A-A-R-P’s national “Community Challenge”-program awards grants for quick-action projects that promote livable communities—with an emphasis on the needs of older residents. Applications for this year’s grants are still being accepted—until Tuesday, the 22nd. And, last year, nine organizations, throughout Tennessee, received a total of 99-thousand dollars. One of those grantees is “Knowledge Quest”, in Memphis; its founder and executive-director, Marlon Foster, encourages all eligible groups to apply…

“‘Green Leaf Farms’, and other ‘Knowledge Quest’-programs, help support households with multiple generations—as well as many neighborhood-seniors who are successfully aging in place. And, our ‘Community Challenge’-grant ensures access to healthy food, plus security for seniors, in one of the most-distinct ‘food deserts’ in our community. The opportunity to pursue and earn this grant has made a big difference in how we’re able to serve. I’m so pleased that ‘A-A-R-P’ believes in the work that we’re doing—and I strongly encourage all local organizations to apply.”

To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“community-challenge”.

A-A-R-P’s national “Community Challenge”-program awards grants for quick-action projects that promote livable communities—with an emphasis on the needs of older residents. Applications for this year’s grants are still being accepted—until Tuesday, the 22nd. And, last year, nine organizations, throughout Tennessee, received a total of 99-thousand dollars. One of those grantees is “Rebuilding Together Nashville”; its executive-director, Kaitlin Dastugue [“das-toog”], encourages all eligible groups to apply…

“Our home-repair and community-space-revitalization programs preserve affordable housing, prevent the displacement of long-term residents, and protect important community-assets. The opportunity to pursue and earn a ‘Community Challenge’-grant has made a big difference in how we’re able to serve; in fact, our grant has allowed us to make improvements to three beloved spaces in the neighborhood of ‘Bordeaux’. I am so pleased that ‘A-A-R-P’ believes in the work that we’re doing—and I strongly encourage all local organizations to apply.”

To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“community-challenge”.

(These seven soundbites are from David Harkey, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s president. For the full list of winners, see iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks.)

“We’re recognizing 65 models with the ‘Top Safety Pick – Plus’ award for 2022—as improved headlight-offerings boost more vehicles into the top tier. Another 36 models earn the lower-tier ‘Top Safety Pick’ award—for a total of 101 winners, overall. This time last year, there were 90 winners—including 49 ‘Top Safety Pick – Plus’.” (:23)

“All of the award-winners for 2022 earn ‘good’ ratings in six crashworthiness-tests—and perform well in front-crash-prevention tests. Also, for the 65 ‘Top Safety Pick – Plus’ recipients, ‘good’ or ‘acceptable’ headlights are standard across all trims; in fact, 31 of those models come exclusively with ‘good’-rated headlights.” (:23)

“Manufacturers also made vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention standard on more models this year. Front-crash prevention that earns an ‘advanced’ or ‘superior’ rating in both evaluations is standard on all but two ‘Top Safety Pick – Plus’ winners—and 30 out of 36 ‘Top Safety Pick’ winners.” (:21)

“‘Hyundai Motor Group’ has the most overall awards for 2022, as well as the most awards in each category: 11 ‘Top Safety Pick – Plus’ and 10 ‘Top Safety Pick’ awards, for a total of 21. ‘Volkswagen Group’ isn’t far behind—with eight ‘Top Safety Pick – Plus’ and three ‘Top Safety Pick’ awards. Finally, ‘Volvo’ earns 10 awards—all of them being ‘Top Safety Pick – Plus’.” (:26)

“Last year at this time, we only had two minivans and one pickup-truck on our initial award-winner list. This year, there are four minivans and four pickup-trucks that make the list.” (:13)

“We’re excited to see that even more vehicles are on our award-list this year. At a time when shopping for a new car can be a challenge—due to supply-chain issues and chip-shortages—consumers have many more choices, in all vehicle-classes, that will both protect them in a crash, and increase the odds that they will never be in one.” (:19)

“Manufacturers deserve congratulations for the steady improvements that they have made since we last updated our award-requirements. However, we plan to push things even further, with several new requirements next year. Two new test-programs will factor into our award-criteria in 2023: an updated and tougher side-crash test, and a new nighttime-pedestrian ‘Automatic Emergency Braking’-test.” (:25)

New research from “A-A-R-P Nebraska” finds that family-caregivers often struggle to provide quality care to their loved-ones, without sacrificing their own health and financial security: In a survey of registered-voters age-50 or older, 42-percent said that they either are currently a family-caregiver, or have been in the past. Of those, 53-percent reported feeling stressed emotionally, due to their caregiving-responsibilities—while 29-percent reported also feeling financial strain. Todd Stubbendieck [“stew-bin-deck”] is the group’s state-director…

“Our survey also finds that Nebraska’s 50-plus voters broadly support policies to assist family-caregivers. This includes large majorities who support requiring employers to provide limited, unpaid leave to employee-caregivers—and increasing the funding for the respite-care program, which provides short-term help so that family-caregivers can take a break. That’s why we support ‘Legislative Bill 290’—which would ensure that working caregivers aren’t forced to take unpaid leave, or place their loved-ones in taxpayer-supported nursing-homes, in order to get the care that they need.”

For more information—including the full survey-report—visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“n-e”.

(The following statement is from AARP Florida’s state director, Jeff Johnson.)

“With ‘Senate Bill 804’ and ‘House Bill 1239’, legislators in both houses are, again, looking to cut nursing-home care, throughout Florida—this time, by a full 20-percent. And, that would definitely endanger the homes’ most-vulnerable residents. Florida’s lawmakers should, instead, stand up to the executives, owners, and operators who continue to push these harmful policies. That’s why we want all Floridians to tell their legislators to keep nursing-care in the state’s nursing-homes—by opposing ‘Senate Bill 804’ and ‘House Bill 1239’. We also have the latest information on these bills online—at ‘a-a-r-p’-dot-o-r-g-slash-‘f-l’.”

According to the latest “America’s Health Rankings”-report, South Carolina ranks 45th in the nation—when it comes to cardiovascular diseases. That’s why “United-Healthcare” is reminding residents that it’s never too late—or too early—to make heart-healthy choices. Doctor Lucinda Demarco is the company’s medical director in South Carolina…

“More than 11-percent of South Carolina’s adults have been told by a health-professional that they had a cardiovascular disease—such as high blood-pressure, chest-pain, or a heart-attack. That compares with just over eight-percent nationally. The heart is the hardest-working muscle in your body—and is responsible for a variety of jobs that help keep you healthy. It’s critically important to take steps to protect it—like eating smart, getting active, and staying motivated. Since February is ‘American Heart Month’, there’s no better time to start than right now. Let’s go for a walk together!”

For heart-healthy tips, visit “u-h-c”-dot-com-slash-“heart-health”; that’s “u-h-c”-dot-com-slash-“heart-health”.

A-A-R-P’s “Community Challenge”-program is now accepting applications for this year’s grants. And, A-A-R-P Mississippi’s state-director, Kimberly L- Campbell, encourages all eligible groups—throughout the state—to apply…

“We’re thrilled to bring this opportunity back to Mississippi—because we’ve already seen tangible results from previous grantees. The annual ‘Community Challenge’ is part of our nationwide ‘Livable Communities’-initiative—which supports efforts by local areas to become great places for people of all ages, especially those who are 50-plus. It’s open to eligible nonprofits and government-organizations. And, the grants fund quick-action, innovative projects—for public places, transportation, housing, civic engagement, diversity-and-inclusion, and more. In fact, past grants in Mississippi include park- and alleyway-revitalizations, renewal of underutilized public-spaces, and improvement of unsafe intersections.”

This year’s application-deadline is March 22nd. To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“community-challenge”.

FOR “VALENTINE’S DAY”, JEWELRY-GIFTS REMAIN THE ULTIMATE SYMBOL OF WHAT LOVE SHOULD BE—PRECIOUS AND ETERNAL. AMANDA GIZZI, WITH “JEWELERS OF AMERICA”, SAYS THAT FINDING THE RIGHT GIFT IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK…

“FOR ‘VALENTINE’S DAY’, ALL JEWELRY-GIFTS ARE APPRECIATED. HOWEVER, JEWELRY THAT HAS A SWEET SENTIMENT—LIKE HEART-SHAPED JEWELRY—REALLY SHINES. COLORED GEMSTONES ARE ALSO VERY POPULAR, RIGHT NOW. AND, WITH SO MANY BEAUTIFUL OPTIONS FOR EARRINGS, NECKLACES, RINGS, OR BRACELETS, GEMSTONE-JEWELRY FEELS EXTRA-PERSONAL. FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A FOOLPROOF GIFT, ASK YOUR JEWELER ABOUT DIAMOND-EARRINGS AND -NECKLACES—AS THEY REMAIN TIMELESS GIFTS THAT CAN BE WORN WITH EVERYTHING.”

ANY OTHER GOOD TIPS?

“WHEN BUYING THE PERFECT PIECE OF JEWELRY, FIND A REPUTABLE JEWELER—LIKE THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF ‘JEWELERS OF AMERICA’. THEY UPHOLD THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS—AND WILL HELP YOU FIND THE PERFECT PIECE FOR YOUR LOVED-ONE, AND YOUR BUDGET.”

FOR A LIST OF PROFESSIONAL JEWELERS NEAR YOU, VISIT “JEWELERS”-DOT-ORG. I’M BOB TEBO, FOR THE “CONSUMER RADIO NETWORK”.

The open-enrollment period for “Florida Prepaid College Plans” is officially underway: The “Florida Prepaid College Board” is offering a new incentive for families to start saving for college this year—the “Cash ‘4’ College”-bonus. The idea is to help Florida-families boost their children’s college-savings. Kevin Thompson is the Board’s executive-director…

“We’re very excited to announce a special offer for this year’s open enrollment: Families that purchase a ‘Florida Prepaid College Plan’ by April 30th can receive a cash-bonus, of up to 500 dollars, to cover additional college-expenses. If you’ve been thinking about planning for college, it’s a great time to get started—with this special bonus-offer. Take advantage of the risk-free way to save for college, with a 100-percent money-back guarantee from the State of Florida. Prepaid plans start at just 45 dollars, a month.”

Open enrollment runs through April 30th. To learn more, visit “my-florida-prepaid”-dot-com; that’s “my-florida-prepaid”-dot-com.

(The following statement is from API’s senior vice-president for communications, Megan Bloomgren. For the full report, visit https://events.api.org/reports/soae-2022.)

“People count on U-S natural-gas and oil—for reliable energy, good jobs, and millions of products made with natural-gas and oil, every day.

“Over the past decade, through innovation and ingenuity, our industry has driven an American ‘energy revolution’—and enabled the U-S to improve prosperity. Yet, we begin 2022 with Americans viewing energy, and its costs, as major concerns. This is partly due to recent policy-proposals aimed at restricting energy-production, and delivery of U-S natural-gas and oil. These decisions exacerbate Americans’ concerns—and put upward pressure on their energy-prices.

“America shouldn’t be in the position of asking for foreign energy-suppliers to increase their output—especially when we have abundant resources, produced to among the highest environmental- and safety-standards, right here at home. Instead, we should be leading—as the world’s top producer of natural-gas and oil.

“Washington-policymakers and -regulators should prioritize American energy-leadership—with policies that encourage the development of responsibly produced energy, here in America. Meeting the world’s growing need for energy, while building a lower-carbon future, is the opportunity of our times; governments, industries, and consumers must rise to seize it, together.

“Together, let’s lead the future, with ‘Progress, Made Here in America’.”