San Juan Silver Stage | February 2021 | Volume 25, No. 02

Celebrating 25 years as the region’s Premier Lifestyles Publication!

This issue – Februrary 2021

Arts & Entertainment Profiles Pets Seniors Elevating to New normal

Ridgway, Colorado

Pets & People

Live Theater is Back!

Spend time with your elders

When you see this icon, click on it or on the STORY LINK next to it for a downloadable, printable version of the story. Many of our readers like to read a printed page. Since we are no longer producing a print issue of the Silver Stage, we’ve found a way for you to still have, hold, and read a paper page.

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Lots going on around the region now. A nice mix of in-person and virtual events. Art and Dance Classes have started up again. Check here for details for February events.

Profiles

Artist, Cheri Isgreen

Artist, Cheri Isgreen in her studio

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Written by Kathryn R. Burke. Cheri Isgreen, a retired educator, is an artist of national acclaim. She is a member of the Colorado Watercolor Society, and loves creating art in a variety of subjects and mediums. [Story here]

VSA Spotlight: Barb Campbell

Barb Campbell, cello. Valley Symphony Orchestra. Courtesy photo.

Written by Stacey Ryan. Campbell stopped playing the cello after a brain injuryytook away her ability to read music and destroyed her coordination. Eventually she relearned. “My doctor said playing the cello was one of the biggest drivers in my recovery.” She’s been with VSA for 14 years. [Read story]

Artist, Marko Marino

Artist, Marko Marino. Kate Burke photo.

By Kathryn R. Burke. I Native Coloradan, Marko Marino creates dynamic compositions in contemporary style utilizing a vivid visual memory combined with a strong sense of design. [Read his story.] [Watch video,as he explains his work.]

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Elevating to a New Normal

Last year was tough — but thanks to the vaccine becoming more available, and with the help of impending legislation , we hope to see some relief soon to help “save” small businesses (lifeblood of our smaller, rural towns) and our artistic communities, and to open up our beleagured schools again. What’s kept us going and speaheaded the chanbe to a ‘new normal’ is reliable, high-speed internet. It’s literally been a life-saver. With it, many of us can … virtually… conduct business, provide education, offer telemed services, as we try to establish a “new normal” in the most “un-normal” times the world has ever seen since the demise of the dinosaurs. Of course, we’ve also had to learn how to make it work…or follow the path of denizens of the Mesozoic era.

[Read more]

Elevating Virtual Education – update

[Winter 2020/2021. Interview with Becky Mashburn] Due to increasing Covid cases, more schools may have to switch to Virtual learning. Students are struggling. Many teachers report working long hours and being exhausted. Learning new teaching methods and mastering digital technology is a strain on both. This interview explores the impact on students and teachers, and how Elevate is helping both.
[Read more.]

Business: The New Business Model—We’ve All Gone Virtual

[Written by Kathryn R. Burke and Karen Prather] Today, we are living in a brand new world of business technology, and it’s evolving exponentially. Business owners and their teams must think creatively to continue collaborating and achieving their goals to maintain financial security while preventing the spread of illness.

Video conferences, Zoom meetings, Online sales through social media and website selling, financial programming, remote file transfers, webinars, and more help us stay safe and employed. Having a high-speed Internet connection is essential to succeeding in today’s new business model, and for many small business owners, the learning curve can e a challenge.
[Learn more.]

The New Face of Education

Coping with Covid and changes in how we educate today

Excellent article in Colorado Sun talking about the how hybrid education is affecting teachers.
[Colorado Sun | November 2, | By Erica Breunlin]Colorado teachers are working twice — sometimes three times — as hard when their students learn both in person and online. A hybrid approach to school gives students the chance to see teachers and peers in person. But is it also burning out educators? [Read story]

PET POWER

Connecting Pets With People – February 2021

People & Pets Live Better Together

2nd Chance Humane Society. Courtesy Photo.

By Kelly Goodin. Second Chance Humane Society believes that pets and people live better together. People are turning more than ever to pets for comfort and companionship and to battle anxiety and other emotional responses to our unprecedented and unstable times. [Read Story Here].

Pets Help Fight the Isolation Blues

2nd Chanced Adopt a Pet Program. Courtesy Photo.

By Kelly Goodin. This Holiday Season is unlike any other in recent decades as family gatherings and various traditions that bring friends and family together are cancelled, shifted, and revised in order to be safe and follow restrictions for keeping others safe. The situation is disheartening and challenging for so many of us and it requires a new way of being. Second Chance Humane Society believes the power of the pet has never been more needed. [read story here].

2nd Chance Pet Training

Trainer: Krissi Goetz, Founder of Animal Adoption Center’s Training and Behavior Program.

By Kelly Goodin. The mission of Second Chance Humane Society is Connecting Pets, People & Community While Saving Lives. One of the ways we do this is by offering an effective and affordable pet behavioral support program. For 2021 we were able to import a new trainer to our service region by hiring Krissi Goetz as our Behavioral Manager at Second Chance. [read story here].

SENIOR SERVICES & STORIES

Community Living Services – February 2021

COMMUNITY LIVING SERVICS

High Cost of Social Isolation for the Elderly

Elder isolation increases during cold winter months, which has been exacerbated by Covid-caused visitation restrictions. Image, Kate Burke.

By Eva Veitch, Region 10 Community Living Services Program Director. Human beings are social creatures; our human connections help us survive and thrive. COVID-19 and the social distancing that has been put in place to protect us have had a huge unintended consequence, hitting the elderly especially hard. Learn how you can help.

[Read story]

REGION 10, AREA AGENCY ON AGING

How do you know if there’s an emergency in your community? What should you do if you’re told to evacuate your home? What should you have with you during an emergency? What is your emergency plan? Please join CU Denver’s Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (CIDE), in collaboration with the Western Slope’s Region 10 Area Agency on Aging, for an emergency preparedness training for older adults, persons with disabilities, their family members and caregivers. [Learn more]