Silver Magazine

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Amarillo's only senior magazine.

Transcript of Silver Magazine

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Content

Editor Camey Maldonado806-231-9822

Sales Eric Muehlhausen806-433-6289

Contact Information806-231-9822

6 - Holiday Safety 10 - Calendar12 - Fashion Over 50 15 -Christmas Time Capsule18 - Connecting On Facebook20 - BBB22 - Directory of Services

Volume 3 Issue 9Dec. 2011

To Advertise Call

806-231-9822

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Camey

I am excited for the holidays. I am always excited for the decorating, the shopping, and all the family gatherings. But as I get excited there is always a bit of mixed emotions as I am aware that the holidays tend to be family-oriented and if you’ve lost a loved one, the season can be an especially painful reminder of the death.So I thought of some things I think might help with coping…Talking about the deceased person is okay. Your stress will only increase if the deceased person’s memory is allowed to become a landmine that everyone tiptoes around. Things won’t be the same. It’s normal to feel at odds with yourself and family events when dealing with grief. Do not isolate, but limit involvement when you need to and plan new events. Don’t let other people’s expectations dictate how your holiday will unfold. If you don’t feel like doing something this Christmas, don’t let others force you. If you do want to attend holiday functions, make sure you know your limits. Leave early, arrive late, drive alone do whatever you need to do to help yourself. Seek support. Talk to your friends and family about how you feel. Also, many communities offer support groups for people who are grieving. Being around people who know

what you’re going through can be very comforting. Plan a special time to celebrate the memories of the person who died. Some families develop creative rituals like decorating a miniature Christmas tree at the cemetery, donating money to a charity, singing their favorite seasonal song, reciting a special prayer before the evening meal, or even just lighting a candle. Symbolic gestures like these can help families validate their feelings of sadness and overcome the guilt of enjoying special occasions. Take care of yourself. Stress, depression and bodily neglect are not a great mix at any time of the year. Think about building some new traditions. Remember that it’s okay not to do what you traditionally do. Planning something totally different is not an insult to the memory of a loved one and can be a positive way to ease some of the pressure.But remember that every person is different and every relationship is unique. And as you may know, I wish you the best holiday season and look forward to bringing in the New Year with you.

CameyEditor for Silver Magazine

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

neene

YYea

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Great food, drinks and hanging mistletoe are key elements of entertaining indulgence allowed but safety is too often overlooked. So make a safety list and check it twice with these simple home safety tips.

The kitchen can be a holiday danger zoneThe kitchen is a gathering place at this time of year and the source of delicious foods, whether it's baking or a festive ham or turkey. This is also the time when home fires peak. About one-third of home fires and home fire deaths in the US occur during December, January and February.

Watch your stove and ovenUnattended cooking remains one of the top causes of home fires

Upgrade your smoke alarmsThe latest smoke alarms are wireless and interconnected; when one alarm sounds, they all go off. Another tip is to choose alarms with the UL label, which means they have been tested by a certified lab.

Space heaters can be cozy … and hazardousHome heating equipment is second only to cooking fires for causing home structure fires. Avoid setting up a space heater too close to curtains, furniture or even holiday decorations. Remember to keep at least three feet of clear space around it and to set it up on the floor unless it is designed for other use.

The fireplace is for wood onlyA fire is a welcoming touch, but save it for wood only. Do not burn garbage, cardboard boxes or Christmas trees in the fireplace. These items burn unevenly and may cause a dangerous flash fire. Most chimney fires are caused by the buildup of creosote, a highly combustible byproduct of burning wood.

Take caution with candlesChristmas Day is the peak day of the year for candle fires. Make sure candles are in stable and sturdy holders, and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

Inspect lights, cords and outletsInspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots or broken sockets before putting them up. Remember to turn off holiday lights before leaving the home or going to bed. Don't overload your electrical outlets with too many lights or decorations. To reduce the chance of overheat-ing, electrical cords should never be bundled together or run under rugs or carpet.

Christmas trees need attentionTake fire safety precau-tions when keeping a live tree in the house. Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches. Regularly give the tree plenty of water.

Turn down the heatBurns from hot water are more common than you may think. Test your tap temperature by letting the hot water run for a minute and holding a thermometer in the water stream. If it's more than 120 degrees F, check your owner's manual for instructions on lowering the thermostat.

Holiday Home Safety Tips

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Did you know this holiday fire safety statistic? Every year, holiday fires cause approximately $930 million in damages, and injure 2,600 people.

You can help to keep your family safe and avoid holiday fire damage if you follow these 10 holiday fire safety tips:

1.Install smoke detectors; change the batteries every year. Install carbon monoxide detectors and make sure those batteries are fresh too.

2.If you use your fireplace, make sure to use a fireplace screen.

3.Never burn wrapping paper, boxes or other trash in your fireplace.

4.Don't leave a fire unattended; put the fire out before you go to bed.

5.Candles are beautiful, but make sure they are in stable and secure holders and keep them away from combustible materials and small children. Never leave candles unattended.

6.If you have a real Christmas tree, put it in a stable stand, and keep it fresh by checking the water level daily. A dried tree is more susceptible to fire. Keep the tree away from heat sources that could dry it out. Most tress dry out in two weeks, so don't leave your tree up long past the holidays.

7.Check holiday lights for cracked or broken bulbs, frayed wires and loose plugs. Don't use lights that aren't safe.

8.Use lights that have been approved by testing labs like Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).

9.Use lights only in their designated areas; never use "indoor only" lights outdoors.

10.If your smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide detec-tors go off, get everyone outside and call 911. Don't try to solve the problem yourself.

Following these holiday fire safety tips will help to ensure that you enjoy a safer holiday season.

Here's to happy and safe holidays at home!

10 Tips for Holiday Fire Safety

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We all grieve for many reasons. The death of a loved one, serious illness, emotional and psychological issues, job loss, separation and divorce can often prove to be huge stumbling blocks to entering in and celebrating the holiday season. While for many people the holiday season is a time of light, celebration, hope and expectation, for those experiencing grief, the holidays can be a time of darkness, hopelessness, sadness and despair.

No matter what your age or the circumstances of loss and death, the holidays lived in the absence of a loved one can be a very difficult time. Customary traditions and routines are changed, never to be repeated quite the same way. Easygoing humor and laughter, once abundant and over flowing, may become awkward and even absent. Celebrations and gatherings, once filled with joy, somehow seem empty and sad.

During the grieving process, people will experience periods of isolation, depression, loneliness and other forms of emotional and physical distress. You may find yourself asking: Why is this happening? Can I possible survive

this? How long will this sadness and longing last? Is what I am feeling normal or am I losing my sanity?

The holiday season itself can add its own share of questions: How can I make it through the holidays intact without my loved one? Would I be better off just skipping the holidays this year?

Should I make changes or act as though everything is normal?

To begin with, it will be necessary to acknowledge that you are in pain and communicate your needs to your loved

ones. You may wish to pull back and isolate yourself from others in the hopes of diminishing the pain and angst of loss. However, these actions often increase the feelings of pain and loss, while internalizing grief — “stuffing it away” — and denying the grief experi-ence.

Grief is like an immense wall. It is too high to climb over, too wide to go around and too deep to crawl underneath. You have a choice: deny the process of grief and refuse to enter into your grief work or have the courage to enter into your grief process, all the while knowing that it could prove to be painful. The latter gives the hope of successfully achieving a healthy and independent life without the presence of the loved one lost.

We can never replace the space within us that this loved one occupied. At the same time we can, with the help of others, create new relationships and experiences that give our lives meaning, purposefulness and hopeful expectation.

Grieving during the holidays

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Too often, we hear the message from society that one must “get over” your loss — fill in the space with another person, or thing or experience. This is impos-sible! The love bond and experience of the loved one lost will always reside within us. Grief is something we can never get over, but it is something we can learn to live with in time. The pain and angst will subside. We will again be able to laugh and experience joy with renewed energy and purpose; again, knowing full well, that grief work will be some of hardest work we will

ever do in this life.

During the holiday season, as well as during all the year long, we must engage in practicing those disciplines that bring renewed

energy and purpose. In general, we must choose life in all the ways that you can. Seek help from others to plan new rituals and traditions, while honoring those tradi-

tions that are meaningful to us and to our family. These new rituals can include opportunities to remember the past while acknowledg-ing that the present has indeed changed.

Establish sound self-care techniques to help you to assume some control over your life. Eat healthy and drink alcohol wisely. Getting good sleep and exercising your body, mind and spirit will help you feel better and provide you the energy to conduct your grief work. Consult your physician if you have any questions and a mental health counselor if you need additional tools and support to ensure a healthy recovery and adaptation to life without the presence of your loved one.

By assuming some control in your life, even in little ways, you will find that they are not so little after all. They are important.

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 38:00AM-5:00PMWORLD OF WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPSAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM

10:00AM-11:30AMCHRISTMAS WORKSHOPAMARILLO MUSEUM OF ART$20.00 PER PERSON AGES 4-10

2:00PM-6:00PMCHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSEPANHANDLE PLAINS MUSEUMFREE TO ATTEND

6:00PM-10:00PMCHRISTMAS IN THE GARDENSHOLIDAY LIGHTINGBOTANICAL GARDENSFREE TO ATTEND

7:00PM-8:30PMAISD ALL REGION ORCHESTRA CONCERTGLOBE NEWS CENTER

8:00PMTHE 39 STEPSAMARILLO LITTLE THEATREMAINSTAGE$19.00 PER PERSON

SUNDAY DECEMBER 48:00AM-5:00PMWORLD OF WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPSAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM

3:00PM-8:00PMOUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH SERVICEAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERHERITAGE ROOM

MONDAY DECEMBER 56:00PM-10:00PMCHRISTMAS IN THE GARDENS

HOLIDAY LIGHTINGBOTANICAL GARDENSFREE TO ATTEND

TUESDAY DECEMBER 66:00PM-9:30PMTASCOSA POPS CONCERTAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERHERITAGE ROOM

6:30PM-7:30PMLAUGHTER CLUB“LAUGHTER YOGA”WASHINGTON AVENUECHRISTIAN CHURCHFREE TO ATTEND

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 76:00PM-10:00PMCHRISTMAS IN THE GARDENSHOLIDAY LIGHTINGBOTANICAL GARDENSFREE TO ATTEND

THURSDAY DECEMBER 811:45AM-1:00PMPOINSETTIA LUNCHEONAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERGRAND PLAZA$30.00 PER PERSON

7:00PM-8:30PMRANDALL CLUSTER WINTER BAND CONCERTGLOBE NEWS CENTER

8:00PMTHE 39 STEPSAMARILLO LITTLE THEATREMAINSTAGE$17.00 PER PERSON

FRIDAY DECEMBER 96:00PM-10:00PMCHRISTMAS IN THE GARDENSHOLIDAY LIGHTINGBOTANICAL GARDENSFREE TO ATTEND

8:00PMLONE STAR BALLET“THE NUTCRACKER”AMARILLO CIVIC CENTERAUDITORIUM$13.00-$48.00 PER PERSON

8:00PMTHE 39 STEPSAMARILLO LITTLE THEATREMAINSTAGE$19.00 PER PERSON SATURDAY DECEMBER 108:00AMSOUTHWEST COWBOY POETS BREAKFASTTHE COUNTRY BARN$7.00 PER PERSON

9:00AM-5:00PMTEXAS KNIFE & GUN SHOWAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERS. EXHIBIT HALL

9:00AM-5:00PMSPANISH CIRCUIT ASSEMBLYAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERN. EXHIBIT HALL

3:00PM-8:00PMLONE STAR BALLET“THE NUTCRACKER”AMARILLO CIVIC CENTERAUDITORIUM$13.00-$48.00 PER PERSON

6:00PM-10:00PMCHRISTMAS IN THE GARDENSHOLIDAY LIGHTINGBOTANICAL GARDENSFREE TO ATTEND

8:00PMTHE 39 STEPSAMARILLO LITTLE THEATREMAINSTAGE$19.00 PER PERSON

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SUNDAY DECEMBER 119:00AM-4:00PMSPANISH CIRCUIT ASSEMBLYAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERN. EXHIBIT HALL

10:00AM-4:00PMTEXAS KNIFE & GUN SHOWAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERS. EXHIBIT HALL

2:00PM & 6:00PMLONE STAR BALLET“THE NUTCRACKER”AMARILLO CIVIC CENTERAUDITORIUM$13.00-$48.00 PER PERSON

2:30PMTHE 39 STEPSAMARILLO LITTLE THEATREMAINSTAGE$17.00 PER PERSON

TUESDAY DECEMBER 135:30PM-6:30PMGRIEF SUPPORT MEET-INGTRINITY BABTIST CHURCHFREE TO ATTEND

FRIDAY DECEMBER 1610:00AM-8:00PMSCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERREGENCY ROOM

7:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO BULLS VS ODESSAAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$8.00-$14.00 PER PERSON

SATURDAY DECEMBER 178:00AM-5:00PMSCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRAMARILLO CIVIC

CENTERREGENCY ROOM

SUNDAY DECEMBER 187:00PM-9:00PMAMARILLO YOUTH CHOIR“SONGS OF THE SEASON”GLOBE NEWS CENTER

TUESDAY DECEMBER 2010:00-11:00AMCAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPCHLDERS PLACEFREE TO ATTEND

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 287:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO BULLS VS WICHITA FALLSAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$8.00-$14.00 PER PERSON

FRIDAY DECEMBER 307:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO BULLS VS NEW MEXICOAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$8.00-$14.00 PER PERSON

SATURDAY DECEMBER 317:00PM-10:00PMAMARILLO BULLS VS WICHITA FALLSAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERCOLISEUM$8.00-$14.00 PER PERSON

THURSDAY JANUARY 57:30PM-10:00PMAMARILLO CIVIC CENTERAUDITORIUM$39.00-$64.00 PER PERSON

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The MoodThe days of New Year’s Eve partying have been replaced by intimate dinner parties and bed shortly after the bells leaving you refreshed enough to host a casual and chic New Year’s Day soiree.

Relaxed and Open Invite guests three weeks before, give them a four hour window, and let them know they don’t have to commit to the entire affair. Your wording: stop by, have great food and catch up after the holiday rush.

GuestsThink of this as your first annual New Year’s Day bash. Keep the guest list to a manageable 12–15 people and make it mostly people you can see inviting year after year.

DécorThink haute holiday. Try snippets of pine on the mantle, tons of candlesticks, bonus if you mix and match the ones around your house, and the simplest holiday ornaments as accents on plates. Don’t go all red and green. Keep your palette muted with pale lavender, grays, and shades of silver. And wood plates add just the right touch of texture. Incorporate the season. Winterize a classic by serving individual portions of vanilla ice cream covered in warm espresso midway through the party and again at the end. Achieve a gorgeous look, but don’t spend a ton. Go through your house rounding up what you can use even a cutting board can double as a serving piece.

Recipes

Cheese Muffins with ChutneyServes: 6Ingredients2 cups sifted flour3 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cups sugar1/2 tsp. salt1 tsp. cayenne pepper1 egg, slightly beaten1 cup milk3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheeseNon-stick cooking sprayDirections1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 2. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cayenne pepper into a medium-size bowl. 3. Add egg and milk, stirring well. Then add grated cheese and mix well. 4. Spray muffin tins with non-stick spray or use paper liners. Pour batter in tins. 5. Cook 20 minutes or until brown.

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Potato and Parmigiano FrittataServes: 4 Ingredients1 Tbs. olive oil3 medium size Idaho potatoes, thinly sliced1 medium onion, thinly sliced6 large eggs, beaten1 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Generous pinch of salt 1/2 tsp. black pepperDirections1. In a 10” nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Fry potatoes and onion for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until potatoes are cooked through. Reduce heat to medium-low.2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, parsley, cheese, salt and pepper. 3. Pour egg mixture into pan, evenly spreading to coat bottom. Cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until center is cooked through.

Roasted TomatoesServes: 4Ingredients 4 large plum tomatoes (1 lb.), trimmed and halved lengthwise1/2 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. black pepperPinch of fresh thymeDirections1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Arrange tomatoes, cut sides up, in 1 layer in an 8- to 9-inch glass baking dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme. 3. Roast until skins are wrinkled and beginning to brown, about 50 minutes.

DrinksSkip the Bloody Marys and try this recipe for Lychee water with fresh mint, mandarin, and blueberries. Hint: It’s easily spikeable with Bacardi light rum!Ingredients3/4 qt. Lychee juice1 cup fresh blueberries1 cup mandarin oranges, canned or cleaned well20 mint leaves, wholeDirectionsMix all ingredients together in a pitcher with lots of ice.

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Spirituality aside Christmas is all about the ornaments. And frankly, there are just never enough of them. Take advantage of the unending need for more with a grandchildren-friendly craft project that becomes a sweet family heirloom.

Enter the time-capsule ornament. The concept is simple: a clear glass or plastic ornament becomes a receptacle for treasured memories.

Materials Needed: Fillable clear glass or plastic ornaments (available at craft stores)

Use symbols of your childhood to fill the ornament. For example, if you loved baseball, you could insert a tiny toy baseball and bat. If you grew up during the Depression, you could use an old penny to symbolize the country’s economic downturn. If you love the color blue, you could insert a blue button or a piece of blue fabric. You can even make miniature color copies of beloved photos to insert into the time capsule.

Give advance notice to the grandchildren about find-ing items with which to fill their own time capsules. If they can’t think of anything, suggest miniature toys, pictures, clippings of their hair, a baby tooth, or mementos of a pet.

If you want your ornament to be extra fancy, purchase colored beads from the craft store. Use clear-drying glue and secure them to the inside base. Add your memory trinkets after the glue dries.

Next, have every ornament maker draw up a capsule list, explaining why each item was included.

As a final touch, attach ribbon or a decorative hook to your new ornaments and hang them on the tree.

After the holidays, store the lists along with the orna-ments to create a lasting family legacy.

Christmas Time Capsules

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Come winter, our skin tends to suffer due to cold temps and rising thermostats. Here are some winter skincare tips to help you face the cold.

As the heat rises indoors, the humidity necessary for keeping our skin comfortable all but disappears. Don't

fret, with a little preparation and extra TLC, you can update your skincare regime to reflect the winter season. For a radiant and glowing complexion all winter long, check out these tips:

Banish hot showers and bathsIt may be the first thing you long for after stepping in from the cold, but a long, hot soak in the bath could be adding to your skin trouble. As a general rule, spend 10 minutes less than you would like to. On stepping out of the bath or shower, gently pat your skin dry and slather on the moisturizer, preferably whilst your skin is still damp, which will lock in that much-needed moisture. Don't forget to turn the thermostat down a few notches.

Drink warm water infused with lemon.This will allow your blood to cleanse itself, detox the body and eliminate harmful toxins, all leading to healthy, glowing skin.

Buy a humidifierInexpensive humidifiers are worth their weight in gold when it comes to restoring health to our skin. Humid-ity helps restore the skin's mantle and prevents it from drying out, and becoming uncomfortable and itchy. Alternatively, place a few bowls of water strategically around your home, this simple step will go a long way in restoring moisture to the air.

Winter Skin

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Exfoliate at least once a weekAdopt this simple measure and you will allow the new skin to shine through, leaving your skin glowing and full of vitality. Depending on your skin's sensitivity, you should slough off the dead skin cells regularly.

Always use sunscreenJust because it's not beach water, doesn't mean the sun's rays aren't just as harsh in the winter. Use a daily sunscreen with SPF 30, especially if you do winter sports at a high altitude.

Oil upUsing a little jojoba oil or olive oil in your bath-water will go a long way in smoothing the surface of your skin. Did you know you could also moisturize from within by loading up on high-quality omega-3s?

Take a cue from Mother NatureWintertime offers up the ideal excuse snuggle up in the sheets a little earlier than usual. By catch-ing up on some much-needed sleep, your skin will have more time to repair the day's damage. Indulge your body further by applying moisturizer to your hands and feet before settling down for the night.

MoisturizeThis step speaks for itself, but even those with oily skin will need to moisturize over the cold, winter months. Dry skin benefits from creamy, rich textures designed to bring comfort to the skin's mantle.

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'Tis the season for holiday party after holiday party, decorating the whole house… taking it all down in a month (ugh!) and not only getting the perfect gift, but also wrapping it perfectly!

While we can't help you with the former, we can lighten your load a little by inspiring you to switch out your stale seasonal gift-wrap for some modern new ones. Don't forget to get those packages shipped out on time!

Make it personalWhen it comes to gift-wrap, we suggest making it personal. Like, really personal. Make a collage with photocopies of family photographs is a fun way to not only wrap your gifts, but also remind friends and family of some really great times together. Like past Christ-mases, for example.

Another fun idea, photocopy a picture of the person the gift is for, and use it as a gift tag.

Custom Christmas wrapIf you're not a DIYer, leave it to the professionals on the Internet.… Well, in a sense! Companies like Custom Wrapping Paper allows you to upload photos to be interwoven into various themes of gift-wrap. (Christmas included, of course!)

Not-so-boring brownBrown Kraft paper (kind of like butcher paper, but not so… meat related) has a zillion uses and gift-wrapping just happens to be one of the greatest ones because you can be as simple or as elaborate as you can dream it to be!

What about letting kids draw, color, stamp, finger paint, sponge paint, stencil, or apply stickers on the paper before wrapping gifts? Particularly for family members. A tip on this one: Use tape that won't tear the paper. Grandparents will cherish the gift-wrap as much as the

gift in this case!

Peek-a-booGive your gift recipients a little taste of what's inside with a little game of peek-a-boo paper. Using fun Christmas-theme shaped hole punches is another fun way to give brown craft paper a whole new holiday look.

Go Ga-Ga For Gift Wrap

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Lighten up!Okay, enough with the brown Kraft paper. Lighten up, literally, with a sophisticated white gift-wrap. You can dress up plain white paper or even plain old scrapbook sheets with colorful bows left over from last year.

Remember, don't get stuck using the same old Christmas colors. The new colors of the season come in hues of lime green, bright pink, and orange. Sounds like our kind of Christmas!

Bring back the bowsIn addition to using last year's bows, a great addition to plain white gift-wrap is an ornament tied on top. In the spirit of triple-R (reduce, reuse, recycle), this can be an ornament that you already own (and are ready to part with). This is also a great way to pass along heirloom orna-ments to the next generation. (Just wait until they are old enough to appreciate–and not break-them!)

Non-traditional tissueTissue paper is a great bargain, and it can be dressed up in so many ways! Use a few layers of silver or gold tissue paper for a truly sophisticated gift-wrap. Adorn it with simple ribbon and a sprig of mistletoe for your honey, a candy cane for the kiddos, or a few wine charms for your bestie (BFF).

Something old, something newIn place of traditional gift-wrap, get inspired by making something old new again. Wrap your mom's gifts in leftover scraps of fabric, your boss'

gift in yesterday's WSJ, and your workout buddy's with pages of last month's SELF.

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BBBs across the country receive upwards of 130,000 inquiries annually from consumers who want to know whether police or firefighter organizations meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. Many are concerned about and how and if police officers and firefighters in their communi-ties benefit from these solicitations.

While a number of these charities meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, the organizations mentioned here are not charities and cause some concerns. Such as:

High fund raising costs with little going to assist the named cause;Excessive pressure in telephone fund raising appeals; andLack of clarity about what programs donations will be assisting.

These groups present themselves as a charity. But it’s up to the donor to ask if a contribution will be tax deductible. Many organizations may not be classified under the IRS Code as a charitable organization. These groups, usually not associated with local law enforcement agencies, mislead individuals regarding their purpose and contribute very little, if anything, to local groups.

Police and firefighter groups solicit funds by telephone for various reasons, some of which include using money for operating funds, administrative expenses and to educate members of the legislature. These hired fundraisers earn as much as 60%-90% of the money they generate for the organization. So, ask the caller: Are you giving to the organization, or to the telemarketer? How much of your donation is tax deductible? Will local police and firefighter groups be helped with your contribution?

This check list will help:

Visit BBB Wise Giving Alliance at www.bbb.org/charity to access detailed charity reports and giving advice. Also check out charities with the Texas Attorney General at www.https:www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/nonprofits.shtml

where you will find information about the Texas Law Enforcement Telephone Solicitation Act (LETSA) where you can also view organizations listed under LETSA.

Ask for written information on the charity’s programs and finances and make a decision to give only after you are comfortable they meet BBB Standards for Charity Account-ability. Call the BBB for the standards or find them online at http://www.bbb.org/us/Charity-Standards/

Look for a clear program description of the organization’s activities in its appeals and website. For example, if it says it is helping firefighters, does it explain how, where it is doing so and how much of the donation will benefit firefighters directly?

Be wary of excessive pressure in fund raising. Don’t be pressured to make an immediate on-the-spot donation. Charities should welcome gifts whenever provided.

Mistaken Identity. Just because the organization includes the words “police” or “firefighter” in the name it does not mean that any member of the local force is involved or will benefit.

Don’t be fooled by fast talkers who promise you protection from traffic tickets if you place a sticker from their organi-zation on your car; (the sticker is provided once you make a contribution). No one can assure you that a police officer will not give you a ticket if you have violated the law.

Ask questions. Solicitors should disclose how much of your contribution will go to the police or firefighter organization and what percentage the telemarketer is earning, when asked. You should also ask what percentage of your contri-bution will support local police or firefighters. Finally, ask what the money is being raised for. Operating funds and administrative expenses are vague categories. In most communities, police and firefighters are supported by your tax dollars.

If you are moved to contribute, but aren’t sure about the organization’s legitimacy, call the BBB, you may be better off going to the local police or fire station and handing them a donation in person.

Janna Kiehl Executive Director / CEO

The Better Business Bureau® Police & Firefighter Appeals – Who Benefits?

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COUNSELING :

ALZHEIMER’S’ ASSOCIATION415 SW 8TH AVE STE 300AMARILLO, TEXAS 79101806-373-5313www.alz.org/txstar

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES1001 S. POLK STREETAMARILLO, TEXAS 79101806-342-2500www.fss-ama.org

EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES:

AMARILLO URGENT CARE1915 COULTERAMARILLO, TEXAS806-352-5400

AMARILLO SENIOR CARE CLINIC14 MEDICAL DRIVEAMARILLO, TEXAS 79106806-358-8300

TRIUMPH HEALTHCARE7501 WALLACE BLVDAMARILLO, TEXAS 79124806-468-9185

HEALTH SERVICES:

TURN CENTER1250 WALLACE BOULEVARDAMARILLO, TEXAS 79106806-353-3596

JO WYATT CLINIC1411 AMARILLO BLVD EAMARILLO, TEXAS 79107806-351-7200

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY3501-L WEST 45TH

AMARILLO, TEXAS 791009806-376-7214www.dads.state.tx.us

OUTREACH HEALTH SERVICES1616 S KENTUCKYAMARILLO, TEXAS 79102806-353-9907

HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICES:

ACCOLADE HOME CARE6300 I-40 WEST, STE 210AMARILLO, TEXAS 79106806-352-3900

CENTRAL LINE INFUSION1301 S. COULTER STE 201AMARILLO, TEXAS806-352-1212

COMPASSION HOME CARE1301 S. COULTER STE 402AMARILLO, TEXAS 79106806-351-8522

GOODCARE HEALTH SERVICES4107 S.W. 49TH

AMARILLO, TEXAS806-373-7373

INTERIM HEALTHCARE1901 MEDI PARKAMARILLO, TEXAS806-467-1156

SHEPARD’S CROOK HOME HEALTH2311 SOUTHWEST 7TH AVE.AMARILLO, TX 79106-6601(806) 358-9548www.shepards-nursing.com

GRIEF SUPPORT

HOSPICE CARE OF THE SOUTHWESTwww.hospicesouthwest.com806-356-0026

INDEPENDENT LIVING

BIVINS VILLAGE I & II3201 TEE ANCHOR BLVDAMARILLO, TEXAS806-342-5530/806-350-8144

LONG TERM CARE:

ABUNDANT QUALITY LIVING 6402 OAKHURST DRAMARILLO, TEXAS 79109(806)-358-9807

CHILDERS PLACE6600 KILGOREAMARILLO, TEXAS806-350-2200

ODYSSEY HEALTHCARE6900 I-40 WEST STE 150AMARILLO, TEXAS806-372-7696

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT:

APRIA HEALTHCARE2011 SOUTH COULTERAMARILO, TEXAS806-355-2060

Marlene's Home Medical Equipment & Supplies1765 S. AvondaleAmarillo, TX 79106806-418-4609

PHILIPS LIFELINE MEDIAL ALARMS& MEDICATION [email protected]

STAR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT INC.6661 CANYON DRIVEAMARILLO, TEXAS806-331-7778

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

THE GOLDEN PHOENIXPAMPA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTERONE MEDICAL DRIVEPAMPA, TEXAS 79065806-663-5570

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Directory of Services

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MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES:

AMARILLO SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOCIATION1220 SOUTH POLKAMARILLO, TEXAS 79101806-372-3381

RETRIED & SENIOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES321 SW 7TH AVE.AMARILLO, TEXAS [email protected]

WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER1615 SOUTH ROBERTSAMARILLO, TEXAS 806-376-7960

MOBILITY SERVICES:

OPEN ROAD MOBILITY6103 STAR LANEAMARILLO, TEXAS 79109806-353-2747www.openroadmobility.com

HOME NURSES:

NURSES UNLIMITED4037 W 50TH

AMARILLO, TEXAS 79109806-467-06721-888-859-0631

NUTRITION:

FAITH CITY MISSION401 SOUTH EAST 2ND

AMARILLO, TEXAS 79105806-373-6402www.faithcity.org

HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK815 ROSS STREETAMARILLO, TEXAS 79102806-374-8562

MEALS ON WHEELS219 W. 7TH

AMARILLO, TEXAS 79101806-374-1521

WEST TEXAS GROCERY DELIVERYAMARILLO, TEXAS806-433-1403

PHARMACIES:

AVONDALE PHARMACY5135 PLAINSAMARILLO, TEXAS806-352-2708

D&S PHARMACY3324 S. GEORGIA806-352-27113500 N.E. 24TH

806-383-3377

SOUTHPARK PHARMACY5901 S. BELLAMARILLO, TEXAS806-358-2428

VALMED HOME HEALTH & PHARMACY#3 CARE CIRCLEAMARILLO, TEXAS 79106806-350-6337www.valmed-hhs.com

REHABILITATION:

TRIUMPHREHABILITATION HOSPITAL7200 W. 9TH

AMARILLO, TEXAS 79106806-468-2900

RESPIRATORY SERVICES:

QUALITY RESPIRATORY

SERVICES & REPAIR6633 CANYON DRIVEAMARILLO, TEXAS806-352-4140

SENIOR CITIZEN’S SERVICES:ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES7132 W. I-40 # BAMARILLO, TEXAS806-463-5114

AREA AGENCY ON AGING415 WEST 8TH

PO BOX 9257AMARILLO, TEXAS 79105806-331-2227www.theprp.org

PANHANDLE SUPPORT SERVICES1502 SOUTH CLEVELANDAMARILLO, TEXAS 79102806-373-0392www.pcsvcs.org

WIDOWED PERSONS SERVICE OF AMARILLO2207 WEST 7TH- THE CANYONSAMARILLO, TEXAS 79106806-374-9772

SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION

THE ARBORS1910 MEDI PARKAMARILLO, TEXAS806-457-4700

BIVINS MEMORIAL1001 WALLACE BLVDAMARILLO, TEXAS

COUNTRY CLUB NURSING & REHABILITATION #9 Medical Drive. 806-352-2731

HERFORD NURSING & REHABILITATION231 KINGWOOD STREETHEREFORD, TEXAS 79045806-364-7113

TEXAN NURSING & REHAB4033 SW 51ST STREETAMARILLO, TEXAS806-355-4488

STATE AGENCIES:

ELDER ABUSE HOTLINE1-800-252-5400

FOOD STAMPS1-806-376-7214

MEDICARE HOTLINE1-800-633-4227

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION1-800-772-1213

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGING & DISABILITY HOTLINE1-800-252-9240

TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE SERVICES:

AMERICAN RED CROSS806-376-6309

SALVATION ARMY806-373-6631

TRANSPORTATION:

LE FLEUR TRANSPORTATION OF TEXAS900 S. NELSONAMARILLO, TEXAS 79104806-367-1476www.LeFleur.net

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