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Cover photos credit: Waynes: Mike Wallace & Chad Greenway; Gordon: UPI Smart Reader is published bi-weekly by Carmichael Communications Editor & Publisher/Frank J. Carmichael • Assistant to the Publisher/Reanna Stockdale • Sales/Kim Carmichael, Donny Stancato Editorial Manager/Jason Hedman • Ad Design & Layout/Glen Kelly, Kristin Monticelli • Reception/Sarah Coleman Carmichael Communications 1420 63rd Street, Kenosha, WI 53143 October 5, 2023 - Volume 21 Number 20 262-564-8800 • 1-800-568-6623 • www.hap2it.com Alex Ellsworth planned for a special night out in San Francisco with his boyfriend. The restaurant he chose was a splurge, but the selfproclaimed foodie decided it was worth it. With a $70- per-person prix fixe meal, he thought he could control the budget – they refrained from ordering drinks and were careful about other add-ons. Then the check came: In addition to tax, the restaurant tacked on a 20% service fee, plus 5% that goes toward health care for uninsured city residents. But with a tip section still on the receipt, Mr. Ellsworth felt compelled to tip. “I really felt sadness and regret as I filled in the receipt with a tip that was equivalent to my weekly food budget,” he says. He spent $100 more than he’d expected. His experience is not unique. Surcharges have become common in restaurants, even with gratuities still expected. Electronics have also made it easier to request tips, which are popping up in fast-food restaurants, retail, and some places with selfservice. The combination of increased costs and frequency is irking consumers. Tipping persists despite the social inequities and economic insecurities it reinforces; at the same time, wage models are shifting as more states increase the minimum wage. “Writ large, this is exposing ... just how absurd tipping is and how we all try to rationalize it as money provided on a variable scale based on the service we’ve received,” says sociologist Eli Wilson at the University of New Mexico. “Increasingly we’re seeing how much that logic no longer flies, in the spread of ways that consumers are being asked to tip and who they’re being asked [to tip].” Pushing back Many consumers are feeling a double punch: squeezed by inflation and overwhelmed by nearubiquitous tip requests known as “tip creep,” which is driven largely by electronic payments and the ease of requesting a tip. In a recent survey by Bankrate, two-thirds of Americans had a negative view of tipping and nearly one-third said tipping culture is “out of control.” Customers are pushing back. The frequency of tipping has declined since 2019. For instance, those who say they always tip servers in a sit-down restaurant has dropped 12 percentage points. There are also measurable drops in how often customers tip hairstylists, taxi drivers, and other service providers. Those percentages dip even more when focused on Generation Z and millennials, who, according to research, are turned off by tipping’s inequities. “A lot of people, especially young adults, say, ‘It’s not fair. We’d rather just pay higher prices. Let’s do away with the whole tipping thing,’” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for Bankrate, a financial comparison website. The job isn’t worth doing without tips, according to some servers. “I don’t think most people would be servers. For sure,” says Julia, a server at a diner in Bakersfield, California, who declined to give her last name. “Servers don’t work 9-to-5 jobs,” she adds. “The tips are what make up for the rest of that.” Tip percentages have risen over the last century. In the early 1900s, tip norms in restaurants and bars were 10% to 12%. Today, industry expectations are around 20% – although less than half of U.S. adults say they typically tip that much. “The recommendation and the action tend to be different,” says Mr. Rossman. “So I think that there is this pushback.” Recently, customers have been annoyed by suggestedtip screens popping up in places where tips weren’t previously considered, like retail shops and online stores – sometimes suggesting tips as high as 35%. Starbucks made headlines last year when it rolled out tip screens for credit card transactions. Tipping prompts will likely continue for the near future, experts say, as long as too many customers aren’t driven off. Worker and employer interests “align here in seeing if they can get consumers to pay out a little bit more in gratuities,” says Professor Wilson, author of “Front of the House, Back of the House: Race and Inequality in the Lives of Restaurant Workers.” Even if only half of customers are tipping, that still adds up to a lot, points out Mr. Rossman. “Customers may grumble, but if they’re not going to change their behavior and they’re not going to spend less ... we’re going to see more of this.” Problematic then and now Tipping as we know it in America normalized in the 20th century. Its roots go back at least 100 years earlier (some trace it to medieval times), when wealthy European clients would pass on small amounts of money to much poorer workers providing personal services. Even then, the arrangement was uncomfortable for some. “It’s pretty much born out of unequal hierarchical social relations,” says Professor Wilson. When brought to America, tipping was viewed as undemocratic, and because of that “there was very, very strong resistance to tipping in the late 1800s and early 1900s.” After the Civil War, American businesses like The Pullman Co. encouraged tipping to offset low wages. In Pullman’s case those workers were porters, many of whom had been previously enslaved. “They could pay them less and basically just hope that customers make up the difference,” says Mr. Rossman. Today, tipping is entrenched in the wage model for certain services where transactions are based on human connection. “It has to do with creating an atmosphere where the guest or the consumer feels that the employee deserves it,” says Hicham Jaddoud, a hospitality and tourism professor at the University of Southern California. Estimates place the number of tipped workers in the United States above 5 million. More than threefourths are in the food industry; the rest are distributed among other services. Anyone whose occupation brings in at least $30 a month in tips qualifies as a tipped employee – and qualifies to make a tipped wage, which varies wildly from state to state. The federal tipped wage – the minimum wage for tipped workers – is $2.13 an hour, where it’s been since 1996. Tips are earned on top of that. Fifteen states adhere to that minimum, but most states have raised it. Some add a few cents an hour, while a handful of states require employers to pay tipped workers a full minimum wage. Those wage disparities reflect the varied power of workers across the country. “If you go to the Midwest, you will be surprised how low wages are versus California or even Texas,” says Dr. Jaddoud. “It all has to do with the state, the bargaining power, and how short staffing-wise that state is and how powerful the unions are.” Rewarding a human connection The service element is what customers are missing in transactions limited to takeout, retail, or online ordering – and that’s reflected in lower and less frequent tips. In restaurants, where servers spend an hour or longer engaging with clients, or in salons or hotels where employees have highly personal interactions with customers, tips not only relieve the employer’s wage burden, but also incentivize workers with potential earnings. That’s the case at Mamma Mia, a high-end restaurant in Bakersfield. Owner Bruno Garcia – who worked his way up in the industry, starting as a busboy – believes the tip system benefits everyone. Servers can make more money by providing excellent service, and clients enjoy that better service. “The tip is voluntary, and the customers ... will tip you depending on the effort.” Level of service provided is the sole criterion for Jennifer when she leaves tips. “I think that’s the only way,” says the Bakersfield salon manager, who declined to give a last name. Tipped occupations are a lifestyle choice and “at the end of the day, it’s their decision to stay in that position.” Ending tipping? A movement to eliminate tipping in favor of higher hourly wages has some support, but experiments to do that have yet to prove successful. So far, most consumers haven’t shown willingness to pay higher sticker prices, even when they know it includes tips and fees. Prices are more palatable when customers see the portion that goes to an employee. If prices do go up, customers want added value. Mr. Ellsworth feels the pinch from inflation and California’s high cost of living. He also understands the importance of tips to low-wage workers: He previously worked as a hotel desk agent in Texas. Yet in San Francisco, where the minimum wage for everyone is over $18, tipping feels harder to justify on his tight budget, especially when he eats cereal every weekday so he can afford to go out on weekends. Mr. Ellsworth would prefer straightforward pricing that does away with a gratuity. But peer pressure and habit are strong reasons to keep tipping, and he’s unlikely to stop unless the option disappears. “[Customers] don’t want to be seen as awful people,” he says. “And so if we’re given permission not to, we’ll be like, ‘Hey, that’s liberating.’ But if we are pressured to, then we’ll keep doing it.” By Ali Martin Why ‘out of control’ tipping persists – for now Dianne Francisco pays for her order with a credit card at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco 2 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800
IHOP server gets $1,300 tip A server at an IHOP restaurant in Massachusetts was surprised with a $1,300 tip from a dining club dedicated to leaving big tips every few months. Tulio Maldonado was serving the group at the IHOP when Richard Brooks handed over a stack of $100 bills totaling $1,300. "It's awesome," Maldonado told WCVB-TV. Brooks and his friends call themselves the $1,000 Breakfast Club. Every few months the group picks a different restaurant to patronize and leave their server a tip totaling $1,000 or more. Brooks said the idea was born when his brother heard about a group of friends doing a similar thing in California. "We kind of do it for ourselves. But the benefit is we get to give this guy the money and he's going to pay his bills. You get a really good feeling out of it," Brooks said. The group documents their acts of kindness on Instagram in the hopes of inspiring others to do good works in their communities. Server surprised with $1,000 tip A server at Florida restaurant was pleasantly surprised with a $1,000 tip just days before Christmas. Stacey White, a server at Reececliff Family Diner in Lakeland, said she was shocked when she discovered a customer had left her a $1,000 tip. "I paused because I was in shock," she told WTVT-TV. "Then the overwhelming feeling of gratitude set in. I just started crying afterwards, because it just shows that there are good people still out there." The tip turned out to have originated with a nonprofit called The Big Fat tip, which was started by former server Deedre Daniel to bring surprise windfalls to wait staff in need. "I made this little vow to myself, when I made it, I would go around giving out big fat tips," Daniel said. The nonprofit has volunteers who have left $1,000 tips at restaurants across the country. The money is raised via donations on the group's website, and a tip is left every time the donation total reaches $1,000. The group has left 39 $1,000 tips for servers across the country so far. Server tipped $1,300 and $1,500 in one night A server at a Florida restaurant said she is thankful for the generosity of her customers after receiving a $1,300 tip and a $1,500 tip on the same night. Kimberly Filion said she was working her shift at Kirby's Sports Grille when she mentioned in passing to a customer that she was a graduate of Ohio State University. Filion said the customer ended up leaving her a $1,300 tip with a note: "Go XU!!" She said the customer told her the big tip was part of the Crosstown Tip-Off Challenge, which began in Ohio as a means of expressing fandom for the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University while leaving big tips for servers. Filion said she told one of her regular customers about the big tip later in the evening, and the man ended up leaving her a $1,500 tip. "He wrote something like, 'I want to be the king,'" Filion told the Palm Beach Post. Filion said she split the big tips with her coworkers. "I tried to spread the wealth as much as I could," she said. "We have employees here who are single moms. We have one employee who just had a baby." Filion said she is grateful for the generosity of her customers, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic led to many servers working longer hours while making less money. "I am TRULY grateful for our loyal customers who continue to support me and Kirby's," she wrote in a Facebook post. Hollywood writers got their deal. What happens next? The story of the writers strike had a dramatic first act, an overly long and stressful middle, and a triumphant ending for the union. No one is clamoring for a sequel. Rob LaZebnik, a veteran writer on “The Simpsons,” heard the news Sunday night. His ebullient mood is akin to the show’s opening sequence, when the animated clouds part to reveal a blue sky. “It’s just made everybody feel like, ‘Wow, this time it really worked,’” says Mr. LaZebnik, who has participated in several writers strikes during his decadeslong career. “Everyone felt doubly passionate about the issues. It was so obvious to us that there were all these inequities, that it really pulled everybody together.” After 146 days – the second-longest strike in its history – the Writers Guild of America won concessions on every major issue, including mandatory staffing levels on series, increased residual payments for streaming, and protections against artificial intelligence. While precise details have yet to emerge, if the tentative agreement the studios and the WGA agreed to late Sunday holds, it would be yet another win for organized labor in 2023. In a statement to guild members, the negotiating committee touted the deal as “exceptional.” But after a hard-fought battle that cost California alone an estimated $5 billion, Hollywood remains an industry in flux. The proposed contract would install protections that writers say are vital for maintaining a middle-class life, rather than being reduced to gig workers who get paid for a month or two at a time. Will those protections remain beyond the length of a new threeyear contract? Or will Hollywood’s TV and film writers ultimately be facing a freelance future? “Whether creative people in Hollywood ultimately have more stable and rewarding careers is really going to depend on whether entertainment companies can make their streaming services more profitable,” says Ben Fritz, author of “The Big Picture: The Fight for the Future of Movies,” via email. One deal down, one to go The studios and streaming services, which are represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, issued a press release consisting of a single sentence: “The WGA and AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement.” Some observers believe that the reason the studios aren’t celebrating, at least not outwardly, is because the strike has come at a great cost. Plus, the AMPTP still has to reach an agreement with the 160,000 members of the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Most Hollywood productions won’t be back in business until the actors resume work. But viewers can expect to see late-night and daytime talk shows back on air soon. “The studios and streamers, along with the writers, were starting to fear if they didn’t get a deal done soon, it could drag out until the end of the year and destroy all of this year’s television season, as well as next year’s movie slate,” says Mr. Fritz. “So they were very motivated to get a deal done.” First, though, WGA members will need to vote on the deal. It’s widely expected to pass. The negotiating committee told writers that it’s made “meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.” Its statement also praised the picketers for standing shoulder to shoulder, picket sign to picket sign, during the nearly five-month work outage. “An underreported thing is that there were some amazing speeches, talks, more like fireside chats, especially from Chris Keyser ... one of the co-lead negotiators,” says Mr. LaZebnik. “That kind of reverberated throughout the whole strike.” The WGA received significant support from SAG-AFTRA, as well as unions such as the Teamsters and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, who refused to cross picket lines. Many companies and individuals donated food and money to the strikers. “It’s a huge moment for the labor movement in America,” says Zayd Dorhn, Chicago captain of the WGA and director of the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for the Screen and Stage at Northwestern University. “The corporate Rob LaZebnik, co-executive producer of “The Simpsons,” has been through several writers’ strikes during his career. The veteran writer was pictured here in May outside Fox Studios in Culver City, Ca. story continues on page 5 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 3 Kenosha Funeral Services and Crematory Prepay for your funeral now and the price will be guaranteed. 8226 Sheridan Rd. 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More than a year and a half after Boulder County’s Dec. 30, 2021, Marshall Fire destroyed 1,084 homes and damaged hundreds more, Jody Bill still has no clue if she will get the help she needs to replace her mobile home. The 115 mph gusts that spread the fire peeled the roof off the 1960s-era mobile home Ms. Bill had purchased just four months earlier as her retirement home. She was attracted to the unobstructed views of a gorgeous stretch of the Rocky Mountains known as the Flatirons. And she’d like to stay in her community, where neighbors shoveled the snow out of her home when storms hit right after the disaster. But now Ms. Bill lives in fear of the heavy winds that periodically rush down the mountains and rattle her patched-together house. “It makes me nervous,” she says. “It doesn’t feel safe.” Even though Ms. Bill’s home didn’t burn, she’s eligible to seek disaster relief. Still, she has been turned down three times for federal Small Business Administration disaster relief loans, which are available to homeowners as well as businesses. And she has already spent nearly half of her insurance payout for temporary housing and makeshift repairs. She dreams of replacing her house with a safer structure. But to her, it seems that single-family homeowners have been prioritized. “Mobile homes, I think, are on the bottom. They don’t care,” Ms. Bill says. “A house is worth more – they did lose more – but I just feel like the people with mobile homes aren’t given much assistance.” A short drive away, one can see why Ms. Bill might think that. In the hilly, upscale neighborhoods of Louisville and Superior, where hundreds of houses were devoured by the fire, rebuilding is in full swing. New homes in all stages of construction – from foundations to finished – fill many lots. Local officials predict that the speed of reconstruction will far outpace many other postdisaster recoveries. But the pace is uneven. Recovery is slower for many middle- and low-income homeowners. And those in mobile homes, like Ms. Bill, or in multifamily buildings have not received assistance as quickly as single-family homeowners in wealthy areas. Even funds targeted for lower-wealth individuals become available only after a long wait. That disparity in pacing could alter the economic diversity of the area, which was already low on affordable housing. “If you’re only able to successfully navigate this rebuilding process if you’ve got resources, then that’s really going to further jeopardize our ability to be a community for all,” says Katie Dickinson, a resident of Louisville, one of the towns hardest hit by the fire, though her house was spared. Many experts, including Dr. Dickinson, warn that as fires, flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters become more damaging due to climate change, lowerincome people will be least able to rebuild and remain in their communities. Leading up to the Marshall Fire, Colorado had experienced record-dry summer, fall, and early winter, which left the soils and vegetation extremely dry and prone to burn. “It was the latest first snow on record for most of the area,” said Russ Schumacher, a Colorado state climatologist. “Having a snowstorm or two in the fall, [as] would happen in most years, may have compressed the grasses down so they weren’t so prone to rapid fire spread, but that didn’t happen in 2021.” Good intentions Before the Marshall Fire, Boulder County was committed to finding out how its lower-income residents might be extra vulnerable to the risks that many communities face due to climate change. Paul Chinowsky, professor emeritus in civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, was gathering data and crunching numbers to map the low-income areas that are most vulnerable to climate disasters when the Marshall Fire sprinted across more than 6,000 acres. In the early aftermath of the fire, the county used his mapping tool to identify streets, clusters of homes, and subdivisions where residents might lack the means to recover quickly, Dr. Chinowsky says. “If we want them to be able to rebuild, we need to aggressively outreach to those areas,” he adds. Yet despite these early efforts, many lower-income residents have yet to even begin to recover their modest lifestyles. In a highcost community with very little affordable housing, the knowledge of which people likely would face the biggest hurdles hasn’t prevented inequity in the rebuilding. For Dr. Chinowsky, this underscores a truth that many communities try to ignore: Lower-income, lessresourced residents are less likely to recover after disasters. “That’s a piece of the climate change impact that is generally lost,” says Dr. Chinowsky, who founded and directs Resilient Analytics, which helps communities understand their climate change risks. After a disaster, even relief funds reserved for low- and moderate-income people are hard to come by, experts say, since they are typically intended as a last resort after insurance and all other supports have been used. But it takes time to prove that these funds are the only option left, and the paperwork required to access them is considerable. That slows down both the completion and processing of applications. For some, the wait is longer than they can afford. More burned-out properties were sold in lower-income areas than in wealthy ones, Dr. Chinowsky says. A comparison across income levels Having lived in Louisville with her husband and three children since 2010, Dr. Dickinson, an assistant professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, saw her personal and professional lives align following the fire. As a researcher focused on how climate change disproportionately burdens lower-income people, she decided to track equity in the rebuilding effort in her hometown. Dr. Dickinson twice surveyed people whose homes were lost or smokedamaged. She found that after a year, only 12% of households with annual incomes lower than $75,000 had permits to rebuild – versus nearly half of households with incomes between $150,000 and $200,000. Lower-income households were also more likely to be severely underinsured. While nearly half of households with incomes above $150,000 expected insurance to cover at least 75% of their rebuilding costs, only a quarter of households with annual incomes of less than $75,000 thought their insurance would cover that much. Rebuilding after wildfire: Help is scarcest for those who need it most Kathy Krajewski (left) and Wendy Bohling are two homeowners at the Wildflower condo complex in Louisville, Colorado. Bohling is a small-scale landlord who lost one of two units she owns to the Marshall fire in late 2021. story continues on page 6 4 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 call 262.653.9132 SR032423 JR PROPERTIES 2409 - 52nd Street, Suite 3 • Kenosha 2 Bedrooms $875 Includes: FREE Cable Heat & Water John and Shelley Rogowski, Owners $28 Eye Exam 262 - 554 -1121 • 3701 Durand Ave. Racine $18 Eyeglasses Place SR090822 Eyeglasses exam $49 without purchase of eyeglasses. See store for details. DT2023-2
Since opening its economy in the late 1970s, China has achieved impressive levels of economic growth. What’s often referred to as its economic “miracle” lifted over 800 million people from poverty and transformed the lowerincome nation into an u p p e r- m i d d l e - i n c o m e powerhouse, making up close to one-fifth of the world’s economic output. So recent warnings of serious economic troubles in China have caught the world’s attention. In the United States, which was already working to “de-risk” its economy from China’s, President Joe Biden called China a “ticking time bomb.” Despite alarm bells, economists say China is likely not on the verge of collapse, but this could be a turning point. What’s happening in China’s economy? While inflation continues to weigh on much of the world, China is facing the opposite problem: deflation. Prices are falling amid an economic slowdown and low consumer spending. The real estate sector is at the center of the slump: property developers are heavily indebted, major firms have defaulted, and dozens more are on the brink. Prices for existing homes have slid 14% in two years. Business investment is down, and in July, exports experienced their sharpest decline in three years. Meanwhile, local governments are struggling to pay civil servants, and the youth unemployment rate reached 21% before the government stopped publishing the number. Economists warn of a downward spiral of confidence that could be perilous for the global economy. But not everyone foresees a systemic meltdown. “There are some real problems in China, but the media observations of what’s been going on are in some ways misplaced,” says Yukon Huang, a senior fellow with Carnegie’s Asia Program. He says the property market is going through a period of adjustment, given that urbanization has nearly peaked and China’s population is no longer growing. Expectations that consumer spending would rebound as it has in the West post-pandemic are unrealistic, he adds, without the same sorts of stimulus packages. China’s economy is still expected to grow 4.5% this year, nearly twice the projected global rate. How did we get here? The underlying problems hampering China’s economy are not new. The first three decades of China’s so-called economic miracle saw a yearly average growth rate of 10%. Productivity soared thanks to a dynamic environment of “bottomup” decision-making, says Loren Brandt, an economist at the University of Toronto who specializes in China. That’s changed since the turn of the century, when China began to re-centralize its economy, a process that has intensified under leader Xi Jinping. Productivity has dropped as local economic decisions are made according to national priorities, especially security and self-sufficiency. “They’re often not based on where the capabilities or returns are,” says Dr. Brandt. Confidence in the government’s ability to make the best economic decisions has waned. In the past, China has responded to economic turmoil by lending more money for infrastructure and real estate, a strategy now made difficult by heavy debt. The government has cut interest rates slightly, eased borrowing restrictions, and lowered the minimum down payment on homes. Many economists say these measures aren’t enough to correct course. What does this all mean, for China and the rest of the world? For the world, it means some slowdown in overall growth, amid lower Chinese manufacturing and import activity. Japan saw exports drop in July for the first time in over two years, as purchases of cars and chips by China, its biggest trading partner, fell. More positively, deflation in China may ease inflation globally by pulling down oil prices and the cost of imports from China. The long-term concern for China is stagnation. While it’s normal for advanced economies to see growth slow over time, China cannot afford a prolonged slowdown with a gross domestic product per capita of $13,700, less than a fifth of that of the U.S. “A China which grows at 3% is not able to finance its needs,” says Dr. Huang, referring to social spending, research and development, and security interests. “China needs to grow at something closer to 5%.” He sees “huge growth potential” for China if it can address structural issues, such as amending the hukou (household registration) system to allow migrant workers in large cities to buy homes. Reliable data on China’s economy can be scarce. But over the years, Dr. Brandt has learned to let China surprise him. “We’ve seen this kind of resiliency ... this ability to solve these problems and move forward,” he says. “I never want to sell them short.” By Erik Page Why China’s ‘miracle’ growth has slowed CEOs and Wall Street investors have to take seriously now the fact that workers are united and having a moment where they’re not interested in small deals or in watching more record Wall Street profits. They’re demanding their fair share.” The writers enjoyed a high level of approval among Americans, a survey from Gallup found last month. Some 72% of respondents supported the WGA, compared with 67% overall who support organized labor. That’s up from a low of 48% in 2009, although down from last year’s 71%. (The studios, meanwhile, garnered 19% support from the public.) What next for the actors? It’s hard to predict what the end of the writers’ strike portends for the SAGAFTRA negotiations. The actors may feel pressure to resolve negotiations so that production can resume. Or they may feel emboldened to stick it out, as the writers did, in the hopes of a betterthan-expected deal. One issue that the writers and actors shared in common was a call to place guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in productions. While details are not yet known, the agreement between the WGA and AMPTP on artificial intelligence may smooth the way for a pact between actors and the AMPTP. The entertainment companies made concessions to writers on issues that they’d seemingly been unwilling to budge on. Writers had asked for increases in royalty payments – known as residuals – for popular movies and series on streaming platforms. But that would require the studios and digital platforms to be transparent about how TV shows and films perform. It’s not yet clear how the new arrangement will work when it comes to sharing data. The WGA had also pushed back on the common practice of hiring a small number of writers to initially develop a show. It had demanded hiring a minimum number of scribes for series. If ratified, the deal between the WGA and the AMPTP will be good for three years. In 2026, the two sides will sit down once again to evaluate contract terms. During the interim, Hollywood studios and streaming platforms will remain under pressure to fix their business models. Among the issues: Viewership for broadcast television is dwindling. Customers are cutting the cord on cable. Many expensive blockbusters, such as the latest “Indiana Jones” and “Mission: Impossible” movies, haven’t performed well at the box office. Even before the strikes, Hollywood had begun a period of contraction with thousands of layoffs. The studios were able to use the strike to cancel some deals and productions under force majeure rules. With the exception of Netflix, the streaming platforms have yet to turn a profit. For now, digital platforms have been able to sustain losses because parent corporations such as Amazon, Apple, and The Walt Disney Co. have other sources of revenue outside of TV and film. But unless streaming services get out of the red, there will be a smaller pie to share with writers. “We have knitted these life vests together over the course of this strike,” says script consultant Tom Nunan, a former TV executive and producer of the Oscar-winning film “Crash.” “But we’re still on the verge of going over the falls. You know, we will probably survive it with these life vests, but the future is very uncertain.” Mr. LaZebnik, the coexecutive producer on the “The Simpsons,” is concerned that studios could potentially pull back on the number of shows that they order. But he believes that the success or failure of the strike was nothing less than an existential moment for the WGA and his profession. During the long months, he maintained a text thread with “Simpsons” scribes in which they shared silly jokes. “It was sort of an outlet for some pent-up comedy,” says the writer. “Obviously, we would never have wished this on anyone to strike. But at the same time, you can’t help but just come back from almost five months off feeling like we are a little rejuvenated.” By Stephen Humphries Hollywood writers continued from page 3 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 5 Homemade 092823 Dinner Includes... homemade spaghetti & sauce, two meatballs, salad & dessert for $12 OR meatball sub sandwich, salad, potato chips & dessert for $10 Mt. Carmel Church Hall 1919 54th Street • Kenosha, WI Handicap Accessible We make our own pasta and sauce! 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“It’s a tragedy for everyone who lost a home, and it’s a grueling process. But as someone who is part of this community, what I’m trying to look at is, what’s our community going to look like after this event ... if we disproportionately are losing ... folks with lower incomes,” Dr. Dickinson says. In particular, she worries that teachers, firefighters, retired people, and young families will be priced out. Some local officials stress that it’s too early to know definitively how the fire will affect the demographics of the area. But early signs indicate an increase in property values. And although few rebuilt homes have gone on the market, Cynthia Braddock, Boulder County’s assessor, mentioned one that before the fire, was in one of the most affordable areas. After the fire, it listed for $1.2 million, about twice the prefire asking price of homes in that neighborhood. Delays for residents in multifamily dwellings One option for people in lower or middle-income tiers is to rent or purchase units in multifamily buildings. While that typically provides more affordable housing than single-family homes, it significantly delays disaster relief. W i l d f l o w e r Condominiums, the only multifamily complex that burned, lost 30 of its 93 units. And the earliest residents can hope to move back in is the summer of 2024, 2 1/2 years after the fire, says Mark Appelfeller, the president of the Wildflower Condos Homeowners Association and one of those who lost their home. Rebuilding multifamily dwellings takes longer than free-standing houses, and it took six to eight weeks longer to clear the ashes and debris from the burned buildings. “It was ugly, and it was smelly, and it was dangerous,” Mr. Appelfeller says. The complex also experienced the growing problem of insurance companies’ refusal to renew policies. In Wildflower’s case, not only was their policy not renewed, but also no other regular insurance company would cover the complex. A package from several different insurers was put together, but it costs $4,700 a year per unit, seven times more than the former policy, Mr. Appelfeller says. “This insurance thing is outrageous,” Mr. Appelfeller says. “This is a growing problem in the state,” writes Vincent Plymell, assistant commissioner for communications for the Colorado Division of Insurance, in an email. The uptick in nonrenewals following the fire was so severe that the state Legislature directed the insurance division to study the problem. Completed in April, its report “confirms what we suspected – that the homeowners’ insurance companies are re-evaluating their risk tolerance,” Mr. Plymell writes. A 2023 state law mandates the creation of an insurer of last resort but not until late 2024 at the earliest, leaving those at Wildflower with significantly higher insurance costs, even people who can’t live in their homes because of the fire. Kathy Krajewski, an older adult who runs a preschool, was in her unit in Wildflower the afternoon of the fire when a neighbor alerted her that she needed to evacuate. She figured the worst they’d get was smoke, so she grabbed her electronics but didn’t think to take keepsakes. “My wedding ring. My engagement ring. My mother’s engagement ring. A lot of mementos ... I left behind,” she laments. Later, however, while sifting through ash, a volunteer found her wedding ring. “It was amazing!” Ms. Krajewski says. Since then, she and her husband have been living in an apartment. Her insurance covers the rent but only for two years. She’s concerned about finances after that, but she adds that it helps to know she and her husband both have jobs. “When all is said and done, we will have been in temporary housing for 2 1/2 years, probably. That doesn’t sound temporary,” Ms. Krajewski says bitterly. Can economic diversity survive the fire? Federal and state programs do provide extra money for lower-income residents. People who earn less than 150% of the median income in the area could qualify for grants of up to $100,000, depending on their income. Also, low-interest loans of up to $50,000 are available for those who qualify. But not until mid-July was the state in the final stage of distributing these public funds to the first dozen households, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. An additional 71 applicants had been conditionally approved. “Some of the government programs are just really slow to roll out,” says Phyllis Kane, who runs Navigating Disaster for Boulder County, which provides one-on-one guidance for people who lost homes. “It’s a slog to go through that application process, and it takes quite a while.” Katie Arrington, Boulder County’s assistant recovery manager, concurs. “Some of the biggest free money available for residents is the slowest money to come in,” she says. It disturbs Ms. Arrington that low-income residents, older people on fixed incomes, and immigrants disproportionately suffer as a result. “This is really hard stuff ... to figure out,” she says. “The structural systems of inequity and racism that this country was built on play out in disasters. ... We move the needle a little every time. But it’s a little bit.” It’s unclear whether the needle will move enough this time to allow Ms. Bill to replace her mobile home. She has her heart set on a converted shipping container made of steel. “If I had the container,” she says, “the walls won’t shake.” She’d be able to stay put and no longer panic when winds whip through her neighborhood Sans Souci, which means “carefree” in French. Enabling Ms. Bill to stay in San Souci isn’t important only to her. Dr. Dickinson hopes the fire won’t eliminate the diversity of her community. “It’s really important to the fabric of society that we have folks at different income levels,” she says. By Elizabeth Shogren Wildfire continued from page 4 Florida man pleads guilty to distributing adulterated HIV meds worth more than $16M A Florida man pleaded guilty Monday to distributing more than $16.7 million worth of adulterated HIV medications, which were dispensed to unsuspecting patients throughout the United States, the Justice Department announced. Armando Herrera, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to introduce adulterated and misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. The Miami resident is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 21, and could face a maximum of five years in prison. According to court documents, Herrera and several co-conspirators established companies in Florida, Texas, Washington and California to sell and distribute adulterated prescription drugs. Herrera was also accused of creating false documentation. "Herrera and his coconspirators created false documentation to make it appear as though the drugs were acquired legitimately when, in fact, they were not," the Justice Department said in a statement. Herrera is among 14 defendants charged in June in connection with more than $1.9 billion in health care fraud as part of the Justice Department's 2023 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. "This nationwide enforcement action demonstrates that the Criminal Division is committed to fighting healthcare fraud and opioid abuse by prosecuting those who allegedly exploit patients and health care benefit programs for personal gain," Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in a statement. According to court documents, Herrera and his co-conspirators were accused of adulterating and mislabeling more than 16,000 tablets of HIV medication Truvada, 3,600 tablets of HIV medication Biktarvy and 7,340 tablets of "other adulterated and misbranded diverted drugs." The altered drugs were sold to wholesale pharmaceutical suppliers. Those suppliers then sold the drugs to pharmacies, which dispensed them to unsuspecting patients. By Sherri Walsh 6 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 DELIVERY HELP NEEDED Part-time position available to deliver Happenings Magazine. Fill Out An Application At 1420-63rd Street, Kenosha, WI • Dependable individual w/ your own vehicle & automobile insurance • Available on Wednesday afternoons & Thursdays mornings • Able to lift & carry at least 50 lbs Monday - Friday from 10am-4pm 090723 REQUIREMENTS 100523 Do You Have The Itch To Make People Laugh? Bill Gorgo has been teaching standup comedy throughout the Midwest to people just like you for over 25 years and his next class will be available at the Kenosha Comedy Club from 10/18 to 11/29 (no class on 11/22)! Classes will be held on Wednesdays, from 6-8 pm and will culminate with a graduation show. You will learn: Methods for tapping into your personal creativity and style; The hidden structures inside a joke, a bit, and act; Surefire solutions for stage fright and memory worries; A wide range of performance secrets for getting the big laughs; And much, much more! Call for more info (262)564-8800 5125 6th Ave, Kenosha Eight sessions (2 hours each) for the low price of $199 ! Eight sessions (2 hours each) for the low price of $199 !
Halloween season is underway! Use either the online Visit Kenosha Events Calendar (VisitKenosha. com/Events) or our Things To Do In The Fall web page (VisitKenosha.com/FallFun) for a list of Halloweenrelated events. Here’s just a sampling; find the full details and more events at the links. Some of these events have fees or pre-registration requirements, so be sure to check our website first! Of course, you must visit Jerry Smith Farm! Generations have been enjoying the artistic handpainted pumpkin displays, purchasing the homegrown pumpkins, and checking out all the other entertainment offered at the farm. (Don’t forget the cookies!!) Each Saturday evening through the end of the month, you can pick a time to enjoy the HallowGlow event at Boundless Adventures, the outdoor aerial adventure park. You can also visit the Haunted House at Kemper Center each Saturday evening. Register for Dinos In The Dark, taking place October 6, 13, and 20, at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. Fall Fest at the Kenosha YMCA on October 7 includes pumpkin decorating. All ages can enjoy a pumpkin decorating contest (sign up by October 9) or the costume contest (sign up at the event) at the Fall Into Fun Festival. This happens October 14 at Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Kenosha. Sign up to enjoy exclusive deals at participating pubs and restaurants throughout Downtown Kenosha and beyond. This is the October Fest Crawl, presented by the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce between October 18 and 21. Have you ever wanted to participate in a paranormal investigation? Then go Ghost Hunting at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum on October 20 (must be 18 or older). October 20 and 27, you can enjoy The Haunted Trails of Hawthorn Hollow. This event is family-friendly and recommended for children over 10. See the Lakeside Players production of “Blithe Spirit” October 27 through November 5, Fridays through Sundays, at the historic Rhode Center for the Arts. Ghost Tours are also expected to take place this month at the Rhode. The building is said to be one of Kenosha’s most haunted places! On October 27, the Civil War Museum offers a Victorian Spiritualism program. This is a 21+ only event. The museum cautions: “This event is for entertainment purposes only, the Museum does not guarantee any responses, connections, or reactions from the dead.” Pringle Nature Center presents the Halloween Candlelight Hike at Bristol Woods Park on October 27. This hike is self-guided, family-friendly, and for those who can navigate trails in the dark. Register now for the October 28 Halloween Horror Golf Tournament at Brighton Dale Links. Trunk or Treat events are popular. This is where families (with kids in costume) visit one location where multiple car trunks/tables are decorated and people hand out candy. Typically, organizations, companies, or small businesses sign up to “host” a trunk. Trunk or Treat events we are aware of include: one at the Medical Support Services/Tender Touch Kenosha Clinic on October 21. Grande Prairie Care and Rehab hosts one October 27. The Kenosha YMCA’s event is October 28. Also on October 28 is Trunk Or Treat On 63rd Street – at the Uptown Brass Center. We have details online about the Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest that the Growing with Bristol organization is doing. We also have the scheduled Trick or Treat times for municipalities throughout Kenosha County! Regularly use VisitKenosha.com to find events, things to see and do, and places to eat and stay at. Go to VisitKenosha.com/Fun101 to check out our NEW Fall 2023 / Winter 2024 FUN 101 list. Visit Kenosha has been Kenosha’s official travel resource since 1986. Halloween Fun Close To Home by Meridith Jumisko, Visit Kenosha Meridith Jumisko is Public Relations Director at Visit Kenosha. Contact her at [email protected] FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 7 AUTUMN 2 02 COMEDY 3 EVENTS 5125 6th Ave. Kenosha 5125 6th Ave. Kenosha If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! If It’s Not Live, You’re Not Living! FOR EVENT TICKETS & MORE ACTS VISIT HAP2IT.COM STOP IN 1420 63RD ST. M-F 10AM-4PM OR CALL (262)564-8800 No Drink Minimum! MARSHA WARFIELD 27/28 GREG SCHWEM OCT 13/14 RICH GUZZI OCT 3/4 MR. SHOWTIME NOV DAVID SCOTT COMEDY HYPNOSIS SHOW LYNNE KOPLITZ 6/7 OCT 10/11 NOV JOHN DIRESTA 20/21 OCT 100523 17/18 NOV TIM MEADOWS
8 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 America's leaders are older than ever -- founding fathers didn't foresee this The U.S. Congress has had no shortage of viral moments in recent months. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, DCalif., seemingly became confused over how to vote. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., experienced two extended "freeze episodes" during press conferences. And several members of Congress mistook TikTok for the name of a breath mint (Tic Tac). The world's oldest democracy has its oldestever Congress. President Joe Biden (80 years old) is also the oldest U.S. president in history. His leading rival in the 2024 presidential race, former President Donald Trump, is not far behind at 77. Biden and Trump are older than 96% of the U.S. population. Unsurprisingly, they are facing widespread questions about their ages and cognitive abilities. This 'senior moment' America's increasingly geriatric political leadership is not a surprising phenomenon. As the authors of the book, Youth Without Representation, pointed out earlier this year, the average age of U.S. members of Congress has consistently risen over the past 40 years. Some of this shift can be attributed to actuarial realities: Much like the aging U.S. electorate, American politicians are living longer and fuller lives in old age than they did before, particularly compared to the time of America's "founding fathers" (many of whom were under the age of 40 when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776). Some of this may also be attributed to older Americans being far more likely to vote than their younger counterparts. In 2016, for instance, nearly three-quarters of eligible voters over the age of 65 reported they had voted, compared to less than half of those aged under 30. And those older Americans may prefer electing politicians closer to their age range. Yet lifespans have increased around the world and the aging of U.S. politicians still stands out compared to other developed nations. The average age of government leaders in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has actually decreased since 1950 -- and today is nearly 25 years younger than Biden. Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis said the country's founding fathers would "probably" implement maximum age limits on elected officials if they "could look at this again." But this raises the question of why they didn't do it the first time. Founding fathers and term limits The founding fathers fiercely debated term limits for both presidents and members of Congress and even included them for members of the Continental Congress in the first Articles of Confederation. However, they ended up not being written into the Constitution. As much as Americans cherish the idea of the nation being founded on a constitution and laws instead of traditions and monarchy, the founding fathers ultimately did not legislate any term limits. Instead, they largely assumed custom, tradition and democratic elections would dictate the terms of office. In fact, the first president, George Washington, helped begin the custom of a president not seeking longer than two terms in office. Mirroring Cincinnatus, a Roman leader who became legendary for being given dictatorial control over Rome during a crisis but then voluntarily relinquishing control once the crisis was over, Washington left the presidency after two fouryear terms. For more than a century after that, U.S. presidents adhered to Washington's convention (which historians contend that Thomas Jefferson, America's third president, in reality ended up setting) and did not serve a third term in office. The first to break that tradition was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who won four terms in office, including a third just before the second world war. After he died in office at the age of 63, Congress ratified the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution that limited presidents to two four-year terms. While U.S. presidents have faced term limits for most of the past century, members of Congress continue to serve as long as they like. (There are currently 20 members over the age of 80. Feinstein, the oldest at 90, has served six terms.) Part of the reason for this omission may be that the founding fathers and early American leaders did not expect members of Congress to stay in office as long as they now do. In the years after the Constitution was ratified, members of Congress simply did not seek re-election as frequently. For example, the average length of service for U.S. senators has more than doubled from about 4.8 years back then to 11.2 years today. Price of elected office Beyond demographics and changing habits of U.S. politicians, one underestimated contributor to America's increasingly elderly political leadership is that running for political office in America is more expensive than ever. The 2020 election was not only contentious, but it was also the most expensive in U.S. history. It cost more than $14.4 billion for the presidential and congressional races -- more than double what was spent in the 2016 elections. The 2022 elections also broke a record for spending in a midterm election at $8.9 billion. On an individual level, the average winner of a House of Representatives race in 1990 spent around $400,000. By 2022, that had risen to $2.79 million. The average winner of a Senate race in 1990 spent nearly $3.9 million, compared to $26.5 million in 2022. It should come as no surprise that the 10 most expensive House and Senate races in U.S. history took place in the past five years. Those with the resources necessary to afford such expensive campaigns are more likely to be older than not. Whether it be independently wealthy business owners or wellestablished politicians with extensive fundraising networks, the high cost of admission for political office undeniably favors the old. In an era of extensive polarization, it can often seem like Americans cannot agree on much. One area of agreement, however, is that their politicians are simply too old. Yet while a majority of Americans may tell pollsters that, most still consistently end up voting for a candidate who is considerably older than them. That will very likely be the case again in the 2024 presidential election. At least one of those probable candidates (Trump or Biden), though, will be barred by term limits from being on the ballot again in 2028. By Jared Mondschein At 80 years old, current president Joe Biden is the oldest in American history. Many online marijuana dispensaries do little to enforce age limits The lax enforcement of age limits by many online marijuana dispensaries makes it easier for minors to buy weed, claims new research that looked at online weed sales in 32 states. "It is imperative to require strict age-verification procedures prior to cannabis purchases online and to establish stringent surveillance of online marijuana dispensaries to protect youth," wrote the authors of the new study, published Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. The authors looked at ageverification policies and other practices of 80 online dispensaries. About 18.8% of dispensaries "required no formal age verification at any stage of the purchasing process," according to the study. Meanwhile, more than 80% accepted "non-traceable" payment methods such as pre-paid cards or cash. These polices are "enabling youth to hide their transactions," the authors noted. The issue, in addition to the law, is about what impact marijuana has on the developing brain, especially as potency of products has increased, the researchers noted. The pandemic saw a drop in marijuana use by minors, possibly because it was harder to get and use the drugs without notice, the New York Times reported. The new study also found that nearly one-third of online dispensaries allowed delivery across state lines. Among those that did, 95% would deliver to states that had different laws than the states they were based in. "Pediatricians and caregivers must be aware of the widespread availability of online dispensaries and potential dissemination of marijuana to minors," the authors wrote. By Cara Nurez
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 9 health lifestyle community Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center news October 5, 2023 Your Kenosha ADRC Update Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans ADRC offers free assistance beginning October 17 Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period is October 15 - December 7. It’s an important time of year for those on Medicare to review current coverage and see if any changes are needed for the coming year. Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan details often change every year. Sorting through all the options to find the right plan for prescriptions can be confusing but Benefit Specialists at the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center can assist. There are four basic reasons to check your plan: • Your plan may cost more next year • Your plan may no longer cover all your medications • Your plan may have put restrictions on some of your medications • You may be taking different medications now ADRC Benefit Specialists offer objective and reliable information and assistance. There is no charge for this service. The Benefit Specialists do not sell or endorse any insurance plans. Benefit Specialists at the ADRC are trained to carefully review current coverage and compare plans with other options based on medications and other details. Benefit Specialists also check to see if beneficiaries qualify for programs or benefits that can save money. Workshops will be offered throughout Kenosha County beginning on October 17. Kenosha County Center, 19600 75th St., Bristol • Tuesday, October 17, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. • Tuesday, October 24, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Salem Lakes Fire and Rescue, 11252 254th Ct., Trevor • Thursday, Nov. 2, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Westosha Senior Center, 19200 - 93rd St., Bristol • Tuesday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Northside Library, 1500 27th Ave., Kenosha, Rm. A • Tuesday, Nov. 29, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Festival Foods Community Room, 2nd floor 3207 80th St., Kenosha • Thursday, Nov. 30, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Southwest Neighborhood Library, Rm. A 7979 - 38th Ave., Kenosha • Thursday, Nov. 9, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. • Tuesday, Dec. 5, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Kenosha Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Rd., Kenosha, Door A • Thursday Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Rm. N2) • Thursday, Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Rm. N2) • Tuesday, Oct. 31, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (Rm. N2) • Tuesday, Nov. 7, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. (Rm. N3) • Wednesday, Nov. 15, 9:30 - 12:30 p.m. (Rm. N2) • Tuesday, Nov. 28, 9:30 - 12:30 p.m. (Rm. N2) It’s recommended that participants bring their own laptop, tablet or smart phone if possible. For further information or to make reservations call the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center at 262-605-6646. Caring for an adult family member or friend? Family Caregiver Support Group Meets in-person and virtually Family caregivers often don’t see themselves as caregivers, they simply think of themselves as the husband, sister, daughter or friend. Defined, a family caregiver is a person who provides support for an adult who needs assistance with daily living activities, such as cooking, driving, shopping, laundry and paying bills. The role of a family caregiver, while rewarding, can also be challenging when trying to balance life’s responsibilities along with supporting the needs of another individual, family member or friend. The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers a Family Caregiver Support Group, the first Thursday of every month. If you are a family caregiver, this group is for you! Join fellow caregivers, either virtually or inperson, as you share your experiences, ask questions and learn from others. The group is facilitated by the ADRC’s Margaret Ricchio, Caregiver Support Specialist, and Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist. The next meeting will be Thursday, November 2, 4-5 p.m. In-person location is 8600 Sheridan Road, entrance D. To register, learn more or to receive the virtual link, call the Kenosha County ADRC, 262-605-6646.i
10 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Indulge Your Taste Buds! It’s time to indulge your taste buds as Kenosha Area Family & Aging Services, Inc. (KAFASI) presents Bowls and Bakers 2023 at the Brat Stop’s Parkway Chateau! Bowls and Bakers is KAFASI’s largest fundraiser and is full of delicious flavors, exciting raffles, a mouthwatering bake sale, and the chance to win a pair of Packers vs. Bears tickets! So, join them with an empty stomach and help support KAFASI and all the services they offer to Kenosha County. The Fundraiser will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Brat Stop’s Parkway Chateau, 12304 75th Street. Tickets are $20 for those over the age of 60 and $25 for everyone else. Tickets are available in advance, online, or at the door. Visit kafasi.org/bowlsandbakers or call 262-658-3508 for more information. Someone in Your Life has Dementia A Roadmap for Care – Now offered virtually and inperson The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center offers a regularly scheduled educational program, Someone in Your Life has Dementia: A Roadmap for Care. The presentation is for anyone caring for an individual living with a form of dementia and will be offered every other month, with the options for both virtual and in-person meetings. Dementia is a general term used to describe memory loss and the impaired ability to process information and make decisions which interferes with daily life. There are many subtypes of dementia, with Alzheimer’s Disease being the most common form, followed by Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal degeneration, mixed dementia and others. Dementia is not a part of normal aging; however, 50 million people worldwide are living with some form of this syndrome. Susan Johnson, Dementia Care Specialist with the ADRC, has developed and will facilitate this new presentation. Johnson has a master’s degree in Gerontology and has a passion for improving quality of life for caregiving families. She offers hope and understanding to caregivers, as well as those living with dementia. The presentation will help prepare and guide caregivers, while building confidence for the road ahead. It will address common caregiver concerns, such as: • Whether recently diagnosed or not, what do you need to know about caring for someone living with dementia? • How do you know what to expect and what your person needs, as the disease progresses? Someone in Your Life has Dementia: A Roadmap for Care, will be offered virtually and in-person, the second Wednesday, every other month, noon – 1 p.m. The next class will be offered on October 11, 2023. For more information and to register, call the ADRC, 262-605- 6646. Senior group offers lecture on Sleep Disorder Adventures in Lifelong Learning (ALL), an organization of mostly retired people ages 55 and older, offers lectures on various topics. The next lecture will be on Friday, October 20, 2023, 2 p.m. at UWParkside, The Rita Room L131 Sleep disorders in the Elderly and How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep presented by Alfred Habel, MD, Director of the Sleep Lab at Froedtert South It's estimated that up to 40-70% of Americans over 65 have some sleep problems, including insomnia, chronic obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome, although up to 50% aren't diagnosed. Sleep disorders not only affect mental and physical quality of life but are associated with other diseases. This lecture discusses how to evaluate and treat these problems so we can get a good night's sleep. Dr. Habel has practiced in Kenosha for over 20 years. He is a graduate of The Medical College of Wisconsin. He did an internal medicine residency and fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, followed by a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, and sleep disorders. Dr. Habel specializes in the various sleep disorders and started the Sleep Lab at Froedtert South. Adventures in Lifelong Learning is an active senior group with a wide variety of education-oriented activities, a friendly environment, and lots of interactive opportunities. An annual membership fee of $50 includes access to Lectures, Focus groups, Classes and Day trips at a cost. Learn more at www.uwp.edu/ALL or call 262-595-2793. You’re There for Them, We’re Here for You Kenosha County ADRC to Offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers Online Class Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a free, six-week, on-line educational series, intended to teach skills on how to take care of yourself while caring for a loved one. The class helps family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources. The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is now accepting reservations for its next Powerful Tools for Caregivers course. The online sessions will be held Wednesdays, 4 – 6 p.m., October 25 – November 29. To participate, caregivers must have internet access and access to a computer, iPad or other tablet. To register, call 262-605-6646 or click the registration button at http://adrc.kenoshacounty.org. The ADRC also offers classes in Spanish, call for dates and information! Memory Café Memory Café is a place for persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment, early-stage Alzheimer’s, or related dementia, and their care partners to socialize and have fun. Join the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center’s Dementia Care Specialist, Susan Johnson, and the Alzheimer's Association on the second Tuesday of every month, 1-2 p.m. The next meeting will be on October 10, 2023, Kenosha Southwest Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Avenue. Registration is required for new members. Call Alzheimer's Association 800-272-3900. Your Kenosha ADRC Update
Memory Screen Mondays The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers free, confidential memory screens every Monday, 8 a.m. - noon. Memory screens are suggested for anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history, or who wants to check their memory now for future comparison. Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat memory loss. Memory screening can: Provide relief for individuals concerned about normal memory loss Lead to diagnosis of treatable conditions Offer the ability to make lifestyle changes early when they have the greatest potential for positive effect and the opportunity to participate in making future decisions Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion over daily routines, and personality changes. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam. Appointments are recommended. Interested persons may call the ADRC at 262- 605-6646 to make an appointment. Free Healthy Living with Diabetes Class offered! The Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center is offering a free class for those want to learn more about diabetes. Healthy Living with Diabetes is a 6- week evidence-based program from Stanford University that has helped people world-wide: be in control, feel better, have more energy, use new tools to manage their diabetes, and create new goals Healthy Living with Diabetes will be offered, Thursdays, 5 – 7 p.m., October 12 – November 16, at Kenosha Southside Neighborhood Library, 7979 38th Avenue, Kenosha. If you are a Kenosha County resident, age 50 or older and have diabetes or care for someone who does, please call the ADRC at 262- 605-6646 to learn more or to register. White Cane awareness day event Society’s Assets invites area residents to join us for the fifth annual celebration of White Cane Awareness Day on Sunday, October 15. This local event will be held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Civil War Museum, 5400 First Avenue in Kenosha. Similar events are being held on the same day nationwide. In the 1960s, the National Federation of the Blind became a leader in fighting for the rights of the blind and in pioneering innovative training programs using the white cane. At the Federation’s urging, the United State Congress adopted a joint resolution in 1964 designating October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day and recognizing that white canes enable people with vision impairments or blindness to travel safely and independently. “We will be spreading the word about white canes, those who use them, traffic laws, and accessibility in our community,” said Tam Frentzel, event organizer and Lead Independent Living Coordinator at Society’s Assets. “We are grateful to the Kenosha Lions Foundation for financial support of this event. We are also pleased to announce that SouthEast Eye Physicians & Surgeons will be offering free vision screenings.” Note that the purpose of a vision screening is to identify vision problems in a treatable stage, provide education, and provide a referral to an eye care provider for a comprehensive eye exam (if needed). The screening is not an exam and should not be seen as replacing one. The event begins with a short presentation and continues with a demonstration and personal stories. The vision screenings will be available from 1:30 – 2:30 pm. Refreshments will be available. This event is open to people of any age and disability, as well as those who want to show support. Register by October 6 with Tami Frentzel at 262-925-6097 or [email protected] Society’s Assets: a resource for people with disabilities. Services include advocacy, supportive home care/personal care, home/vehicle modifications, a loan closet with equipment and technology for a “Try Before You Buy” experience (partially supported by WisTech), technical assistance regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act, independent living skills training, peer support, benefits counseling, and transitions to life after high school or returning home from the nursing home. Call 800-378-9128. October Medicare Minutes Changing Part D Plans Medicare Minute presentations are offered monthly by the Kenosha County Aging & Disability Resource Center. These free programs provide information on a wide range of Medicare topics. October’s Medicare Minutes will focus on the Changing Part D Plans. The program will be offered virtually on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, from 10 – 11 a.m. SHIP-branded Medicare Minutes are developed by the Medicare Rights Center as a State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) National Technical Assistance Center service. The Medicare Rights Center is a national, non-profit consumer service organization. They are one of the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center partners. To participate and for reservations call the ADRC 262- 605-6646. A Zoom link will be provided. Your Kenosha ADRC Update FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 11
Here is a special message to all Social Security representatives reading this column. You are right when you tell customers that as a general rule, they cannot file for reduced benefits on one record and later switch to full benefits on another record. But if you are talking to a widow or widower, that rule does not apply. I've heard from four readers in the past couple weeks -- three widows and one widower -- who were all told they must choose to take benefits on one record or another. And once they make that choice, they can't change. And that's absolutely wrong. Widows and widowers have the option of taking reduced benefits on one record and later switching to higher benefits on another record. And the number of readers telling me they've been misinformed about this issue (the four people I heard from this week is just the tip of the iceberg) tells me this isn't a few isolated incidents involving a few uninformed Social Security Administration reps. Something must be missing in the SSA's training sessions because I've heard from hundreds of widows and widowers over the years who have been misled on this topic. Before I explain this "widow(er)s option," let me clarify the statement I made at the beginning of this column. The one where I said that as a general rule, people can't file for reduced benefits on one record and later switch to full benefits on another record. Actually, a version of this happens quite a lot. So let me explain what I am talking about with examples. Let's say Wilma is 62 and her husband Fred is also 62. Wilma wants to take her smallish Social Security benefit now, but Fred wants to wait until he is 67 to file for his much larger benefit. Wilma can take reduced retirement benefits now. And then when Fred turns 67 and files for his Social Security, Wilma can file for spousal benefits on his record. But the reduction she took in her own Social Security will carry over to her spousal benefits. In other words, she won't get full spousal benefits. She'll get a reduced rate. But now let me turn the example around a bit. Let's once again say that Wilma is 62, but this time we'll say that Fred is 68 and already getting his own higher retirement benefit. In this case, Wilma cannot take reduced retirement benefits on her own record now and later switch to higher full spousal benefits on Fred's record. By the same token, she cannot take reduced spousal benefits on Fred's account now and later switch to full benefits on her own record. So what's the difference in the two examples. In the second one, Fred is already getting Social Security when Wilma wants to file for benefits. And there is a rule that says when you file for one benefit, you must file for all other benefits you are due at the same time. In the first example, when Wilma turned 62, Fred wasn't yet getting benefits so at that time, there were no other benefits (i.e., spousal benefits) for Wilma to file for. That's why, later on, when Fred files for his Social Security, Wilma can then file for extra spousal benefits on his record. It's that "you must file for all other benefits you are due at the same time" rule that does not apply to widows and widowers. Let's go back to Wilma, who is turning 62. And this time, we'll say that Fred is dead. In other words, Wilma is a widow. If Wilma went to some Social Security offices and talked to the uninformed SSA reps I mentioned earlier, she would have been told something like this. "Wilma, because of the rule that says you must file for any and all benefits you are due, you must file for your own reduced retirement benefit now, and you must file for any extra reduced widow's benefits you are due at the same time." But to repeat: That "you must file for any and all benefits you are due at the same time" rule does not apply to widows and widowers. Once again, let's go back to Wilma. Let's say her own full retirement age benefit is $1,800 per month and that Fred's full retirement age benefit is $3,000 per month. Wilma might want to consider filing for reduced retirement benefits at age 62. She'd get about 70% of $1,800 or $1,260 per month. Then once she reaches her full retirement age, she could switch to 100% widow's benefits, or $3,000 per month. (There are no "delayed retirement credits" paid on a widow's benefit, so there would be no advantage to waiting past her full retirement age to collect widow's benefits.) Now let's turn things around a bit and say that Wilma's own benefit is close to Fred's. For example, we can say that her full retirement age benefit is $2,800 per month and that Fred's FRA benefit was $3,000 per month. In this case, Wilma might want to start out with reduced widow's benefits. At 62, she'd get about 82% of Fred's FRA benefit, or about $2,460 per month. Wilma could collect those benefits until she reaches her full retirement age, at which point she could switch to 100% of her FRA benefit, or $2,800 per month. social security A Special Rule for Widows and Widowers with Tom Margenau If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast. net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. Tom Margenau joins Happenings Q&A on Thu. Oct. 12th at 10:20 on AM1050 WLIP. 12 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 060123 6:30pm - 9:30pm All Star Non-Stop Music Non-Stop Fun Every Wednesday Karaoke ROCK & ROLL BINGO FREE S S S S o S o o o S S o 7:00pm - 9:00pm 5125 6th Avenue Kenosha WI Please join us for a speacial Mental Health Awareness Presentation October 12 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 8760 37th Avenue, Kenosha Family & Peer Support Group 6:00PM-7:30PM Followed By A Special Informational Session with Scott Carney Addiction Consultant & Treatment Facilitator FREE & open to the public. Everyone is welcome! You Are Not Alone. 262.652.3606 NAMIKenosha.org Mental Health Awareness Presentation At 7:30PM You Are Not Alone. Scott Carney 100523
Dear Amy: I am in a group of four women who have played Bridge together almost every week for more than 25 years. A year ago, one of the group abruptly cut all of us off. Through a series of texts and emails she told us that she can’t be friends with us anymore. She wouldn’t make time to see us in person. She seems to be particularly mad at me. I emailed her trying to find out what had happened. She started with a paragraph about all my wonderful qualities, but then she said that we can no longer be friends. She wrote that I’ve done “1,000 things to hurt” her over the years, but she wouldn’t tell me what they were. Her son is getting married soon and she has invited the other two members of our group, but not my husband and me. As far as I know, she doesn’t see or talk to the other two, either. I’m quite devastated by this and communicated my feelings. I’m very hurt that the other two are going to the wedding when I’ve been so slighted and hurt. I don’t know if I can keep the hurt from affecting the relationship between the remaining three of us. I’d like your take. – Hurt Dear Hurt: I’m not sure it’s fair to judge these other people for accepting an invitation you have been denied. This former friend has (perhaps deliberately) set a mystery in motion, and this will corrode your other relationships, if you let it. And then you will have lost three friends, instead of one. I cannot dive in and decode this strange turn of events for you, but in my opinion, it is extremely cowardly to confront someone partway, crack open a box of mysteries, and then slam it shut. If there is an extreme difference in temperament and personality between the two of you (you are outgoing and assertive, she is shy and passive), she may have felt dominated or silenced. You could ask your other friends for any insight they might have; one advantage of their glancing contact with this person is that they might bring back some valuable information. Dear Amy: One of our sons and his fiancée are going to get married in a civil ceremony nine months before they have a formal wedding. They’re planning the whole enchilada: A formal ceremony, showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner, 100- plus guests, formal wedding attire, father walking bride down the aisle, officiant-led vows, 12 attendants, fatherdaughter dance, speeches and toasts, etc. The private civil ceremony is being done so they can save money on health insurance (they both are employed in full-time, well-paying jobs, with benefits so they acknowledge it's not a necessity). We are struggling to positively reframe and get excited about this big wedding after they will have called each other husband and wife for almost a year. Is it disingenuous to have a big wedding (the vast majority of guests will not know they married the prior year), implying it's the start of their married life when it isn't even close? If they were saying “come help us celebrate being married” or doing a one-year vow renewal, we would get that. One of them has said that the vows will be standard ones. They are not a shallow couple, but it feels like it's a show that misses the reason for a wedding? We want to be supportive and happy, so can you help us with a different way to look at it? – Wanting to get in the Groove Dear Wanting: Your son and his fiancée are having a civil ceremony, followed by a religious ceremony many months later. There are a few reasons why couples choose to do this: Military deployment, holding a small “destination wedding” in a location where it is challenging to get married legally, or holding a wedding ceremony in another country for family or cultural reasons. Saving money on health insurance is on the lessromantic end of the spectrum. I wish they hadn’t told you about this legal ceremony, because it would have spared you hours of rumination and judgment. And now for the reframing: Consider this upcoming wedding their one religious ceremony and family celebration, bringing their more quotidian legal marriage into a new and spiritual realm of married life. ask amy Member of group builds bridge to nowhere You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook. seniors edition FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 13 100523 SR061622 7110 74th PL, Kenosha, WI • (262) 694-1500 “Located next to Menards” AS YOUR CERTIFIED GM SERVICE CENTER... WE USE GENUINE GM PARTS 30 day guaranteed lowest price! We will meet or beat any advertised price on any tire we sell! Lifetime Free Tire Rotations With the purchase of 4 tires We offer over 18 different manufactures of tires including BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear and more! 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14 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 books In her debut novel, Parallel Lines, Jerusalem-based journalist Ruth Marks Eglash invites readers behind the headlines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Published over the summer, the young adult tale follows a trio of teenage girls from three distinct worlds – secular Jewish, Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish, and Palestinian Muslim. Together they navigate the complexities of their shared city of Jerusalem along with the challenges of adolescence. Ms. Eglash, who has reported for The Washington Post and The Jerusalem Post, spoke recently with the Monitor. Why write a young adult novel? It was a little bit by accident. I really wanted to explain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It’s a bit like a soap opera. I thought, what’s [an easier] way to explain it than through the eyes of young people? At the time, my kids were teenagers. My daughter, Gefen, was going to middle school right in the center of Jerusalem. ... On the one hand, I was writing articles for The Washington Post and explaining [the conflict] on a high level, and then I was explaining it to Gefen on a [different] level. I thought this would be beneficial to everyone else to have it explained in these simple terms. The main characters – Tamar, Rivki, and Nour – offer windows into three of Jerusalem’s “tribes.” Which character taught you the most while you were writing? I think Rivki [the Haredi girl] is fascinating. ... If someone is brought up in the confines of a certain community and all they know is those traditions and that culture, how do they see the world from the outside? ... These “tribes,” as you call them, are very strict; there is no mixing between them. ... So how is there a way for [young people] to interconnect? What makes someone look outside of what they’re being told as a child? What makes someone do something else or think in a different way? The Israeli-Palestinian situation is like a kaleidoscope of conflicts – grievances, losses, resentments, misunderstandings – that breaks into different patterns almost based on the individual. Does that ring true? When you hear about the conflict from outside, it seems straightforward: It’s two different groups, and they’re fighting each other. But when you get inside it, it becomes more complicated. It’s not an issue of who’s right and who’s wrong, because everyone is right and wrong. I really wanted to get at the nuances. Your three protagonists are incredibly resilient. What other qualities did you feel were important for them to demonstrate? These are young people who are grappling with their teenage angst or issues as any teenager would anywhere. But on top of that, they have to deal with this adult conflict, which is all around them. So, they have no choice. They have California Gov. Newsom signs bill prohibiting book bans California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that prohibits school boards from banning curriculum, educational materials and books amid an increase in texts concerning race and LGBTQ issues being pulled from schools nationwide. Newsom, a Democrat, signed Assembly Bill 1078 on Monday after the California state Assembly passed it 62-16 in late May and the state Senate 30-9 earlier this month. Under the bill, which went immediately into effect, schools that ban textbooks or instructional material required by state law to "accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society" will be subjected to a fine. If the school district fails to provide the textbooks, the state will also charge them for replacements. Newsom, in a recorded statement with Corey Jackson, a state assemblyman and the bill's author, described the piece of legislation as "long overdue." "Remarkable that we're living in a country right now in this banning binge, this cultural purge that we're experiencing all throughout America and now increasingly here in the state of California where we have school districts banning books, banning free speech, criminalizing librarians and teachers," he said. "We want to do more than just push back rhetorically against that, and that's what this legislation provides." The bill was proposed more on next page If you map it, they will come: The effort to chart the seafloor In 2019, an international team of scientists climbed aboard the ship Pressure Drop and headed to the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. Victor Vescovo, an American adventurer who funded the expedition, had set himself the goal of diving to the five deepest points on the planet’s ocean floor. It was an ambitious goal, not only because of the significant risks from storms and mechanical mishaps – as was demonstrated in June by the deep-sea implosion of OceanGate’s Titan submersible – but also because so little of the world’s seabed has actually been mapped. How could Vescovo hope to achieve success if the depths of more than three-quarters of the world’s ocean floor were still a mystery? He needed the expertise of Cassie Bongiovanni, a marine geologist with a newly minted master’s degree in ocean mapping. Laura Trethewey’s The Deepest Map: The HighStakes Race To Chart the World’s Oceans introduces this humaninterest story as a way to kick off a much larger discussion about humanity’s changing relationship with the oceans. Deep-sea explorations are opportunities not only to make discoveries, but also to raise warning flags. “The Deepest Map” is an enlightening and often surprising read, appealing not just to environmentalists or those interested in global politics, but also to travel and tech enthusiasts. As readers will discover, beating at its heart is the idea that preserving our planet starts with getting to know the oceans. Trethewey journeyed along the California coast, flew to Canada’s Hudson Bay, and went diving in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as interviewed researchers such as Bongiovanni. Trethewey highlights an initiative known as Seabed 2030, which aims to map the planet’s entire ocean floor by 2030. The project involves a consortium of companies, organizations, and universities. The United Nations declared 2021 to 2030 to be the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, bringing heightened awareness of seafloor mapping. In 2019, at the start of Pressure Drop’s voyage, Seabed 2030 had only mapped 15% of the ocean floor at a relatively reliable resolution. Due to an international debate over the borders of the Southern Ocean, Vescovo, the adventurer, made two dives in the area, in an effort to keep his achievement safe from doubt no matter how people defined the scope of that territory. Meanwhile, the percentage of mapped seascape is growing thanks to crowdsourcing, new deep-water drones, and a willingness on the part of individuals like Vescovo to share information. By 2022, the figure rose to 23.4%, adding an area roughly the size of Europe to the map. While ocean mapping can reveal submerged human history and empower small communities on remote, uncharted coastlines, Trethewey writes, “It’s just the first step in getting to know the ocean, and in a way, it raises more questions than it answers.” Early on, the author asks: “What happens if we do finish Seabed 2030? We know all too well from the seafaring colonizers of the past that a map is not a neutral tool.” Throughout her travels, Trethewey acknowledges the push and pull between competing forces: researchers seeking scientific breakthroughs; organizations trying to prioritize human, animal, and habitat well-being; and entities bent on plundering natural resources. This was especially clear to Trethewey at a meeting of the International Seabed Authority, where delegates from around the globe gathered in Jamaica to negotiate rules for future deep-sea mining in international waters. On the one hand, the fact that this U.N.-associated agency is striving to foster some semblance of structure is commendable. On the other, Trethewey notes that the seabed authority is rooted in a substantial conflict of interest: It’s a mining regulator dependent on mining royalties for its operations. Above all, the author illustrates that while gaining information is a solid goal in and of itself, it’s what humans choose to do with that information that matters most. It’s an intelligent distinction to make, delivered with a refreshing degree of levelheaded curiosity rather than anger or fear. “Inner soul-searching must accompany outward exploration,” she concludes, “or else we fall into a trap of ticking off new frontiers like an endless shopping list.” By Hannah Fish To explain Jerusalem’s conflicts, she wrote a young adult novel Journalist Laura Trethewey plunges into the intense race to map the oceans – and the potential for exploitation of one of the planet’s few remaining frontiers. A well-crafted novel can often portray the humanity of people swept up in conflict zones better than some news reports as Ruth Marks describes in her debut novel.
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 15 Truth, forgiveness, and exploration: 10 best seasonal reads to be resilient. I really wanted to explore this idea that a person can go against the grain – that you’re not necessarily going to follow what your friends are saying, and that you have to come to conclusions by yourself. What influences those decisions? How do we get to a point where young people are militarized? A few of Nour’s friends are, and a few of Tamar’s friends are – they’ve become very militant about issues. And both Nour and Tamar push back. I wanted to explore the idea that a young person could do that ... and not be drawn into the nationalistic arguments that are surrounding them each day. It’s very difficult to do. You’ve been in Israel for almost three decades. What’s one of the biggest changes you’ve witnessed during that time? I realized ... that the Oslo Accords were signed exactly 30 years ago, in 1993, and I came [to Jerusalem] a few years after that. There was this euphoria in the mid-to-late ’90s of peace, of a possible solution. Obviously, that hasn’t worked out. But I think a lot of people still think about that time, especially people my age and older. ... Today, the younger generation that was born during the second intifada, 15 to 20 years ago, they have no recollection of that time. They only grew up with division, with barriers and walls. ... For Israelis, they only see Palestinians carrying out acts of violence, and it’s the same on the other side: The Palestinians only see Israelis as soldiers. The second intifada really took Israelis toward the right, which is what we’re seeing today in the political situation. It also [made] young Palestinians [more extreme]. They’ve lost hope; they’ve given up any hope of having a country. Do you have hope? On one hand, I’m not hopeful. I don’t believe there will be a solution as it was envisaged 30 years ago. We’ve moved away from that, and so we need to think again. But I am hopeful because young people are resilient and can go against the grain. I was very impressed with the young women ... that I met with [for the book]. ... They were smart young women who [understand that] we’re all here living together. The Israelis are here, and the Palestinians are here. No one’s going anywhere. There needs to be a way. By Erin Douglass The Fraud by Zadie Smith Zadie Smith’s historical novel about the notorious Victorian-era case of an Australian butcher claiming to be a long-missing heir to an English fortune raises ever-relevant questions about identity, class, bias, and how we separate truth from falsehood. It’s another bravura performance from Smith. North Woods by Daniel Mason “North Woods” follows the story of a house in the woods of western Massachusetts and its occupants over four centuries. This dazzling novel intertwines the often tragically truncated lives of its characters and its wooded setting, all gorgeously captured in multiple literary styles, genres, and voices. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman The fourth installment of Richard Osman’s “Thursday Murder Club” investigates a local antiques dealer’s point-blank execution. When a death at the retirement home forces a pause, the friends grieve, pay tribute – and grow. It’s a poignant new chapter in the bestselling series. The Secret Hours by Mick Herron In Mick Herron’s superb thriller, a moribund investigation into the British Secret Intelligence Service lurches into gear when evidence of malfeasance lands in the agency’s lap. Bouncing between presentday London and mid-1990s Berlin, the expertly crafted tale probes political machinations, bureaucratic holdups, and the temptations of revenge. Come for the banter and Briticisms; stay for the conviction that it’s never too late to right past wrongs. Others Were Emeralds by Lang Leav In her winning adult fiction debut, Lang Leav follows four close friends – all children of immigrants to Australia – as they navigate high school pressures, tiffs, and love on the cusp of the 21st century. When a racist confrontation leads to tragedy, Ai, the Cambodian Chinese teen at the novel’s center, must balance the solace she finds in art with the need to mourn and forgive. Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop From Booker Prizewinning author David Diop comes a story-within-astory that builds with quiet force. While studying Senegal’s rich flora in 1749, young French botanist Michel Adanson meets a young Wolof woman. He falls head over heels, even as the turbulent alliances, rivalries, and dangers of the slave trade threaten them both. Wise to the ways truth shifts with its tellers, Diop has created a resonant novel. The Heart of It All by Christian Kiefer Christian Kiefer’s portrait of a small Ohio factory town facing the twin problems of economic decline and cultural divides is indispensable reading. Tempering realism with empathy, the novel does not shy away from its characters’ struggles, while still highlighting hopes for a better future. The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar While caring for his estranged mother in a Bombay hospital, Remy Wadia uncovers family secrets. Thrity Umrigar’s evocative novel explores the personal, political, and cultural reckonings of an immigrant son discovering compassion and forgiveness. The Book of (More) Delights by Ross Gay Ross Gay follows up his 2019 bestseller, “The Book of Delights,” with another collection of charming essays as quirky, engaging, and wryly humorous as the first. These reflections on what makes life meaningful offer a provocative episodic read. Here Begins the Dark Sea by Meredith F. Small Cartographers owe no small debt to Fra Mauro, a 15th-century Venetian monk who created a detailed map of the world based less on legends and hearsay, and more on the eyewitness accounts of travelers, sailors, and traders. It’s a fascinating, if overly long, exploration of the history of map-making. Parallel Lines continued from page 14 Banned books continued from page 14 PRINT & E-BOOKS NONFICTION PRINT & E-BOOKS FICTION 1. The Last Devil To Die (Osman) 2. Fourth Wing (Yarros) 3. Holly (King) 4. Tom Lake (Patchett) 5. Things We Left Behind (Score) 6. Lessons In Chemistry (Garmus) 7. Vince Flynn: Code Red (Mills) 8. The Housemaid (McFadden) 9. 23 1/2 Lies (Patterson) 10. The Covenant of Water (Verghese) 1. The Democrat Party Hates America (Levin) 2. Elon Musk (Isaacson) 3. Astor (Cooper/Howe) 4. Killers of the Flower Moon (Grann) 5. Counting the Cost (Duggar/Dillard/Borlase) 6. Outlive (Attia/Gifford) 7. Social Justice Fallacies (Sowell) 8. Black AF History (Harriot) 9. The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk) 10. The Wager (Grann) NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS amid an increase in book bans across the country. According to a Sept. 21 report by PEN America, a U.S. nonprofit that defends free speech, the number of public school book bans increased 33% during the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous school calendar. In total, PEN recorded 3,362 instances of books banned, with more than 40% of all books banned in Florida school districts, followed by Texas, Missouri, Utah and Pennsylvania. "Overwhelmingly, book bans target books on race or racism or featuring characters of color, as well as books with LGBTQ+ characters," it said. "And this year, banned books also include books on physical abuse, health and well-being, and themes of grief and death. Notably, most instances of book bans affect young adult books, middle grade books, chapter books or picture books -- books specifically written and selected for younger audiences." Newsom signed the bill after Illinois became the first U.S. state to prohibit the banning of books in June though that law won't take effect until Jan. 1. By Daryl Coote
16 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Symptoms of mild COVID-19 infection have shifted this season, and now are more akin to those of allergies and the common cold, doctors say. Many people with COVID-19 now are presenting with upper respiratory symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes and a sore throat, said Dr. Teresa Lovins, an independent family physician in Columbus, Ind. "A couple of patients told me 'this seems like my allergies, but my allergy med isn't working. And then I start feeling really, really tired and I just can't get my energy up and about,'" Lovins recounted. "And I'm like, 'yeah, we ought to test you for COVID,' and more times than not it's positive." Fatigue also continues to plague COVID patients, according to Lovins and Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "Fatigue for 24, 48 even 72 hours appears to be really quite common," Schaffner said. "People just feel puny, as we say here in the South. They don't all take to their bed, but there's a fair amount of comment about people taking naps just because they feel wiped out." Other well-established COVID-19 symptoms -- deep cough, a loss of taste or smell, headache, fever -- have become much less common or pronounced, Lovins and Schaffner said. "What I'm hearing from my clinical colleagues, there is indeed a great deal of upper respiratory symptoms. I hear sore throat mentioned very, very prominently," Schaffner said. "Also, from many quarters, I hear that the well-publicized loss of taste and smell is less frequent than it was in the early months of the outbreak. It's not really as distinctive nor as common as it used to be." Infectious disease experts expected this shift in mild illness, given that "virtually everyone has either experienced COVID infection or vaccination or both," Schaffner said. "We all have a certain level of immunity, and when we encounter the virus, we're better prepared to fend it off, and that may actually alter the clinical presentation," he continued. People also have benefited from mutation trends in COVID, which have tended to favor the Omicron strain and its descendants, Schaffner said. "Those viruses appear to be somewhat less severe in their presentations," he pointed out. But Lovins and Schaffner stressed that people should not take COVID lightly, even if milder infections have become more like the common cold. Nationwide, more than 20,500 hospitalizations for severe COVID-19 happened the first week in September, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data tracker. That constitutes a nearly 8% increase in hospitalizations. "I know in our community our hospitalizations have picked up again," said Lovins, a board member for the American Academy of Family Physicians. "We're seeing not anywhere near what we saw even last fall, but the numbers are up over what they've been since May. They kind of went way down, to no patients with COVID in the hospital during the summer, to now back up again." COVID-19 remains particularly dangerous for people with existing health problems: older people, those with chronic conditions, the immunecompromised. "Those folks all, when they become infected, still are more likely to get more serious disease, and that results in an increase in hospitalizations," Schaffner said. But he added that there's a reason the CDC recently recommended the new COVID booster for everyone, not just those at high risk. "This emphasis on the high-risk population is true," Schaffner said. "However, we still see occasional young, healthy people who get hit with COVID, who wind up in the emergency room and have to be admitted to the hospital. So just because you're completely healthy and young, robust and physically fit does not mean that you can throw off a COVID infection or treat it as trivial. This virus still compels our respect." The newest COVID booster specifically targets members of the Omicron XBB variant family, Lovins said. The most common COVID variant, EG.5, belongs to that family. It currently accounts for 1 in 4 COVID infections in the United States, the CDC says. So does the second most common variant, FL.1.5.1, which accounts for 14% of COVID infections. "The vaccine that's out, that variant they planned for was an XBB," Lovins said. "So we've definitely got coverage with this vaccine for what's out there right now." Lovins also urged people to get the appropriate vaccinations for the flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). "I have a feeling that we're probably going to see the COVID vaccine become very similar to the flu vaccine, something that will be available every year in the fall," Lovins said. By Dennis Thompson COVID-19 symptoms now similar to allergies or flu Many people with COVID-19 now are presenting with upper respiratory symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes and a sore throat health COVID-19 linked to more sepsis cases than previously thought The life-threatening infection sepsis was more common than once thought among COVID-19 patients early in the pandemic. Massachusetts researchers linked SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to about 1 in 6 sepsis cases at five Boston hospitals during the pandemic's first 2-1/2 years. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital said their findings suggest healthcare workers should rethink how they treat sepsis. The use of electronic health data also provides a framework for future sepsis surveillance, they said. "Most people, including medical professionals, equate sepsis with bacterial infections," said lead author Dr. Claire Shappell, a specialist in pulmonology and critical care medicine. "This is reflected in treatment guidelines and quality measures that require immediate antibiotics for patients with suspected sepsis." But "viral infections, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, can trigger the same dysregulated immune response that leads to organ dysfunction as in bacterial sepsis," Shappell added in a hospital news release. For the study, her team used health records from five Mass General Brigham hospitals to track the rate of COVID-associated sepsis. Their criteria included testing positive for COVID19 and clinical signs of organ dysfunction. "Previous efforts to quantify the burden of SARSCoV-2-associated sepsis have been limited by inconsistent definitions and underrecognition of viral sepsis," said senior author Dr. Chanu Rhee, an associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's. "Our prior research has shown that [electronic health record-based] surveillance can provide more accurate estimates of sepsis incidence and outcomes compared to administrative datasets, but this method had not previously been applied specifically for sepsis associated with SARS-CoV-2 or other viruses," Rhee said in the release. Using data for March 2020 through November 2022, the researchers found more than 430,000 hospitalizations among more than 260,000 people. About 5.4% of hospitalizations were due to COVID-19 infections. Among those patients, 28.2% had COVID-associated sepsis. The death rate for patients with COVID-19 and sepsis was initially high -- about 33% -- in the pandemic's first three months, the study showed. Over time, that declined and was similar to the death rate for bacterial sepsis, which is about 14.5%. The use of electronic health data provides a framework for future research into sepsis associated with other viruses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), researchers said. They now aim to apply this method to larger, nationally representative datasets. "We also hope our findings highlight that sepsis is not a 'one-size-fits-all' entity, but one that requires clinicians to tailor their diagnosis and treatment strategy to each patient's syndrome and probable pathogen," Shappell said. By Susan Kreimer
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have a loved one who was referred for hospice care. I’m not sure what this means. Can you share more about what hospice care is and how it may help my family member? ANSWER: Hospice care might be an option for people who are nearing the end of life due to a terminal illness and have exhausted all other treatment options. Unlike other medical care, the focus of hospice care is not to cure the underlying disease. The goal is to support the highest quality of life possible for whatever time remains. Enrolling in hospice care early can help your loved one live better. Hospice care is provided by a team of health care professionals who aim to maximize comfort for a person by reducing pain and addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. To help families, hospice care also provides counseling, respite care and other support, including bereavement services. Who is eligible for hospice care? Hospice services are typically for a person who is expected to have six months or less to live. Many people who receive hospice care have cancer, but hospice care is available for patients with other serious or advanced medical conditions, such as heart disease, dementia, kidney failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. What is the benefit of hospice care? Hospice care decreases the burden on family, decreases the family's likelihood of having a complicated grief and prepares family members for their loved one's death. Additionally, since many family members often serve as the primary caregiver for their loved one, hospice care can offer a break to caregivers by allowing a patient to be cared for at a facility for a period of time. This is known as respite care. Who is involved in hospice care? While many people opt to receive hospice care at home, it also can be available at hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and dedicated hospice facilities. Typically, hospice staff will make regular visits to your home or other setting. Hospice staff are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A hospice care team typically includes: Doctors. A primary care doctor and a hospice doctor or medical director will oversee care. Each patient can choose whether to have their existing primary care doctor or a hospice specialist as their main physician. Nurses. Nurses are an integral part of the care team and usually are responsible for the coordination of the hospice care team. Home health aides. Home health aides can provide extra support with routine care, such as dressing, bathing and eating. Spiritual counselors. Chaplains, priests, lay ministers or other spiritual counselors can provide spiritual care and guidance for the entire family. Social workers. Social workers provide counseling and support. They also can provide referrals to other support systems. Pharmacists. Pharmacists provide medication oversight and suggestions regarding the most effective ways to relieve symptoms. Volunteers. Trained volunteers offer a variety of services, including providing company or respite for caregivers, and helping with transportation or other practical needs. Other professionals. Speech, physical and occupational therapists can provide therapy, if needed. B e r e a v e m e n t counselors. Trained bereavement counselors offer support and guidance after the death of a loved one in hospice Selecting a hospice program Depending upon where you live, there may be several hospice programs available. Speak with your care team, including doctors, nurses and social workers, about their experiences with different hospice programs. Also, ask friends and your local or state office on aging. Consider the following questions when evaluating a hospice program: • Is the hospice program Medicare-certified? Is the program reviewed and licensed by the state or certified in some other way? Is the program accredited by The Joint Commission? • Who makes up the hospice care team, and how are they trained or screened? Is the hospice medical director boardcertified in hospice and palliative care medicine? • Is the hospice program nonprofit or for profit? • What services are offered to a person who is terminally ill? How are pain and other symptoms managed? • Does the hospice program have a dedicated pharmacist to help adjust medications? • Is residential hospice available? • How are hospice care services provided afterhours? • How long does it take to get accepted into the hospice care program? • What services are offered to the family? Are respite services available for caregivers? Are bereavement services available? Remember, hospice stresses care over cure. The goal is to provide comfort during the final months and days of life. — Maisha Robinson, M.D., Neurology, and Molly Kilpatrick, M.D., Palliative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Floridaa Mayo Clinic How can hospice care provide comfort to those with terminal illnesses? Ginger supplements may help those with certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, control inflammation. New research has added evidence to support the impact of ginger on white blood cell function, particularly a type of cell called a neutrophil. The researchers were particularly interested in neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, also called NETosis, and its role in controlling inflammation. When healthy people take ginger, the study found, their neutrophils are more resistant to NETosis. NETs are microscopic spider web-like structures. They propel inflammation and clotting, which contribute to many autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. "There are a lot of diseases where neutrophils are abnormally overactive," senior co-author Dr. Kristen Demoruelle, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said in a university news release. "We found that ginger can help to restrain NETosis, and this is important because it is a natural supplement that may be helpful to treat inflammation and symptoms for people with several different autoimmune diseases." A clinical trial with healthy volunteers showed that a week of daily intake of 20 mg of gingerols boosted a chemical inside the neutrophil called cAMP. These high levels of cAMP then inhibited NETosis' response to the disease. "Our research, for the first time, provides evidence for the biological mechanism that underlies ginger's apparent anti-inflammatory properties in people," said senior co-author Dr. Jason Knight, an associate professor in the division of rheumatology at the University of Michigan. The researchers said they hope that this evidence, including how ginger impacts neutrophils, will encourage health care providers and patients to discuss whether taking ginger supplements could be beneficial as part of their treatment plan. "There are not a lot of natural supplements, or prescription medications for that matter, that are known to fight overactive neutrophils," Knight said. "We, therefore, think ginger may have a real ability to complement treatment programs that are already underway. The goal is to be more strategic and personalized in terms of helping to relieve people's symptoms." The research team hopes to do clinical trials in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and COVID-19. By Cara Murez Ginger may help people with autoimmune diseases control inflammation New research has added evidence to support the impact of ginger on white blood cell function, particularly a type of cell called a neutrophil. health FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 17
18 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Neither the NFL, nor Travis Kelce for that matter, fully grasp what’s just been unleashed. But a future female face as an owner of an NFL franchise, or as a head coach, or a general manager, is likely super busy right now. And she’s not just making friendship bracelets. Not only is this young lady balancing middle school homework with her slate of regular activities, she’s hyperfocused on learning every nuance of professional football. This is the type of deep-dive learning that’s fueled with a frenetic passion unique to young hearts. What are they studying? Well, everything: players, rules, statistics, my hometown team (the Kansas City Chiefs), plus one particular player. Why? What? This is because mega pop star Taylor Swift is rumored to be dating the Chief’s Superbowl champion tight end, Travis Kelce. The budding romance – they’re just “hanging out,” according to publicists – turned up a notch when Swift unexpectedly showed up at a Chiefs home game. Not only did she appear in Kansas City at Arrowhead stadium, she sat alongside Kelce’s mother in a suite, cheering and hollering as the Chiefs steamrolled the Chicago Bears. Post game, the couple drove away, Kelce at the wheel of his 1970 Chevy Chevelle convertible, giving a super cool and a – yes – very scripted vibe. Much fun has been made of this possible dating matchup. After all, it could purely be a manufactured setup. Among the best headlines of late was this one from NBC News: “Kansas City is in love – Even if Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce aren’t.” The article detailed how retailers are cashing in on the hoopla, with all types of merchandise. Interest in Kelce’s jersey alone (number 87) skyrocketed, up 400% according to the article, which cited NFLShop.com and other venues. Rest assured, those new sales are not from established fans of the Chiefs, who have long been enthralled by Kelce’s many touchdowns, but also by the magnificent talents of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who happens to be Kelce’s close buddy. These sales are from newbie fans, and these people, many of whom are fervently cheering for the romance, matter. Or they increasingly will if the pop star/football star duo become a full fledged couple that some longevity. See, Taylor Swift is adored by her fan base, to say the least. They’re known as “Swifties” with a fervor that’s hard for adults to wrap their heads around. For the most part, they are young girls and women who have a particularly obsessive drive to swarm around whatever Taylor likes. She likes a particular number; so do they. A color; so do they. A fashion look; they do too. And this is not an adoration to poke fun at. Because to do so undercuts how much good it can What Taylor Swift can do for football with Mary Sanchez Readers can reach Mary Sanchez at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @msanchezcolumn. LONDON – To read and watch the reaction of people who have hated Fox News from its creation, one might think it resembles dancing on someone’s grave, but at 92, Rupert Murdoch remains very much alive and his influence, not only on Fox, but in much of journalism, will likely continue for some time. It may be coincidental, or not, that the announcement of Murdoch’s stepping down as chairman of Fox and News Corp. coincides with the release this week of Michael Wolff’s book “The Fall: The End of the Murdoch Empire,” which predicts the end of the cable network. Wolff and others may wish it so, but I am doubtful. Again, critics have been predicting and hoping for the network’s demise since it was launched in 1996. Why the antipathy toward a network that should be considered part of the diversity of ideas many claim to endorse? The answer comes from Murdoch’s note last Thursday to his employees: “Self-serving bureaucracies are seeking to silence those who would question their provenance and purpose. Elites have open contempt for those who are not members of their rarefied class. Most of the media is in cahoots with those elites, peddling political narratives rather than pursuing the truth.” If you didn’t attend the same schools as these elites, if your material doesn’t appear in elite newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post, you are considered illegitimate and trespassers on their territory. They tolerate those breaking our laws to cross our southern border, but have no tolerance from especially those with a conservative worldview who seek to “invade” their spaces. I spent 19 years as a Fox News Channel contributor and believe there would likely be no Fox News Channel, or talk radio, were it not for the monopoly the left has enjoyed for years in deciding what is news and what isn’t and slanting their reporting to fit their mostly liberal political positions. If the broadcast news divisions had hired some openly conservative reporters and producers, Fox might never have happened. Ideology and elitism have overcome sound business decisions. Opinion polls consistently show most Americans no longer trust the media. Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes, the man he hired to create the network, saw a market that felt ignored and stereotyped when attention was paid. Like any good business – and journalism is a business – they set out to reach that market. Ratings, profits and viewer loyalty quickly followed. Fox continues to dominate cable news and on occasion has beaten broadcast network ratings. Rather than learn from Fox’s success, the elites continue to deride and put it down, deepening the loyalty of people who see the network as defenders and proclaimers of their beliefs. One of the canards hurled at Fox for years has been that it tells people what to think. In fact, it reflects beliefs conservatives already hold. Will things change now that Murdoch’s son, Lachlan, has been passed the torch? It’s hard to predict, but he inherits a goose that is laying ratings golden eggs and while he may understandably want to put his own imprint on the network, caution is advised. Other conservative networks, like Newsmax, are waiting to jump should Fox falter. Rupert Murdoch believes in old school journalism. He bought and saved The Wall Street Journal and the same might be said of The Times of London, which he also purchased. He deserves the gratitude of conservatives. He ought to have the gratitude of everyone in journalism. That he doesn’t get it proves his point about elites and “selfserving bureaucracies.” Rupert Murdoch: Right from the start with Cal Thomas Readers may email Cal Thomas at [email protected]. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America" my turn continues on next page Donna Kelce, left, and Taylor Swift are seen during the first half of a game between the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp and co-chairman of 21st Century Fox, arrives at the Sun Valley Resort of the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, July 10, 2018, in Sun Valley, Idaho.
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 19 I raised some terrifying "what ifs" in last issue’s column that even seven or eight years ago were deemed unthinkable. But that field is so fertile and ripe, that a second or even third column would not exhaust the range of these now possible, or at least plausible, scenarios. A convicted felon being elected president from jail was one. But suppose the trials for Donald Trump were deferred until after the 2024 election simply because of the massive scheduling problems. A defendant running for president might also be argued as a reason for delay. It is 2025 and Trump is in the White House. Suppose the president had to stand trial while in office and was found guilty in the Georgia case on a conspiracy charge to change the outcome of the 2020 election and sentenced to prison. The president has no pardon authority as this is not a federal case. Trump could refuse to comply with the Georgia law. Georgia has no way to compel compliance or to arrest the president. Further, suppose this case made its way to the Supreme Court, which validated the conviction and sentence for imprisonment. The Supreme Court has no army or police force. The president does. Imagine the crisis that would ensue if the president repeatedly refused to comply with the law. Would the cabinet or vice president have the courage to invoke the 25th Amendment on the grounds that the president was incapacitated by incarceration? And suppose the president still refused to stand down? If someone wrote a novel or a screenplay based on this plot, would it ever had a chance of being published or made into a movie? Probably not. Yet, here is where we are. A more immediate possibility is not just a government shutdown that conceivably could have a lengthy duration. The House is beginning an impeachment inquiry to determine if President Joe Biden committed any "high crimes and misdemeanors." And House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is fighting to save his job. Suppose the motion to vacate the speaker, i.e., calling for a vote of no confidence, is made? Last time, it took 15 ballots to elect McCarthy speaker. It is not impossible that the House could take longer to choose its speaker, leading to gridlock and possibly extending any government shutdown for weeks or more. And if it were not McCarthy, what Republican might be acceptable as speaker? McCarthy could be forced to do the unthinkable. He may have to turn to Democrats for enough votes to keep the chair. But at what cost and what concessions would McCarthy have to make to ensure continued Democratic support? And suppose McCarthy then went back on his word? The irony is that a M A G A - s u p p o r t i n g Republican would be forced to abandon his ideological convictions. This means the Democrats would win de facto control of the House and, along with the Senate, both branches of government. Think of how a Biden White House could exploit this change of fortunes and what this would do to Trump's chances in 2024 if he won the nomination? The fundamental question is how desperate is McCarthy to retain the speakership. And what would be the long-term ramifications? No doubt Trump and other MAGA Republicans would excommunicate him. Unthinkable? Maybe not. Given how China has become public foreign enemy number one, surely to a supermajority in Congress and to many Americans, suppose Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pulled off a Richard Nixon-Mao Zedong rapprochement? The Malta meeting last weekend between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China's foreign minister Wang Yi could have been the precursor, with Wang tentatively scheduled to visit Washington in the next weeks or months. In his trip to India's G20 meeting and then to Vietnam, Biden went out of his way to explain that the United States is not out "to contain China"; that America is "not looking to hurt China"; and that "we are all better off if China does well." These were unmissable signals that Biden is seeking to ease tensions and reduce the friction with China on the entirely sensible and reasonable grounds that any conflict is in no one's interests. Unlike Nixon, a devoted anti-communist who could pull this off, aided by the need to counterbalance the Soviet Union then, Biden carries no such political bulletproof vest. He will face the "slings and arrows" from Republican and Democratic critics. Yet, this volte face may no longer be unthinkable. And it may be imperative. Thinking the unthinkable: What if Donald Trump stood trial in office? with Harlan Ullman my turn Dr Harlan Ullman is senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and the upcoming book "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Harlan Ullman joins Happenings Q&A on Thu., Oct. 5th at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP Supporters of former President Donald Trump hold flags outside the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on August 24 before Trump surrendered on criminal charges generate. Recently, Swift put a call out for 18-year-olds to register to vote. She made the plea on her Instagram account and suggested the Vote.org site. Within an hour, the site’s traffic was up by 1,000 percent. And 24 hours later, there were 38,000 new registered voters, including a 72% spike in the number of 18-yearolds over the prior year. That’s a level of influence that even people who spend their entire lives influencing, like the Kardashians, can’t come close to matching. And now, Swift is into football. Apparently. At least until the worldwide launch of the movie version of her Eras tour in mid October. Women have long been fans of football. But we haven’t always received respect for it. Yes, there have been all sorts of strategies to draw their interest – from Tshirts that fit different body types to targeted commercials during televised games. And yet, there’s long been a push to keep us as cheerleaders on the sidelines, as model-like personalities for after-game interviews, or as wives and dates of the true (ahem… male) fans. It’s offensive and a loss for what women and girls could offer the sport. The NFL would look and function differently if something akin to the Swift effect had occurred earlier. Football wouldn’t have dawdled so long to correct concussion protocols, literally toying with the lives of its players. Female referees would be a frequent sight on the field. And no, they wouldn’t be more lenient by throwing more penalty flags. They’d know the game as well as any top tier male ref. The ranks of women in front offices would be larger and reach higher, and not just in marketing or in other roles where women have been allowed to showcase their talent. All of this could still come to pass… that is if a certain pop star keeps dating a certain football star and the legions that follow her (not necessarily him) decide to engage with the game. And once engaged, some will stick, even if that initiating relationship fizzles. Kelce teams up with his brother Jason (who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles) to co-host the podcast New Heights. A recent episode featured the brothers discussing call-in questions from Swifties. Many were trying to understand how football works, including its seemingly arcane rules (at least for the uninitiated). They wanted to know about field goals vs. touchdowns and why it takes four downs to gain 10 yards, that type of thing. It’s all lighthearted now. But believe me, the star duo will likely be shocked at how quickly Swift’s loyal fans will not only master the rules, but begin to pick apart the game while offering suggestions for how they’d give it a new spin. The Chiefs next game is against the Jets. Rumor has it that Swift will be in attendance. Sanchez continued from page 18
20 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 After more than three years of COVID-related reprieves, October 1 ushers in the resumption of federal student loan repayments. (Cue the groans from the millions who are impacted) For those who have paid off student loans a long time ago, it may be hard to conjure up empathy, but please try to hold back on your judgment, so we can encourage tens of millions of borrowers to get back on track. Where should I start? Although most borrowers have been preparing for this moment, there are still those who need to act right now. If you haven’t heard from your loan servicer, get in touch with them right now to confirm your personal information, loan amounts, interest rates and payment plans. Make sure that you have auto-debit enrollment to avoid missed payments and penalties. What if I can’t afford payments? Head to the Federal Student Aid website (studentaid.gov) and use the loan simulator. This easy-touse tool allows you to calculate student loan payments and choose the repayment plan that best meets your needs. The repayment options include Income-Driven Repayment plans (IDR), the newest of which is called the “SAVE” (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan. What’s the SAVE plan? SAVE is a modification of the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans already available. Like its predecessors, SAVE helps borrowers with direct federal student loans that are in good standing, who are having financial difficulties. Monthly payments for SAVE are based on the borrower’s monthly income and the size of the borrower’s family, a valuable feature for those who have had kids during the past few years. SAVE also treats interest differently. If your regular payment isn’t enough to cover the interest owed at that time, the unpaid interest is automatically erased. Additionally, single borrowers who earn less than $15 per hour will not have to make ANY payments. If you previously enrolled in the REPAYE IDR plan, you will be automatically enrolled in the SAVE plan. Can I qualify for loan forgiveness under SAVE? Yes! Under SAVE, borrowers with original principal balances of $12,000 or less will receive forgiveness of any remaining balance after making 10 years of payments, with the maximum repayment period before forgiveness rising by one year for every additional $1,000 borrowed. If you work for a government or not-for-profit organization, you can still enroll in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. What if my budget is tight or I miss a payment? Most borrowers have been combing through their budgets to free up even a few more dollars to direct towards their payments. If you are really tight, you may want to reduce your retirement (or other savings) contributions, to alleviate the cash flow burden. If possible, try to maintain any match that employers provide. If you do miss a payment, don’t freak out There will be a 12-month reprieve (aka a “temporary on-ramp”), during which if you miss a payment, the Department of Education will not report anything to credit agencies, preventing a hit to delinquent borrowers’ credit scores. The DOE will also not consider these loans delinquent, nor put them into default, or refer them to debt collection agencies. Importantly, interest will also continue to accrue on the missed payments. Loan relief pitches I’ve been inundated with loan relief pitches — are they worth it? Probably not. The Federal Trade Commission recently issued a warning, reminding borrowers that they don’t have to pay for help managing their student loans. One BIG RED FLAG: if someone tries to charge you up front, before they’ve done anything. Another: the promise of QUICK loan forgiveness, which is a pipe dream! If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Student loan repayment begins anew with Jill Schlesinger jill on money Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBS News business analyst. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, she welcomes comments and questions at [email protected]. Check her website at www.jillonmoney.com Student loan borrowers demand President Biden use "Plan B" to cancel student debt immediately, at a rally outside of the Supreme Court, on June 30, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Two notable events collided to paint a picture of the U.S. economy that remains in a post-pandemic transition: the UAW launched “targeted strikes” against GM, Ford and Stellantis, just days before the Federal Reserve convened a two-day policy meeting. In both instances, there are many questions that cloud decision-making for those involved. The now-expired 2019 UAW contract occurred at a time when the U.S. economy, as measured by GDP, grew by 2.3 percent and inflation clocked in at the same pace. The 14 years leading up to the 2019 contract were highlighted by “volatility and disruption,” according to Ford. The Great Recession had taken a big bite out of the industry, with GM and Chrysler (now Stellantis) declaring bankruptcy and all three of the U.S. giants receiving a massive bailout from the government. The Big 3 took a while to get back on track, but by 2015, “the industry had fully recovered and achieved a new record of annual sales.” Still, the shadow of the Great Recession loomed large when the 2015 and the 2019 contracts were signed. Neither side could have imagined what the subsequent four years would do to the world. COVID-19 upended our lives and shook up the global economy in ways that were at times horrible and then for the auto industry, better than imagined. The Big 3 pocketed huge profits, as union members were forced to grapple with pay that was unable to keep pace with inflation. As new contract negotiations began this year, both sides understood that pay would have to rise substantially, at least by the 20% increase in the Consumer Price Index since 2019. But what is the right amount if the Fed is fighting to push down inflation? Should union members be buoyed by the strength of the overall labor market, or should they be concerned that job growth is moderating? From the perspective of the automakers, how should they factor in the union desire for a shorter workweek, when technology is upending the assessment of their labor force needs? The Federal Reserve finds itself asking similar questions about the future. Chief among those queries: Is the 22-year high in the Fed Funds rate (5.25 to 5.5%) enough to put the postCOVID inflation spike to rest? The answer for the September meeting was unclear, which is why the central bank decided to stand down on any further rate increases. In fact, one big factor contributing to the pause was the moderation of the labor market. Economists say that the combination of a deceleration of job growth, along with voluntary job quits returning to prepandemic levels, means that wage growth should start to ease. I know what you are thinking: Wait — why is it good news that wages are slowing down? As employees earn more, they are able to spend money more readily, which can keep prices high. Conversely, as workers’ pay moderates, prices should weaken. The key to worker satisfaction is for wages to rise by enough to outstrip price increases, which is why the government looks to a metric called “real median household income,” the inflation-adjusted amount of money the median household earns annually. According to a recently released Census Bureau annual scorecard, even though people earned a lot of money in 2022, inflation took its toll. Real median household income decreased by 2.3% from the 2021. The hope among Fed officials is that 2023 is the year that inflation slows down more than wage growth, in which case, Fed officials may not think that they need to raise interest rates further…and the UAW and the Big 3 can come to a deal that satisfies both sides. UAW steps up, Fed stands down with Jill Schlesinger United Auto Workers members and supporters rally at the Stellantis North America headquarters on Sept. 20, 2023, in Auburn Hills, Michigan
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 21 Dear Cathy, I suppose we can never know what our pets are thinking or are aware of since they process information differently. I do know that my dogs have always let me know what they wanted. Just like they “ask” for food, pets and a walk, they have always let me know when they have had enough pain and discomfort and want me to do something about it. I don’t know that they are aware that they are dying, only that they want “out.” My German shepherd died peacefully on her own after I gave her permission to leave; all others I had gently euthanized after they let me know it was time. My cats let me know by hiding in unusual places. My grandmother always told me that dogs come home to die, and cats go away. That seems true to me. — Holly, Tucson, Arizona Dear Holly, Animals have their ways of communicating with us that shows us they experience a rich emotional life. But in terms of how they think, I want to pivot for a moment, and introduce you to Dr. Temple Grandin, a worldrenowned spokesperson for autism and humane livestock handling. As a person with autism, she claims to be a visual learner, very often “thinking” in pictures. In her writing, she says animals may think visually as well. As sensory creatures, they use sight, sound, and smell to process information. One example is when a dog is afraid of men in hats. It’s reasonable to assume the dog has had a frightful experience with a man in a hat and, through visual remembrance, shows the same fear and anxiety whenever he sees any man in a hat. As for scent, dogs possess about 300 million olfactory receptors compared to our six million, which means they will process information and experience things in ways we can’t even begin to understand. While pets have different ways of experiencing the world, what impresses me most is their ability to communicate with people. They don’t speak our language, but they know how to “speak” to us to get the things they want and need. But sometimes their communications are subtle, and it takes an intuitive and deeply bonded pet parent, like yourself Holly, to understand what a dog or cat is trying to communicate, especially when they are at the end of their life. If this topic intrigues you as much as it does me, check out some of Dr. Grandin’s books on the subject, "Animals in Translation" and "Animals make us Human." I think you will appreciate her thoughts on the subject and learn even more about animals in the process. Dear Cathy, Several weeks ago, my husband and I went to a store specializing in pet supplies. Backed by a humane society, the store offers cat adoptions. Paperwork indicated this kitty had been vet-checked and received all shots, including a rabies vaccination and a microchip. However, we noticed this 9- lb, four-year-old kitty was continually shaking her head. The employee said it had not been seen but would check her ears, and advised us, they looked "fine." We adopted this precious, beautiful kitty and brought her home. The next day, she continued shaking her head, then sneezing profusely and throwing a thick, green discharge from her nose each time. A vet gave us prescriptions for an ear infection, an eye infection, and an oral antibiotic. Two weeks later, she was given an antibiotic shot. Another two weeks has passed. The shaking head, sneezing and discharge continue. We love her, so returning her is not an option. Any idea what's going on? — Sharon, Appleton, Wisconsin Dear Sharon, Thank you for not returning her. She needs your help to get healthy again. I am assuming the adoption was done through the humane society, so call them to discuss her condition. Some shelters offer 30 days of free pet health insurance upon adoption, so that the adopter can take care of any illnesses that occur after the adoption. Also, ask them if the shelter (or pet store) has had any upper respiratory infections or FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) going around their shelter. If yes, this is information you need to take back to the vet during another visit. There can be several reasons why a cat may be shaking her head, ranging from ear mites, ear infections, allergies, respiratory infections, and oral problems to a hematoma in the ear. In worst case scenarios, it could be neurological. But since there was sneezing and discharge, it sounds more like an unresolved upper respiratory infection that just needs more treatment. Pet World with Cathy Rosenthal How pets might 'think' and experience their world As well as being a recuring guest on Happenings Q&A, Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to [email protected]. Cat folded into sofa bed wins Hambone Award for unusual insurance claim Nationwide pet insurance announced a New York cat who ended up folded up in a sofa bed was awarded the Hambone Award for the most unusual pet insurance claim of the year. Nationwide said the 15th annual Hambone Award, named in honor of a dog who ate an entire ham while trapped in a refrigerator, was awarded to a cat named Giles. Giles' owners, Reid and Kaitlyn, said the cat was under the sofa bed when Reid's stepmother folded it back into the couch. Giles, like the rest of the finalists for the award, fully recovered from his injuries. "Giles' predicament shows just how easily an ordinary situation can become precarious for a pet," Jules Benson, vice president of pet health and chief veterinary officer for Nationwide, said in a news release. "We're so glad that the quick actions of Giles' family and their veterinary care team set him up for a speedy recovery." Giles and his owners were presented with the Hambone Award trophy, a gift card and a donation to be made in the feline's name to an approved pet-related charity of the family's choice. Bear steals picnic food with mother and son sitting inches away A bear crashed a picnic in Mexico and climbed up to feast on the meal while a mother and her son sat on the bench inches away. The video, posted to TikTok by Silvia Macias, shows the bear eating food from the table at Chipinque, a park in San Pedro Garza Garcias, while Macias and her son, Santiago, are seated on the bench. Macias holds Santiago into her shoulder and covers his eyes to keep him calm. The mother explained Santiago, 15, has Down syndrome and is afraid of animals, even those less dangerous than bears. The bear eventually wandered away after eating its fill. Macias credited her experiences as a midwife and a yoga instructor for her ability to keep her cool with the bear only inches away. Tortoise escapes from vet clinic for third time Residents of a Pennsylvania town are being asked to keep a lookout for a tortoise who escaped his home at a veterinary clinic for the third time. The Mahoning Valley Animal Hospital in Leighton said in a Facebook post that Tank, a tortoise belonging to veterinarian Mike Nelson, escaped from his outdoor pen outside the clinic. "I think he caught wind that Dr. Mike was going to bring him in for the season, and he just decided he was going to high-tail it and go on an adventure," Megan Mcfarland a veterinarian technician at the animal hospital, told WNEP-TV. "We walked out to the yard; all of us looked around the perimeter just to make sure [he wasn't] hiding somewhere that Dr. Mike just didn't see, and Dr. Mike noticed there was a hole in the fence that the little sucker plowed through," McFarland said. She said Tank is known for his escapes. "I call him Houdini. This is probably the third time he's gotten loose. We found him the past two times, obviously relatively close. The last time he was missing for maybe about two weeks," she said.. Body camera records officer's foot chase with trespassing chicken An Arkansas police officer's body camera was recording when he ended up in a foot pursuit with a chicken accused of trespassing. Jonesboro Police Department Officer Nathan Swindle responded to the home of Tia Dulaney, who reported a chicken was on her front porch and refusing to leave. Swindle arrived on the scene and ended up chasing the chicken through the apartment building's parking lot for more than four minutes. "I was trying to shoo it off a little bit and it took off and so I was like, 'Man, I gotta catch it,' and so I immediately started running," Swindle told KAIT-TV. The Jonesboro Police Department shared photos from the chase to Facebook. A body camera video of the pursuit was also released.
22 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 I think we're still learning how important adding fruits and vegetables can be to our health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate, based on the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommends filling half our plate -- every time we eat -- with fruits and vegetables. Plant-based diets are currently recommended for cancer prevention and for heart-healthy diets, as are Mediterranean and DASH diets. That's because fruits and vegetables are nutritional powerhouses, rich in nutrients and fiber that support good health. In a recent study in the July issue of the journal BMI, European researchers found that as little as onethird of a cup more fruits or vegetables daily could reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 25%. The study compared 10,000 adults with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes to 14,000 diabetes-free adults and found a 25% lower risk of developing the disease with every 66 extra grams (onethird of a cup) of fruits and vegetables eaten each day. Researchers found it was the actual fruits and vegetables rather than supplements that were effective in disease prevention. Think about how you can add a few more fruits and vegetables each day -- berries on your cereal, a banana on your oatmeal, a veggie tray with hummus, or maybe an apple with peanut butter. Rather than reaching for a cookie, try snacking on a handful of grapes or an orange. Don't be afraid of the sugar in fruits. Because it's natural sugar rather than added sugar, our body processes it differently due to the fiber and other nutrients in the fruit. The bottom line is daily fruits and vegetables -- even small amounts -- can be a step toward a healthier life. Q and A Q: Are smoothies nutritious? A: They can be, but they can also be fairly high in calories (250-350 calories per serving). Smoothies are a great meal replacement, but if you're trying to lose weight, you have to consider the calories. Smoothies do serve as an opportunity for easy meal preparation and a way to add fruits and vegetables to your diet. Because the textures of fruits, vegetables, seeds and protein sources become uniform when incorporated into a smoothie, many people are willing to be more adventurous in what they add to a smoothie. To up the nutrition in a smoothie, try adding flaxseed, hemp seeds, spinach, precooked frozen lentils, cottage cheese or tofu along with your favorite fruit, protein powder and powdered peanut butter. Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Ill. For comments or questions, contact her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRd. food & recipes Charlyn Fargo joins Happenings Q&A on Thu. Oct. 19th at 10:40am on AM1050 WLIP Powerful Fruits and Vegetables Nutrition News with Charlyn Fargo 3 sweet potatoes or yams 2 large baking apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch rings 2 tablespoons sugar 1/2 cup orange juice 2 tablespoons butter 3/4 tablespoon cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 tablespoon nutmeg 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Scrub yams well; pat dry, and then carefully pierce all over as you would to bake a potato. Place sweet potatoes or yams on a cookie sheet, and bake in oven until tender, about 35-45 minutes. Cool sweet potatoes or yams to touch, and remove skins. Slice and layer sweet potatoes and peeled apple rings in buttered casserole dish. Boil together sugar, water, butter, cornstarch and salt, until it begins to thicken. Pour over yams and apples; sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg and nuts, and bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Makes 5 servings. Per serving: 216 calories; 2 grams protein; 28 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams fat (3 grams saturated); 5 grams fiber; 142 milligrams sodium. Sweet Potato & Apple Casserole Makes 12 muffins 2 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon table salt 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped coarse 16 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 1/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) sugar, plus 1/4 cup sugar for sprinkling 2 large eggs 2 cups sour cream 4 teaspoons vanilla extract 1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut 12 6-inch squares of parchment paper. Press each square around the bottom of a tapered drinking glass with a 1 3/4- to 2-inch base, creasing paper to form cup shape. Place parchment liners in muffin cups, allowing excess parchment to protrude vertically from cups. 2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Stir in chocolate and set aside. Melt butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly with rubber spatula, until butter is dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer browned butter to a second bowl and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. 3. Whisk 1 1/4 cups sugar and two eggs in a large bowl until thick and creamy, about 1 minute. Whisk in sour cream, vanilla and browned butter. Fold in flour mixture with rubber spatula until just moistened; do not overmix. (Batter will be thick and lumpy with spots of dry flour.) 4. Using a greased 1/3-cup dry measuring cup, portion heaping 1/3 cup batter into each parchment-lined muffin cup; evenly distribute any remaining batter among cups (cups will be full). Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup sugar evenly over batter (about 1 teaspoon per muffin). 5. Bake until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with few crumbs attached, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating muffin tin halfway through baking. Let muffins cool in muffin tin on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Transfer muffins to rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. The goal is to create a moist, just-sweet-enough, generously sized bakery-style muffin with plenty of rich chocolate and butter flavor and a characteristically domed top. And with a few tips, you can do just that! Chocolate chunks: Using chopped semisweet chocolate instead of chips yields a combination of chunks and shards of chocolate pieces. This allows for the chocolate to meld into the muffin better than chips, while also keeping some soft, melty chocolate pockets. Bar chocolate also results in zero waxiness at room temperature. Mixing method: Mixing the chocolate in with the dry ingredients instead of folding it in at the end prevents the batter from forming too much gluten, maintaining a tender crumb. Finishing touches: To create moist and flavorful muffins, incorporate sour cream and use nutty browned butter and lots of vanilla. Baking the muffins on a higher rack and at 400 degrees initiates a quick rise to give them nicely domed tops. Browned Butter Chocolate Chunk Muffins
FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 SMART READER October 5, 2023 23 One of the things I enjoy most about writing my column is communicating with readers just like you. As often happens, a reader will visit my AsktheBuilder.com website and use the form on the Ask Tim page to get help. Not too long ago Bob did this. He lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and reads my column in his local paper. Bob wrote: “I really enjoy your columns. Your practical knowledge and nononsense approach reminds me of my father-in-law, who was an architect and builder.” Bob mentioned that he was also an amateur radio operator like me. It’s loads of fun to hear from readers with similar interests! Bob then went on to ask for my advice on how to replace his cupped and cracked 12-inch-wide wood fascia boards with a more durable material. One of the dealbreakers was that he wanted to paint the replacement material to match the dark-green color of his existing trim. Three different methods of solving this problem come to mind. The least expensive method is to paint the existing fascia boards, assuming they’re still in fair shape. Bob did send two photos, and the boards have seen better days. There are quite a few exterior spackling compounds and epoxy wood fillers that do a magnificent job of filling large cracks and holes. These materials can be sanded and they all accept paint. Cupped boards can sometimes be made flat using stainless steel screws. You may have had bad luck with paint in the past. Believe me, I understand that frustration. What would you say if I told you I know of an exterior house paint that can last 25 years if you apply it according to the simple instructions on the label? You’d probably think I fell and hit my head. I used this paint on the redwood siding on my own home in Cincinnati in 1997, and it still looks as good today as the day I painted it. The resin component of the paint is urethane. Understand that paint at its most basic level is nothing more than colored glue. You want to use a paint that is ultra-sticky, and urethane fits the bill. Visit a traditional national-brand paint store and you’ll discover that urethane exterior house paints can be purchased in any color and different sheens. A second solution to Bob’s problem is to wrap the fascia boards with painted aluminum coil stock. Millions of feet of wood trim on houses has been covered in this manner over the past 50 years. My childhood home had it done in the 1960s. Aluminum holds paint exceedingly well, and some coil stock comes from the factory painted a dark green color. You can rent a metalbending brake from a tool rental business. These simple machines allow you to make precision bends so the aluminum conforms to the shape of the fascia boards. There are numerous videos on YouTube that show you exactly how to use a brake. It’s never been easier to discover how to do something. You can also watch other videos showing you how to install coil stock over fascia boards. The most expensive and time-consuming solution is to remove the fascia boards and replace them with a non-wood material. Fiber cement is an option. I have fiber cement siding on my home and on a shed I built. You can paint it any color you prefer. While it has wood fibers in it, the cement prevents the boards from cracking, cupping or rotting like ordinary wood. You could also use a plastic fascia board. There are several brands. The only drawback with plastic is that it has a very high expansion/contraction coefficient. The manufacturers caution that painting the material with dark colors can lead to catastrophic paint failure as the plastic material expands beyond the limits of the paint. You can often avoid the expensive process of replacing wood trim by simply protecting it from the ravages of water. Water and wood trim don’t play well together. If your wood trim, siding, fencing and railings are in great shape, think about taking the time to do what I did with my house all those years ago. Get a good quality urethane paint, read the label and apply it exactly as directed. You may never have to paint it again! How to minimize maintenance on your exterior wood Ask the Builder with Tim Carter Subscribe to Tim’s FREE newsletter at AsktheBuilder.com. Tim offers phone coaching calls if you get stuck during a DIY job. Go here: go.askthebuilder.com /coaching Tim Carter joins Happenings Q&A on Tues., Oct. 17th at 9:20am on AM1050 WLIP REMINDER: PLEASE RESUBMIT AD TO RUN FOR EACH ISSUE. Maximum 3 Listings Per Person. MISC G E R M A N CONVERSATIONALIST GROUP - KENOSHA/RACINE If you speak German or are enthusiastic about the German language and culture, come and join us. There are no membership fees and attendance is whenever you are available to join. Meetings will be held in the Kenosha and Racine area. This is an excellent group to practice speaking German as members' language skills are from beginners to advance and we all have a good time. Please contact me if you are interested in joining - Susan Blust at [email protected]. LIONS CLUB BINGO Come have some fun! Doors open at 4:00. Raffles, pull-tabs and pregames start at 6:45. Bingo 7:00-9pm. Wednesdays. 2700 9th St., Schlader Building, Winthrop Harbor. Food Sales. FOR SALE TAX PREPARATION & ADVISORY SERVICES. 20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE. VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON. FOR APPOINTMENT CALL OR TEXT 262-496-2208. DECORATIVE THROW PILLOWS- $2 PAIR; TWO BOUGHT IN THAILAND-$10 PAIR. CALL OR TEXT 262-902-5663. MEN'S ITEMS: ZIPPERED SHORT SLEEVE XL SHIRT-$5; HARLEY DAVIDSON LAS VEGAS LARGE SHIRT-$5; COLUMBIA SHORTS XL-$5; CHAMPS SHORTS-SIZE 38 $3; CTCA SIZE M SHIRT $2; A VARIETY OF L & XL SHIRTS $2; CHRYSLER ENGINE PLANT LOGO SHIRTS- MANY RED, BLACK, NEVER WORN L & XL $5; AUSTRALIA MUSCLE T $2; MANY SHORTS- $2; WARM CAPS-$1; LEE JEANS SIZE 36-38/30" $2; WARM UP PANTS-$3; BIKE SHORTS-FREE; CASUAL/DRESS SLACKS-$3; MILWAUKEE BREWERS CAP-$10; SWEATSHIRTS-$2; TIES-$2 CALL OR TEXT 262-902-5663. OUTDOOR ITEMS FOR SALE: LARGE BIRDFEEDER ON A POLE- $15; MANY TEES & GOLF BALLS- $5; MUD FLAP-$5; MANY MONGOOSE BIKE PARTS-$5; SKI TOTE-$10; BOY'S FIGURE SKATES- $10; MEN'S FIGURE SKATES- $10; PINNACLE WOOD BAT-$25; 2-SETS CROSS COUNTRY SKI POLES- $10; CEMENT CURE & SEAL-$5; CATCHER'S MIT & 11 BALLS- $10. CALL/TEXT 262-902-5663. BARB CONNAUGHTON SAVE 50% ON BURIAL PLOTS! PRIVATE OWNER OF TWO (2) (SIDE BY SIDE) SECTION H SUNSET RIDGE MEMORIAL PARK KENOSHA, WI. DONT’ PAY $11,390.00... I’ SELLING FOR $5,695.00 OBO! (262)914-5977 ED AIR FRYER, BRAND NEW $55 ALL (262) 771-8764 BARBIE DOLL, REMOTE CONTROL CORVETTE, THAT FITS TWO BARBIE DOLLS, ABOUT 25 IN LONG X 10 IN WIDE, BEST OFFER. OTHER SMALL AUTO MODELS AVAILABLE FROM CLASSIC DAYS. RON 847-340-3446. BEANIE BABIES - LARGE INVENTORY, INCLUDES MCDONALD'S LINE, PRICE VARIES. CALL 262-654-6485 - PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE SONY REEL TO REEL TAPE DECKS! TC-630 & TC-580 $200 OBO FOR BOTH. CALL KENT 262- 960-0621 [email protected] TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE BURIAL PLOTS AT SUNSET RIDGE MEMORIAL PARK, SECTION H, PRIVATELY OWNED. WILLING TO NEGOTIATE ON PRICE. PLEASE CALL ED - 262-914-5977 V.F.W. VINTAGE BANNER VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS BANNER WITH LOGO, PROFESSIONALLY FRAMED UNDER GLASS. VERY LARGE & IN GREAT CONDITION. $175. LEAVE MESSAGE IF NO ANSWER. 262- 914-4767 VIPER GOLF CLUBS, GREAT SECOND SET $100 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 COMPOUND MITER SAW 10" $50 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 SEARS RADIAL ARM SAW $50 OBO PLEASE CALL 262-960-0627 CIRCULAR SAW BLADE 32" DIAMETER $60 OBO 262-654-6485 QUILTS, HANDMADE. FIVE, VARIOUS COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM. $54.00 EACH. PHONE 262-657-6049. JASON/EMPIRE MODEL 218 7X35 BINOCULARS. FIELD 358 FT AT 1000 YDS. FULLYCOATED OPTICS, & CASE. NEVER USED. CASE HAS SHELF WEAR. $25.00262-620-4301. IF NO ANSWER PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE. WANTED. EXPERIENCED GRILL COOK FLEXIBLE HOURS, FUN ATMOSPHERE. LAKESIDE DECK AT THE WYNDHAM HOTEL CALL KIM 262-496-7182 SINGER AND NARRATOR WANTED FOR ROGER MILLER TRIBUTE.CALL 262-554-8205. ASK FOR MARV. STREET PAVER BRICKS wanted Please call 262.697.3545 and leave a message. WANTED TO BUY: Vintage Movie Posters, Comic Books, LP Records, Vintage Toys, Horror VHS, Horror Memorabilia, Science Fiction Pulps & Magazines, Video Store Promotional Items. PH 262- 237-0318. WANTED TO BUY: Old Post Cards, B&W Photos, B&W Photo Albums, Vintage Advertising, Old Hunting Licenses & Advertising, Scrapbooks, Old Misc.Paper, Old Automobile Advertising, Fountain Pens, Gillette Razors & More. Local Collector/Neutral Safe & Secure Site to meet if desired. Cash Paid. Call or Text Stan 262- 496-1822 ARCADE DRIVERS SCHOOL is looking for classroom & driver instructors. Starting pay $17.00 per hour. If interested please call 262- 637-9193 or email us at [email protected]. LOOKING FOR NURSES Aid for in home care. Call Barbara 262- 455-3953 SERVICES. APARTMENT FOR RENT: 2 BDR LOWER, SHARED BASEMENT, LAUNDRY HOOK UP, GARAGE. $950 + UTILITIES +SECURITY. CALL 262-654-1869 LEAVE MESSAGE WITH FULL NAME AND PHONE NUMBER. NO EVICTIONS, NO PETS, NO SMOKING. ONE YEAR WORK HISTORY. I WILL DO SEAMSTRESS WORK, RUN ERRANDS, DO SHOPPING & DR. APPOINTMENTS., ETC.IF INTERESTED PLEASE CALL GAYLE AT 262-748-4748 I'M LOOKING FOR house to share for reasonable rent in exchange for household needs for a senior vet consideration. 847-340-3446 Ron. Kenosha/Union Grove area. LAWN MOWING SERVICES RELIABLE LAWN CARE SERVICES IN KENOSHA & PLEASANT PRAIRIE. CALL/TEXT 262-914-9796 [email protected] TAX & MEDICARE EXPERT. Appointments only. Se Habla Español. 262.833.7070 CHINESE LANGUAGE / CALLIGRAPHY LESSONS: Fun, fascinating and very cool. Beginning and advanced - all ages! Text Dr. Tim at 520.704.3832. FOR RENT Finished Suite private, in-home entrance, in Kenosha. For details call between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, 262-843-1630. DRUM LESSONS Private instruction. Band, orchestra, marching and drum set. Rock and many other musical styles. Learn to read music. Call Tom for details. 262- 818-2869. PROFESSIONAL LED TEETH WHITENING for a fraction of the price! $99 at cabana tan spa. call to book: 262-843-2411. 20 minute session = a bright white smile! mycabanatan.com NURSING CARE /CONSULTATION: $35.00/hour. Call or text to (262)758- 1974 FAST COMPUTER SERVICE including network support, spyware removal, upgrades and PC repair. For friendly service with a smile, call Vikkex today! Phone (262-694-7746) BABYSITTING YOUNG LADY good with kids can watch 1 or 2 children call 262-620-4745 House cleaning woman + a bucket - reliable, dependable. Also clean vacant houses. Call for estimates - Sandy 262-221-2289 HOUSES AND/OR business sun shine klean is having a special this month for first time customers free upholstery cleaning with at basic cleaning for only $39.95 262-287-5103 CNAS TO JOIN wellness team at Barton of Zion, five star assisted living. Send resume [email protected] apply within at 3500 Sheridan Road Zion, IL 60099 847- 872-1500 FREE HOME HEATING Fuel Oil Removal I will remove your unused home heating fuel oil for free..clean and safe . Inquire about tank removal also ... 262 818 1967 ..ask for Dave TYPING. I am an experienced legal secretary with excellent typing skills wanting to type for you at home. Please contact Alicia at 256-658-4484. TAX & BOOKKEEPING. 30 Years experience Audits handled enrolled agent appointment only call 262-595-8242 CAREGIVER SELF-EMPLOYED live-in caregiver with 20 years experience giving 24 hr. care references. Looking for job. If you need me, please call Teresa 2 6 2 - 4 9 7 - 0 5 0 2 . VEHICLES0 2003 soft tail Harley Davidson 18000 miles $5000 worth of chrome added in 2006. Perfect condition Asking $7500 Call Lloyd at 262 694 7359 or 262 515 1366. Located In Pleasant Prairie 95 CAMERO convert green/tan top. many newer parts best offer will trade for other vehicle, negotiate price. 847-340-3446 Ron - dealers welcome to participate. 1997 Jaguar XK8 Convertible 75K in great condition Contact Bob: 2 6 2 - 4 8 4 - 4 8 4 8 or text 262-945-9224 1973 Ford F250, CAMPER SPECIAL2WD,CALIFORNIA ORIGINAL, REBUILT MOTOR/TRANS, AUTO, AC, NEW INTERIOR, CAN SEND PICS. $13,500 OBO. 630- 945-8320. 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 262-237-1343 RUSS CALL OR TEXT 212K MILES $2950 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-237-1343 CALL OR TEXT NICE CAR AT A NICE PRICE $5450 174K MILES 2016 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY $6950 184K MILES SEE IN KENOSHA AT 4121-7TH. AVE. 53140 RUSS 262-237-1343 CALL OR TEXT NICE VAN AT A NICE PRICE. FREE CLASSIFIEDS! E-mail your 170 character classified to: [email protected] Please include your contact information in the classified. (Name and Phone number / e-mail address) First 3 words will be boldface type. NO ANIMALS. • NO PERSONALS ALLOWED. CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2023 AT 12 NOON FREE CLASSIFIEDS! Employment/Opportunities • Lost & Found • Miscellaneous Real Estate • Rentals • Rummage Sales • Vehicles • Wanted
24 SMART READER October 5, 2023 FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 262-564-8800 Senior Citizens Receive a 10% DISCOUNT SR121720 061523 AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT MADE EASY! AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT MADE EASY! Ask about our investment loan program that allows you to use 100% rental income to qualify. Great for owner occupied first-time buyers or investors. Washington Park Municipal Golf Course 2205 Washington Road • Kenosha, WI 262-653-4090 Beautiful 9 Hole Course In the Heart Of Kenosha Beautiful 9 Hole Course In the Heart Of Kenosha Not valid for league play. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. One coupon per person - per visit. Not valid with any other offer. Valid through October 31, 2023. Present this coupon for our twosome special 2 FOR $25 9 HOLES W/ CART FOR TWO PEOPLE $25 FALL SPECIAL 100523 NEW Reserve Your Tee Time @ golfkenoshamuni.com Meet Me At Muni! 101 Years of Fun & Friends 092823 Your Ticket to Local Events