabout a place and its longsuffering peoples, toldthrough hardships andmoments of grace. It packsa wallop. Set on a remoteIrish peninsula in theaftermath of the GreatHunger, the narrativefocuses on the family of atalented but poorly paidsurveyor and cartographernamed Tomás. He has beenhired by the BritishOrdnance Survey to mapthe territory and recordthe loss of hundreds ofIrish tenant householdsfollowing the potato blight– which neither the Britishgovernment nor landlordsdid anything to assuage.“How radiant, how lovely isthe land – and yet howempty,” reflects Tomás’ 10-year-old son and reluctantassistant, Liam, who is outon a commission with hisfather in an icy rain.The novel, which beginsin 1865, spools backmillennia to the region’searliest settlers, invaders,and oppressors, andstretches forward morethan 100 years to cover thelifespan of the last ofTomás’ four children. Theregion’s history ischaracterized by waves ofviolence, colonization, andinjustice, which arereflected not only in maps,but also local lore. Likemuch of O’Farrell’s work,“Land” is lushly written,atmospheric, andheartbreaking – yet it isalso a moving paean toperseverance, survival, andforgiveness. In its focus onthe inhabitants of ahomestead over centuries,it evokes Daniel Mason’s“North Woods.”O’Farrell foundinspiration in the late 16thcentury for bothShakespeare’s family life in“Hamnet,” and the fraughtmarriage of Lucrezia diCosimo de’Medici in “TheMarriage Portrait.” Herinspiration for “Land” isrooted in the 19th century,closer to home: O’Farrell’sgreat-great-grandfather,also named Tomás, workedas an uncredited laborerunder British officers forthe Ordnance Survey inIreland. The novel isdedicated to her family,“past, present, and future.”We learn from flashbacksin the novel that Tomás andhis wife (whose identity wediscover in time) aresurvivors of multiplehardships – the famine, theloss of their parents andsiblings, evictions fromtheir childhood homes, andthe workhouse whereorphans were sent to splitrocks for the British troopsand cut hides to mendsoldiers’ shoes. As adults,the couple survive by theirwits, hard work, and later,the help of kind neighbors.But unexpectedcircumstances also play arole in this family’strajectory. “Land” is a novelof separations andreunions, and of distressingmissed connections (oftenunbeknownst to thecharacters), and surprisingconvergences. It bringshome the difficulty offinding lost loved ones in anage of mass immigrationwithout the benefits ofrapid communication.To give away too much ofthe plot would be adisservice. In its latersections, “Land” rotatesamong Tomás’ fourchildren, immersed in theirindividual struggles,separated by oceans. Thetwo oldest – a bright,restless daughterdiscontented with the fewoptions open to girls, and asensitive son who ispersuaded by the localpriest to join the Jesuitministry – are lured afar,with mixed results.O’Farrell enriches herbeautiful descriptions ofthe land with a sprinkling ofIrish terms, such as“boreen” for a narrow,unpaved country lane, and“haggard,” used not as anadjective describingexhaustion but as a nounthat signals an enclosedarea near a farmhouse forstacking hay, grain, or straw.She captures the ocean’sswells and the stench ofship holds during miserabletransoceanic journeys inwhich many sicken and die.With visceral immediacy,O’Farrell channels theterror of arriving in astrange land, ragged andfamished, without family,friends, or funds. But shealso captures the solace oflove, music, and kin.“Land” is a magnificentachievement. Alreadycinematic on the page, it isbound like \"Hamnet\" totranslate powerfully to film. By Heller McAlpinMaggie O’Farrell digs into her roots in ‘Land’Torchedcontinued from page 16analyzing breakdowns insystems designed toprotect public safety. Healso places the Palisadesfire in a larger context,noting: “Nearly half ofAmerican houses predate1980, before today’s era ofmegafires, floods, andhurricanes. Yet evenmodern building codes lagbehind the pace ofwarming. Leaders stillpermit – and subsidize –construction in the riskiestplaces, while firstresponders are left to holdthe line with aging engines,thin crews, and tacticsdesigned for a milder past.”He interviews a forensicwildfire investigator, FarazHedayati, who conductedfieldwork at the sites ofhomes that were notdestroyed in the Woolseyand Palisades fires tounderstand how theysurvived. Hedayati foundthat greater resilience laynot only in newer buildingmaterials, but especially inthe spaces between thehouses. The more denselypacked the development,the more opportunity forthe fire to leap from onehome to the next.The author is critical ofLos Angeles Mayor KarenBass, who was on an officialtrip to Ghana when thePalisades fire began, and ofCalifornia Gov. GavinNewsom. Vigliotti arguesthat the two were moreconcerned about theirrespective political futuresand that of the 2028 LosAngeles Olympics thanthey were about the peopleaffected. With an eye onfederal disaster funds, theyassured President DonaldTrump that no slowdown inpreparation for theOlympics would occur. Andthey lifted restrictions tospeed rebuilding. In sodoing, Vigliotti asserts, thedoor was left open for evendenser neighborhoods thanbefore the fire, as well aslingering safety concernsabout toxic chemicals inthe soil and air.“Torched” offers areporter’s keen take on anevolving story, and holdsofficials to account.
19 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800A parade on Route 66 inOklahoma broke a GuinnessWorld Record by including3,596 classic cars in theprocession.Tulsa's Route 66 CapitalCruise: Classic Car CentennialParade, which took place onMemorial Day weekend, brokethe record for the largestparade of classic cars. Theparade bested the previousrecord by 1,105 cars.The event marked the100th anniversary of Route66.\"I am so proud of Tulsa andso thrilled to set a new worldrecord,\" Tulsa Mayor MonroeNichols said in a news release.\"Tulsa's Route 66 CapitalCruise was a nearly year-longeffort from partners all overTulsa to remind the world thatwe are the Capital of Route66 and that no city does thingsthe way Tulsa does. Now, forthe next hundred years,whenever anyone mentionsthe Centennial of Route 66,they'll remember Tulsa,Oklahoma.\"The cars featured driversfrom 42 states, as well asCanada and France.\"For years, we have lookedto 2026 as a Super Bowl inOklahoma, and today, Tulsadelivered,\" Oklahoma Lt. Gov.Matt Pinnell said. \"CapitalCruise was a massiveundertaking, and it paid off in amassive way, nearly doublingthe existing world record,proving that Route 66 is notjust central to the history ofOklahoma, but the future aswell. Congratulations, Tulsa!Here's to the next hundredyears of the Mother Road.\"By Ben HooperRoute 66 parade features recordbreaking 3,596 classic carsA former Central Intelligence Agencyofficer who was caught with $40 million ingold bars allegedly created a fakeintelligence program in order to steal themoney.David J. Rush was arrested in May andcharged with theft of public funds after helied to the agency about his militaryhistory, education and pilot license, andwas then accused of stealing the gold barsand $2 million in cash that was found inhis home.U.S. officials have now said that Rushcreated a fake intelligence operation, or\"special access program,\" related to the\"continuity of government operations\"that he used to convince another agent totransfer the money to his operation, TheNew York Times and The WashingtonPost reported.\"He made up a contract,\" one of theofficials told The Post.Rush allegedly read in two CIAcolleagues on the fraudulent operation,which he claimed was related to keepingthe government running in the event of acatastrophic event, such as destructiveweather or a military attack.It is not clear how the former officerwas able to create a secret program andobtain the funds without involvingsuperiors in the agency, but he managed toconvince one of the colleagues topurchase the gold and transfer it to him.The fact that Rush managed to apply toand was hired by the CIA using falsecredentials has raised questions about theagency's background checks and securitywhen hiring, the Times and the Postreported.Additionally, several former U.S. officialsquestion how somebody could be hiredand then assigned to a significantlysensitive intelligence-gathering programthat is classified.Rush was caught and charged after theagency conducted a review of expensesand could not locate the gold or cash hehad requested.By Stephen FellerCIA officer caught with goldbars created fake operationREMINDER: Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISCELLANEOUS KENOSHA CAR CLUB monthly breakfasts are at 8am on the first Tuesdays of each month at the Gateway Cafe, 3619 30th AvenueGERMAN 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 [email protected] 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 SaleRITA RINELLI MEMORIAL MASS:12 noon on Saturday, June 21 at St. Elizabeth Church, Eighth Avenue at 48th Street.REMEMBERING SILVIO RUGANI - July 20, 1893 / August 29, 1975.FOR SALESOFA W/OAK TRIM, excellent condition/quality. Smoke/Pet free home. $225.00 Curt 262-865-01932019 KODIAK MODEL travel trailer Price 15,900 Exterior White Discrimination Has 3 Queens size beds Refrigerator, fridge and stove, toilet, and shower and heating and air conditioning. Everything works perfectly Contact 262 620-6755SNOWMOBILE TRAILER, 3 place Triton with winch. $3,200 OBO 262-948-1864 please leave messageLOTS OF AMERICAN FOSTORIA for sale. Please contact:Karon Baumgarten 317-764-7662 [email protected] HEATER NEW. $55. 262-498-4021. Contact info: Val Zamecnik email address: [email protected] phone :262-498-4021.ONE BURIAL LOT in Northshore Garden of Memory in North Chicago. Very nice location. Discounted price. BowFlex exercise unit like new. All there including leg exercise unit and book. 600.00. Call Herb at 847-305-0897. Please leave message if I miss your call.GAS TANK, NEW for 73-87 GMC Blazer $100 Transfer case for 73-87 GMC $100MILK CANS $15 Call Alex 262-945-1275CAMERS/LENSES/FILTERS and other equipment. Please contact: Don at 262-694-7573 or 262-287-8575.VARIOUS FARICS, prices start $1/yr (262) 629-0291.VINTAGE LAMP, good condition $15. Large black rooster, brand new $15. Please call 262-771-8764TWO RAMPS FOR VEHICLES, Beanie Babies (Regular and McDonalds), and Two Schwinn bicycles. BEST OFFER. Call 262-654-6485.BLACK LEATHER CHAIR and ottoman, perfect in both traditional and modern settings. Very good condition from a smoke-free home. $75. Call or text -262-960-5477(2) GRAVE SITES in All Saints Cemetery. I'm asking for $1,000 each plus transfer fees. Call (608) 317-9518 Elizabeth Smith [email protected] CADET LAWN tractors, old 1962 to 1976. Decks and other attachments. Glenn at 262-891-2377. Leave messageHEY KENOSHA FOLKS! I am selling everything from four houses. Let me know what you need by texting or calling Barb at 262-902-5663.JOHN DEERE TRACTOR Lawn Mower with Briggs & Straton engine and Frame Cutting Deck FOR sale for PARTS ONLY 847-244-9256 NO texting - Please leave a voicemail.LARGE CRAFTSMAN TABLE saw, $100 OBOEldridge peddle sewing machine, early 1900's, best offer- Milwaukee Plumbers band saw, $50 OBO Call Tom (224) 219-3645.LAKE FRONT PROPERTY Ready to rebuild existing home & Garage 1.48Acre on Large Spring Feed Lake in North East WI near Green bay WI. Located in Marinette county in the town of Lake Great Fishing, & water skiing Tubing Jet skiing Air Boat all Water sports activities call (847) 244-9256.VARIOUS FABRICS - Price per yard. Call for info(262) 629-0291BEANIE BABIES 200+ $200. Proform Treadmill, new belt $300. 7' vinyl boat with new motor, 4-cyli n d e r w i t h a c c e s s o r i e s $ 5 0 0 . (262) 652-5929.TREK 900 TANDEM 26\" 2 1 speed. Updated tires and rims. E x c e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n . Tw o n e w h e l m e t s p l u s a c c e s s o r i e s . $500 OBO 262-883-4210SEARS ZIGZAG SEWING machine and cabinet. Fine condition, All attachments. Model #1750 Asking $60 (262) 657-6049.GAS LAWN MOWER. Sears Craftsman 6.75 self-propelled. 22” cut. Mulch or side eject. Ready for spring. New oil, spark plug, & air filter. $75. Call Rich, 224- 730- 2564.WOOD DINING TABLE. Solid wood, Oval, 58” long x 41” wide w/o leaves. Two 12” x 41” leaves & top pad included. Mahogany finish. $25. Call Rich, 224- 730- 2564.FUN FAMILY BOAT 2006 Bayliner 175 Capris Bowrider w/trailer, Mercruiser 3.0L 135HP I/O motor, custom covers, Bimini w/cover, power trim & steering, stereo, Dave 262-455-1079 leave messageROOMS FOR RENT Shared LR, Kitchen, bathroom by Silver Lake $480 a mo. includes wifi and laundry please call for more info (262) 758-136.COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE watches, clocks, pens and more. Call Don 262-694-7573.47\" DIAMETER ROUND TABLE $30, girls bike $50 Call Kathy 262-909-7968DELUXE WALKER Like new. Make an offer.Call Rich @ 262-652-4591.08 RAM TOO many new parts to list. Serious inquiries only. Text message to 262-705-9999. Chad Sekuris.LIKE NEW TIRES see in Kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text or stop by. $4440 Nice economical well maintainedLARGE VINTAGE MIRROR with flowers $20, Small lamp with flowers, new $20, Large lamp with shade, new $15 Please call 262-771-8764.LIONEL TRAIN SET - Complete 1953 Set plus a Seaboard Diesel Engine, Maine Boxcar, 3 pr. switches, original boxes & instructions, 43 tracks, and miscellanious Lionel items. All clean, runs great. $525 Call 262-924-5227.TOTS BEAN BAGS Baseball & Hockey Puck $25.00 .Call JOE 262-859-2564.WANTED MOBILE MIG WELDER S m a l l job need to complete by MKE Airport. Negotiable rate. (734)768.0338 jacobsendaniels.comCUT GRASS a n d w e e d i n g . Call 2628980605MODEL TRAINS. All scales. Call for a quote upon viewing. 262-331-0392.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.LOOKING FOR NURSES A i d for in home care. Call Barbara 262-455-3953.OLD COMPUTERS WANTED. Call, text, or voicemail on (262) 595-7556 and ask for Mike.SERVICES HI MY NAME IS GAYLE & I'm retired.I will do dog sitting or cat sitting. If interested please contact me at 262-748-4748. Thank you.TAX PREPARATION & ADVISORY Services. 20+ Years Experience. Virtual Or In-Person. For Appointment Call Or Text 262-496-2208.CONCRETE WORK DRIVEWAYS PATIOS SIDEWALKS AND MORE CALL OR TEXT 262 492 9730. KURT.LAWN MOWING SERVICES Reliable lawn care services in Kenosha & Pleasant Prairie. call/text 262-914-9796 [email protected] & 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.DOLL CRAFTERS! FREE remnants...ideal for making doll clothes. Also various doll clothes patterns.Call - 262-551-8478 and leave a message if no answer.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.comCOMPUTER REPAIR/INSTALLATION. For free estimate call, text, or leave voicemail to Mike at (262) 595-7556.COMPUTER INSTALLATION. Call, text, or voicemail Mike at (262) 595-7556.VEHICLES 142K MILES LIKE new tires cold a/c see in kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text or stop by $25001999 SEBRING CONVERTIBLe Very good condition $2,590 OBO Call or test Bob @262-945-9224.2005 MERCURY SABLE, 90k miles, leather interior. Has vacuum leak, needs tow. Clean title in hand. Great project car. $1500 OBO. Call/text 262-612-9142. 2003 SUBARU BAJA - G o o d running condition$4,950 OBO Call or text: Bob @262-9459224.2017 FORD F150 O n e O w n e r 4WD 4 Door See In Kenosha A t 4 1 2 1 - 7 t h . Av e . 2 1 7 k M i l e s 262-237-1343 Russ Call Text Or Stop By $7495 Very Nice TruckDUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM Ram V6 dual exhaust system custom built. Make offer.262-942-1266.4X4 EXTENDED CAB ONE OWNER VERY WELL MAINTAINED. SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-2371343 CALL, TEXT OR STOP BY $11500 169K MILES AUTOMATIC COLD AIR2013 CHRYSLER 200 Loaded Limited See At 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 Call Or Text 189k Miles $4950.2002 XK8- WHITE Jaguar Convertible Good Condition - 38K Miles $18,500 obo Call or Text Bob 262-945-92241999 - SEBRING CONVERTIBLE - good Condition $2,850 obo Call or text Bob (262)-945-9224.1981 DATSUN/NISSAN 280ZX low mileage Loaded Glass T top's Hatch Back Stainless Steel MFG wheels New Clutch New break System New thermostat & radiator 5 speed New Interior Exterior Blue/Silver call 847-244-9256 Please leave a message.2003 GMC ENVOY 142K miles Great Shape, Garage Kept 1 owner, Leave Message $6000 obo 262-515-43861994 HONDA GOLDWING Aspencade 64K miles Great Shape, Black, Leave Message $6000 obo 262-515-4386.4X4 4DOOR see in Kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text or stop by $9995 1/2 ton nice truck at a nice price1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE one owner, yearly maintenance, 12,000 original miles, original parts $38,000 Email [email protected] BOX TRUCK 1986 OH Door 35 V8 (nearly new) solid body, 2\" oak floor in box, needs some work $1200. Snowblower $100 262-857-2695 Leave message or email [email protected] NISSAN ALTIMA $4950 One owner fleet maintained like new tires 287k miles kenosha at 4121-7th. Ave. 53140 Russ 262-237-1343 call, text.2011 TOYOTA SIENNA Silver 8-passenger Minivan, strong engine, smooth riding, 184k miles, excellent for winter driving, it also has a backup camera. $5,495, text Don at 920-809-0833E-mail your 170 character classified to: [email protected] 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 ALLOWEDClassified Deadline Is Friday, June 12th 2026 At 12PMFREE CLASSIFIEDS!EMPLOYMENT/OPPORTUNITIES • LOST & FOUND • MISCELLANEOUS REAL ESTATE • RENTALS • RUMMAGE SALES • VEHICLES • WANTED
20 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800In the summertime, oneof the Kenosha Area’s mostdistinguishingcharacteristics is that somany free outdoor concertseries are offered! Here aresome tips to maximize youroutdoor concert season:Study the lineups if you havea particular taste in music.Plan to keep the lawn chairsand blankets in your vehicleall summer long. Bring bugspray. Be prepared shouldthe weather turn cooler asthe sun goes down.Here’s your FREEsummer concerts itinerary:Music at Twilight happenson select Tuesday evenings.Concerts are held on thelawn of Anderson ArtsCenter. Upcoming dates areJune 16 (Funk Brotherz),June 30 (Ivy Ford), July 14(Deep Pockets), July 28(Mistaken Identity), Aug. 11(The Affordables), and Aug.25 (Empty Bottle Boys andOne Shot Jane). There are also two bonusconcerts on Saturday, Aug.22 as part of KemperCenter’s 50th Celebration.SouthBound Band andYesterday’s Children arescheduled to perform.Tuesdays At The Shellkicks off July 7 at theSesquicentennial Bandshellat Pennoyer Park inKenosha.Bristol Woodstock is onWednesdays, June 10through Aug. 12, at BristolWoods Park. This park isalso home to Pringle NatureCenter and BoundlessAdventures. The musiclineup includes The RoughCut (Country / Rock / Folk/ Pop) on June 17, followedby The Thompson Duo(Acoustic Classic Rock &Country), Mary Moore(Folk Pop & Indie Pop),Cork N Classics (Blues /Jazz / R&B / Soul), andSawdust Symphony(American New Grass).The concerts continuewith John-Michael Montella(Multi-Instrumental Beatbox/ Live Looping), Sipos &Young (Americana / FolkCountry / Classic Rock),Haley Klinkhammer(Acoustic Pop & Indie Pop),and Route 66 Belle CityBand (Classic Rock & Roll).Wednesday eveningconcerts also include theKenosha Pops, June 17through Aug. 5. The concertband performs at theSesquicentennial Bandshell.The Kenosha Pops will alsohave a concert on July 4.Lincoln Park Live happenson select Wednesdays: July8, July 22, Aug. 5, and Aug. 19.Enjoy the concerts amongthe beautiful flowers atLincoln Park. Rhythm on the Lakehappens on Thursdays, June11 through Aug. 13. Thelocation is Old Settlers Parkin Paddock Lake. ThePaddock Lake Lions Clubprovides concessions. This year’s lineup is: 90’sJake Band (90’s Rock /Alternative), MarcyaDanielle (Jazz / Soul / R&B),The Roundabouts(Americana / Rock), JesseStratton Band (Americana /Alt-Country), andLynSkynyrd (Tribute Band).The final dates of theseason feature GabrielHarris (Soul / Blues / PopRock), Nicole Nystrom &The Tumbleweed Band(Country), That Honey (90’sRock / Alternative),Hindsight (Acoustic ClassicHits), and 89 Mojo (PowerPop & Rock).Thursdays also mean twoPeanut Butter & Jamconcerts at VeteransMemorial Park inDowntown Kenosha. Theseason runs July 9 throughAug. 27. Two performanceseach Thursday, 11:30am and6pm.The line-up this year forPB& J includes: Icons ofCountry, R-Gang, JudsonBrown Band, Infinity, FillJackson, 7th Heaven, Mr.Meyers, and Cheap ForeignCars. You can also find free livemusic on select days at thePetrifying Springs Biergartenand the Hansen Park BeerGarden – as well as at themarkets.Also, a shoutout to thePike River Benefit ConcertSeries. While not free, theseconcerts are a fundraiserfor Hawthorn HollowNature Sanctuary andArboretum. The concertsare held in the HawthornHollow Amphitheater.This year’s lineup is TRIP(June 12), Empty Bottle Boysand One Shot Jane (July 10),Ben Mulwana and the Village(Aug. 7), and One Way Out:A Tribute to the AllmanBros. Band (Sept. 25).Don’t forget to useVisitKenosha.com whenlooking for #KenoshaFun.Please keep in mind, concertinformation is subject tochange.Meridith Jumisko isPublic Relations Directorat Visit Kenosha. Contact her [email protected] outdoor musicin Kenosha
21 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800healthlifestylecommunityKenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center newsJune 12, 2026Kenosha CountyDurable MedicalEquipment Loanand Supply Closetin need The Aging and Disability ResourceCenter of Kenosha County (ADRC)Durable Medical Equipment Loanand Supply Closet provides durablemedical equipment as well asnutritional supplements andincontinence products for olderadults and adults with disabilities.Individuals needing durable medicalequipment for either short-term orlong-term use, who are not enrolledin one of Wisconsin’s long-termcare programs, such as Family Care,IRIS and Partnership may contactthe ADRC to request an item(s). The Loan and Supply Closet issupported by the generosity ofcommunity donations. The closet isin has low inventory of thefollowing:Incontinence products:• Chux (disposable underpads)• Wipes• Women’s Pads• Men’s, Women’s, and Unisex Pullups, sizes: small, medium, largeMobility for Standard and Bariatric:• Wheelchairs• Transport Chairs• Rollators• Transfer Boards• Standard Knee Scooters • Portable RampsBathroom Essentials:• Shower Chairs and Stools(Bariatric and Standard)• Transfer Benches (Bariatric andStandard)• Commodes• Toilet RailsIf you have items you wish todonate, or are in need of medicalequipment or supplies, please callthe ADRC at 262-605-6646. TheADRC is open Monday – Friday, 8a.m. – 5 p.m. While the ADRC takesadditional steps in sanitization, foreveryone’s safety, we ask that allitems be cleaned prior to donation. Going on Medicare?Learn about the decisions you’ll needThe Aging and Disability ResourceCenter (ADRC) of Kenosha Countyoffers no-cost, unbiased, Medicareworkshops for those new toMedicare, or who want to learnmore. Trained benefit specialists willbe available to answer yourquestions and discuss the decisionsyou’ll need to make, including thebasics of Medicare coverage,options for private health and drugcoverage, and public benefits thatcan help with health care costs. Ifpossible, we recommend signing upfor a workshop 3-4 months beforeyour Medicare starts.UPCOMING MEDICARE 2026WORKSHOPS: Westosha Senior CommunityCenter, 19200 93rd Street, Bristol,Great Room• Wednesday, June 24, 1 – 3 p.m. Kenosha County Job Center, 8600Sheridan Road, Entrance A, RoomN2• Wednesday, July 15, 10 a.m. – noonTwin Lakes Community Library, 110S Lake Ave, Twin Lakes, MeetingRoom• Tuesday, August 25, 1 – 3 p.m.Due to limited seating, reservationsare required. Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make a reservation orto learn more. Make a Difference –Become aVolunteerGuardian!Are you looking for a meaningfulway to give back to yourcommunity? Consider becoming aVolunteer Guardian through theKenosha County Division of Agingand Disability Services. As aVolunteer Guardian, you’ll receive acomprehensive, self-paced, 3-hour,online training to advocate forvulnerable adults in matters relatedto their health, well-being, and/orfinances. Once trained, you’ll beappointed by the court to serve as alegal decision-maker for someone inneed.The division offers ongoing supportand guidance to help youconfidently fulfill your role. With aslittle as one hour per month, youcan make a lasting, positive impacton the life of an at-risk adult in yourcommunity.Interested? Call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 or email,[email protected] formore information or to apply today. ADRC offers freememory screensThe Aging and Disability ResourceCenter (ADRC) of Kenosha Countyoffers free, confidential memoryscreens, weekdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Memory screens are suggested foranyone concerned about memorychanges, at risk of Alzheimer’sdisease due to family history, orwho wants to check their memorynow for future comparison.Some memory problems can bereadily treated, such as those causedby vitamin deficiencies or thyroidproblems. In general, the earlier thediagnosis, the easier it is to treatmemory loss. Memory screeningcan:• Provide relief for individualsconcerned about normal memoryloss• Lead to diagnosis of treatableconditions• Offer the ability to make lifestylechanges early when they have thegreatest potential for positive effectand the opportunity to participatein making future decisionsWarning signs of dementia includeforgetting people’s names andevents, asking repetitive questions,loss of verbal or written skills,confusion over daily routines, andpersonality changes.Screening results are not adiagnosis, and individuals who haveconcerns are encouraged to pursuea full medical exam. Appointmentsare recommended. Interestedpersons may call the ADRC at 262-605-6646 to make an appointment.
22 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Your Kenosha ADRC UpdateCaring for an adult familymember or friend?Family Caregiver Support GroupMeets in-person and virtuallyFFamily caregivers often don’t see themselves ascaregivers, they simply think of themselves as thehusband, sister, daughter, or friend. Defined, afamily caregiver is a person who providessupport for an adult who needs assistance withdaily living activities, such as cooking, driving,shopping, laundry and paying bills. The role of a family caregiver, while rewarding,can also be challenging when trying to balancelife’s responsibilities along with supporting theneeds of another individual, family member orfriend. The Aging and Disability Resource Center(ADRC) of Kenosha County offers a FamilyCaregiver Support Group the first Thursday ofevery month. If you are a family caregiver, this group is for you!Join fellow caregivers, either virtually or inperson, as you share your experiences, askquestions and learn from others. The group isfacilitated by Margaret Ricchio, ADRC CaregiverSupport Coordinator. The next meeting will beThursday, July 2, 4-5 p.m. In-person location is at Preceptor Home Health& Hospice South (formerly known as KVNA)600 52nd St, Kenosha, WI 53140. To register,learn more or to receive the virtual link, call theKenosha County ADRC, 262-605-6646.ADRC Provides Assistancewith Advanced DirectivesDo you have yours?The Aging and Disability Resource Center ofKenosha County staff is available to assistKenosha County residents with completing anadvanced directive, Power of Attorney forHealth Care.Advance Directives are legal documents thatcommunicate personal decisions and wishesregarding medical care choices to family, friends,and health care professionals in the event aperson is no longer able to make thosedecisions. Documenting these wishes in a Powerof Attorney for Health Care can reduce the guilt,fear, and questions faced by family members whomay be in a position to make decisions. Just asimportant, an Advance Directive allows you tochoose, with their knowledge, whom you wantto make those decisions for you. Having theseconversations and documenting them ahead oftime, in case needed, offers peace of mind to allthose involved. Residents of Wisconsin, over the age of 18,should have an advanced directive in place toprotect their health care wishes. Please call theADRC at 262-605-6646, press option one, tolearn more or to schedule an appointment withtrained staff. REGULAR SENIOR DINING SITES• Meals include dessert and beverage• Suggested donation: $5• Open to anyone age 60+ and aspouse regardless of age• Reservations must be made by10am the day priorKenosha Senior Center2717 67th StMonday - Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-351-6246Parkside Redeemer Church2620 14th PlaceMonday - Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-552-7737Lakeside Towers5800 Third AveMonday - Friday, 11amReserve at 262-455-7919Westosha Senior Center19200 93rd StMonday - Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-358-5554Village Pub of Silver Lake307 N Cogswell DriveWednesday & Friday, 11:30amReserve at 262-358-5779
23 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800myself on being able toI've always prided explain the rationalebehind various SocialSecurity rules andregulations. Many times,readers will send meemails in which theyexpress utterbefuddlement at a law orregulation that affectstheir eligibility for SocialSecurity. It's usually asituation that results inthem getting reducedbenefits. Of course, thisirks them to no end. Theyfigure the government isjust out to shortchangethem. But once I explainwhy the rule exists, theywill almost always acceptthe fact (sometimesgrudgingly) that the lawmakes sense.In fact, during my SSAcareer, I even developeda training session for myfellow employees, which Icalled \"Rationale.\" Andmy class did just that. Itprovided the reasoningbehind a myriad of SocialSecurity rules andregulations that manypeople found hard tounderstand. Even thoughI considered myselfpretty much of an experton these issues, therewere some laws thateven I couldn't, and stillcan't, explain. I've goneover some of them inpast columns. But I'vecome across a couplenew ones.One of the rules I can'texplain is this: Whydoesn't your dependentwife or husband share inthe bonus you earn forstarting benefits after fullretirement age? I reallydon't know. You can earn a bonusin your Social Securitychecks if you delaystarting your SocialSecurity benefits untilafter your full retirementage. You get an extratwo-thirds of 1% addedto your retirement checkfor each month you wait-- up to age 70. (There isno bonus paid formonths beyond age 70.)Depending on what yourfull retirement age is, thatcan be anywhere from a24% to a 32% bonus.But if you have aspouse eligible forbenefits on your record,the spousal rate is basedon your full retirementage benefit, not theaugmented delayedretirement benefit. That'sthe bad news. The goodnews is that when youdie, the widow(er)'sbenefit payable to yourspouse is based on thehigher delayedretirement rate. In otherwords, your dependentwife or husband doesn'tshare in these delayedretirement credits, butyour widow or widowerwill. And again, I can'texplain why one but notthe other.There's a twist tothose husband/wifescenarios that I also can'texplain, and it is this. Let'ssay a husband decides totake reduced retirementbenefits at age 62. If hiswife files for spousalbenefits on his record,her spousal rate will bebased on his fullretirement age benefitrate, not the reducedretirement rate he isgetting. But if he diesfirst, the widow's benefitdue to his wife will bebased on his reducedretirement rate. In otherwords, the benefit paid toa wife isn't affected by hisdecision to take reducedbenefits. But the benefitpaid to a widow is! Why?I don't know. Another rule I can'texplain has to do withwhat is known as the\"waiting period\" tocollect Social Securitydisability benefits. Thelaw says that if your claimfor disability benefits isapproved, you can't bepaid those benefits forthe first five months ofyour disability. Andactually, because the lawsays it must be five fullcalendar months, italmost always means thata person has to wait sixmonths before his or herdisability checks startrolling in. For example, let's sayFred has a severe heartattack on Oct. 10.Sometime afterward, hefiles for Social Securitydisability and his claim isapproved. Because hewas disabled for onlypart of October, the fivefull calendar monthwaiting period would runfrom November throughMarch of the followingyear. The first disabilitycheck he will get is forApril of that year. Andbecause all SocialSecurity checks are paidone month behind, thatcheck will actually comein May.So why does Fred, whohad a severe heart attackin October, have to waituntil the following May toget his first disabilitycheck? Some have toldme that waiting period isthere because Fredshould have othersources of income(maybe from anemployer or aninsurance company)during those first sixmonths. Others havesuggested the waitingperiod is built into thelaw to take some time tomake sure Fred really isdisabled. I don't likeeither of those supposedrationales for the sixmonth delay in startingdisability benefits. (By theway, there are somedisabling conditions thatare exempt from thiswaiting period.)Something else I'venever been able tosatisfactorily explain isthe reasoning behind theSocial Security earningspenalty. I could (andfrequently do) spend awhole column tellingreaders what those rulesare. They are quitecomplex. Today, I will justbriefly summarize them. The law says that if youare under your fullretirement age andgetting Social Securitybenefits, but you are stillworking, you will loseone dollar in benefits forevery two dollars youearn over a certain limit.In 2026, that limit is$24,480. So, for example,if 63-year-old Alice is onSocial Security and has apart-time job that willpay her $30,000 this year,the Social SecurityAdministration will berequired to deduct$2,760 from her benefitsfor the year. ($30,000minus $24,480 equals$5,520 divided by twoequals $2,760.)That was a very simpleexample of a veryconfusing set of rules.There are special rulesthat apply to your firstyear of retirement. Andthere is a differentearnings penalty for theyear you reach fullretirement age. Also,effective with the monthyou reach FRA, you couldmake a million dollars aday and still get yourSocial Security checks.My purpose today issocial securityMore Social Securityrules I can't explainwith Tom MargenauIf you have a SocialSecurity question, Tom Margenau has twobooks with all the answers.One is called \"Social Security-- Simple and Smart: 10Easy-to-Understand FactSheets That Will Answer AllYour Questions About SocialSecurity.\" The other is \"SocialSecurity: 100 Myths and 100Facts.\" You can find the booksat Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or youcan send him an email [email protected] youHealthcare Coverage While Traveling Summer often means traveling. You may immediatelybegin planning and packing, but have you thoughtabout healthcare coverage while you’re away fromhome? Healthcare coverage can vary when you aretraveling. Here are some things to consider if youhave Medicare and will be traveling this summer. Original Medicare provides medical care coveragewithin all 50 states, the District of Columbia, PuertoRico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the NorthernMariana Islands, and American Samoa. This meansthat if you are traveling anywhere in the UnitedStates, you will have Part A and Part B coverage. Ifyou travel outside of the United States, you will notbe covered by Medicare, except in very limitedcircumstances. If you have a Medigap plan you willhave coverage anywhere in the United States, but youwill have to contact your plan to see what theircoverage is if you travel outside of the UnitedStates. Medicare Advantage plans have networks withspecific facilities and providers they cover. Thatmeans that if you travel outside your network areayou may not be covered. Some plans may cover outof-network providers, but you will need to call yourplan to confirm that coverage that and ask aboutyour out-of-pocket costs. Medicare Advantage planswill generally cover out-of-network emergencycare within the United States. These plans may covermedical care outside of the United States, but youwill need to check with your plan for specifics. One thing to remember is that Medicare Part Dprescription drug plans will not cover prescriptiondrugs outside of the United States. Part D plans alsowork within networks, so when you travel anywherein the United States you will need to plan ahead. Ifyou get your prescription outside your network, youmay have to pay full price for thatprescription. Contact your Part D plan to find outwhat your coverage will be while traveling. For all other types of healthcare plans, like employeegroup health plans or retiree coverage, you will needto contact your plan for specifics on coveragerestrictions and out-of-pocket costs. If your plandoesn’t provide the coverage you need, you canwork with an insurance agent to purchase travelinsurance to ensure you’re covered wherever youtravel. You can put your mind at ease this summer bycontacting your healthcare plan to ask about what iscovered and what your out-of-pocket costs will bewhile you travel. This will allow you to planahead and make arrangements before you end upwith a costly medical bill. By the GWAAR Legal Services Team continues on next page
24 SMART READER June 11, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800Dear Eric: I have beenundergoing tests to confirma diagnosis of multiplemyeloma, and all the signsare pointing in thatdirection. While I navigatethe medical system, testresults and diagnosis, I amfaced with the challenge oftelling people about all ofthis.I have three growndaughters who arerelatively settled in life. Iwould like to tell them in away that will be the easiestfor them to hear. My trainof thought is to wait for adefinitive diagnosis, aprognosis and a plan oftreatment. That way theywill know what it is, what itwill look like and for howlong.I am currently employedremotely and have medicalcoverage through myemployment. Arrangingdoctor’s visits and lab visitsis becoming more difficultas they are increasingsignificantly. I hesitate toinform my employerbecause I fear that I’ll losemy job and my medicalbenefits. I can envision amore flexible schedule; thathas been done for otheremployees.With all of this, I’m havingtrouble pretending likeeverything is OK.Do you have any adviceon the way to present thisinformation to my children,so it lands as softly aspossible? And to myemployer so I can still domy work with a moreflexible schedule? – Sickand Worried MomDear Mom: I’m sosorry about the stressyou’re experiencing and thescary medical news you’reencountering. Your concernfor your daughters is verykind. But one of theprivileges of family is beingable to support our lovedones when they’re goingthrough challenges. So, Iencourage you to tell yourdaughters as soon aspossible. There’s no timethat will make it easier tohear, unfortunately, but ifyou wait, you carry thisburden alone and they willwish that they could havedone more sooner to helpyou.The softest landing is justthe truth: this is what Iknow now, this is what I’vebeen told to do next, this iswhat I’m experiencingphysically, mentally andspiritually. And this is whatI’d like from you, even if it’sjust checking in more.I know it may be hard tohear, but you don’t have tomanage this for yourdaughters. Our health cansometimes be more thanone person can possiblymanage; that’s why we seekout doctors, nurses andother experts. So, trust thatyour daughters understandthat this is beyond yourcontrol, and theirs, and thatthey want to walk with youthrough the unknown.Similarly, you don’t haveto manage this for youremployer. There are federalprotections that preventyou from being firedbecause of medical leave. Ifyou have HR, ask to have aconfidential conversationabout your options. If youdon’t have HR, you maywant to consult with anemployment attorney todetermine the safest wayfor you to get theconsiderations you need.Dear Eric: I’m 70, andmy 68-year-old sister hasghosted me over politics.After the 2024 election shestopped responding to me– no birthday or Christmascards, no phone calls, noemails.She also did this in 2016– ghosting my mother (82at the time) and me formore than two years.I finally wrote her a letterand told her that I lovedher the way she was, notthe way I wanted her to be.Could she do the same? Noresponse. I wrote to herabout a major injury I hadrequiring surgery. Noresponse.I have a very full life. Myfirst wife died of leukemiaafter a 40-year marriage. Iam three years into arelationship and marriageto a wonderful second wife.I have sons and grandkidsand numerous friends.While I would love to havea relationship with mysister and feel melancholyabout it, I am fed up andwant to put my energy intomy loving family andfriends. Any suggestions onhow to manage and/oraccept this? – SeveredSiblingDear Sibling: Yours is,unfortunately, not anuncommon problem, asyou’ll see from the secondletter today, which alsotouches on a politicaldivide.On a human-to-humanlevel, there must be spacefor empathy, forcommunication beyondheadlines, for love in timesof need that focuses on theplaces where you meet,rather than the placeswhere you diverge. This issometimes easier said thandone. All politics ispersonal. And in a timewhen rhetoric morefrequently stands in forpolitical thought, itbecomes harder toseparate the human fromwhat they espouse.It’s not clear from yourletter if the ghosting cameas a result of a specificseries of disagreements,arguments, posts, oractions. And those tend tobe important clues, becausea relationship never breakswhere it breaks; it starts tofracture much earlier and intinier ways.However, because itsounds like you’ve done thework to try to reachbeyond this fracture, andeven to try to heal it, thework in front of you now ismourning the relationshipthat you had. Your sister hasmade her boundary clear –even though ghosting israrely, if ever, the mosteffective form ofcommunication.Acknowledge, in thought oreven in a journal, thatyou’re not getting what youwant. You can even writedown the things that you’llmiss. If you process it likegrief, the frustration andanger you feel will abate.Anger often tells us, “this isfor you to fix.” The hardlesson of grief is that thereis nothing to fix. The task isto incorporate this newreality into the path goingforward.asking ericMother struggles to tell daughtersabout medical diagnosisnot to give you an indepth lesson in theearnings penalty rules,but rather just to tellyou I can't explain whythe rules are there in thefirst place.I can tell you thatwhen the Social SecurityAct was passed in the1930s, Congress felt aperson should becompletely retired inorder to collect\"retirement\" benefits.Maybe that made senseback then. But over theyears, Congressgradually relaxed thoserules. And about 25years ago, theyeliminated the earningspenalty for people whohave reached their fullretirement age.But why didn't theyjust eliminate the penaltyfor all retirees? Whyshould people who areunder their fullretirement age and whoare trying to make endsmeet by getting a job tosupplement their SocialSecurity check losesome of those benefits? 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