11-23-2017 Letters and Commentary

Social Security’s gift to its children

During the holiday season, most of us, regardless of religion or beliefs, focus on the children we love. And we at Social Security know a thing or two about helping children.

Typically, the hospital will ask new mothers if they want to apply for a Social Security number for their newborn. This is the easiest and fastest way to apply. The Social Security card typically arrives about a week to ten days after that little bundle of joy! You can learn about Social Security numbers for children by reading our publication, Social Security Numbers for Children, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

A child needs a Social Security number if he or she is going to have a bank account, own savings bonds, if the child will have medical coverage, or if the child will receive government services. You’ll also need a Social Security number for a child to claim him or her on your tax returns.

If you wait to apply, you will have to visit a Social Security office and you’ll need to: Complete an Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5); show us original documents proving your child’s U.S. citizenship, age, and identity; and show us documents proving your identity.

A child age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number must appear in person for the interview, even though a parent or guardian will sign the application on the child’s behalf.

Children with disabilities are among our most vulnerable citizens. Social Security is dedicated to helping those with qualifying disabilities and their families through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for SSI: The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a combination of conditions.  The child’s condition(s) must severely limit your child’s activities; the child’s condition(s) must be severe, last for at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death; and the child must not be working and earning more than the Substantial Gainful Activity limit ($1,180 a month in 2018). Family resources are also considered. If the parents of the child or children have more resources than are allowed, then the child or children will not qualify for SSI.

Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/people/kids to learn more about all we do to care for children. Social Security is with you and your children through your life’s journey, securing today and tomorrow.

Vonda VanTil is the Public Affairs Specialist for West Michigan.  You can write her c/o Social Security Administration, 3045 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via email at vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.

Thanksgiving is about you

Aunt Violet’s pineapple upside-down cake was always welcome at family Thanksgiving celebrations, whether we were at her house, with Uncle Johnnie’s pool table in the basement, or at Aunt Anna’s house, with Uncle Hody’s sewer-pipe stereo system in the basement, or at Aunt Marie’s house with Uncle Harry’s fields to run in – the pineapple upside-down cake was a tradition for me.

Another tradition was our elementary school choir singing Thanksgiving songs (back when God was still allowed in school). One song we sang was “Come Ye Thankful People, Come.” Some churches still sing it today. It wasn’t until recently that I realized the core message of that song.

The core message is not about Native Americans sharing their popcorn with the Pilgrims, or even about plowing and harvesting crops, although that is mentioned in the first verse. The core message is that Thanksgiving is all about you and me, and how we personally respond to God’s working in our lives – how we are touched by God’s love. Our life is like a field with God Himself the farmer, and with the angels the reapers. The seed planted is by God’s grace, and the harvest is our fulfilled lives, to His honor and glory. Pretty cool song.

I recently heard a contemporary Christian song by TobyMac, “Love Broke Through.” That song expresses God’s goodness and kindness even when we are unaware of His attention. His love can “beak through” when we least expect it. He touches and changes our lives. That’s something for which to be thankful.

We are God’s own field. Jesus said that He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). May our lives give an abundant return of love, praise and gratitude to the Heavenly Father whose kind blessings we continue to enjoy.

THANKSGIVING WISHES AND BLESSINGS… I hope this Thanksgiving holiday finds you among family and friends. This special day to give thanks is truly a time to pause and reflect on all the blessings you have.

As always, Anne and I are blessed to be with our family this holiday. Last year we spent it with our son Justin and daughter-in-law Kris and their lovely children Eli and Kendall in Novato. While we cannot be with them this year, they are in our hearts. Thankfully, although they were very near to the devastating wildfires just a few weeks ago, they escaped any injury or property loss.

This year we will celebrate at daughter Amy and son-in-law Bill’s house here in Watervliet with plenty of room for their growing family. We are blessed to have our great-grandson William, accompanied by his parents Willy and Brook. As William just turned one, he will be most interested in the mashed potatoes and pie. Granddaughter Karli and her friend Tyler, and grandson Ben will also make the day special.

Daughter Gillian and son-in-law Sergei will be there too with their four lovely daughters Elaina, Zoya, Polly, and Eva.

Also sharing the Thanksgiving meal will be Anne’s cousin Joan. Joan lives in Kalamazoo and always manages to spend holiday times among her far flung relatives that range from her family home, Menominee in the U.P., to Florida.

MANY THANKS… to all the Record readers who entered our annual Free Turkey Drawing. Thanks as well to all the merchants that sponsored the drawings and provided the turkeys.

Many thanks also to all the downtown Watervliet merchants for participating in the Downtown Development Authority’s Holiday Open Houses this past weekend. Although the weather could have cooperated a bit more, those that braved the cold, rain, and wind were met with great appreciation by the merchants.  Thanks you all for participating.

Thanks too to the DDA for sponsoring the event and to Jennifer Moore for organizing it. Jennifer did an amazing job, all the while managing her own business “Back on the Rack” and getting it ready for the Open Houses.

FOREVER THANKFUL… I was watching a program on the assassination of President John Kennedy last week. As always, watching the clips of the news coverage those days in Dallas brought a flood of memories.

I was a 17-year-old senior in high school that November 22, 1963. I was in a sociology class taught by a priest. Sometime around 2 p.m., the school principal came on the P.A. and said our president had been shot and she asked that we all pray for President Kennedy, his family and our country.

As the entire school, students and staff, were saying a rosary, she came back on the P.A. and said the president was dead of his wounds and that we should finish saying our rosary and then school was dismissed.

Although I really don’t recall much about my parents’ and family’s reaction to the horror, I do recall, vividly, the phenomenal and thorough news coverage. Back then, there was no cable news channel or network. The broadcast networks, ABC, CBS and NBC provided near continual news coverage throughout the weekend to the president’s funeral later the next week. That’s how I was watching the news Sunday morning when Lee Harvey Oswald was killed on live television by Jack Ruby. I saw Oswald double over and fall to the floor.

The Thursday after the funeral was Thanksgiving. I remember my dad saying grace before our meal and asking God’s blessing on the dead president and saying we should be forever thankful that we had him for a while. He also told us to pray for the new president Lyndon Johnson.

Forever thankful was a phrase that has stayed with me, perhaps from that Thanksgiving Day in 1963, even though I might not have been thinking about it. There certainly have been occasions that seemed “thankless.”

But here’s the deal, for us all there is much to be thankful. Be it family, health, or fortune, there is the good that will always outweigh the bad.

Count your blessings and have a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Blue Star Mothers of America’s Christmas Open House a success

Dear Tri-City communities,

With your help 204 service members are each receiving a box filled with love, support, a little bit of home and lots of Holiday Cheer!

Thank you for your very generous donation for our 15th annual “Christmas Open House” event. There are no words that can express our deep appreciation of your support to our mission of supporting the troops. We are committed to projects which help raise the morale of our troops and bring more support to America’s service members, veterans and their families.

Saturday, November 4, 2017 was an amazing day at Stevensville American Legion Post 568! The Blue Star Mothers along with several volunteers packed each box containing at least two 1-gallon size zip lock bags of toiletries as well as two 1-gallon size zip lock bags with food items. Every box also contained Christmas stockings and larger bulk goodies; Oreo cookies, peanut butter and jelly, magazines, books, wipes and very special handmade cards and letters written by students from local area schools. The total cost of mailing was $6,000. To date we have sent over 5,500 boxes at a cost of over $100,000. You enabled us to ac­complish this and we are so very appreciative!

Thank you for being part of a community that is so supportive of America’s military, and for your contribution that made this project successful. We could never have done this without your help!

With sincere gratitude,

Blue Star Mothers Chapter 177

A salute to all veterans

America’s White Table

This table, set for one, is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner, alone.

It is set for one, symbolizing the fact that some are missing from our ranks.

The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms.

The single red rose in the vase signifies the blood that many have shed to ensure the freedom of the United States of America.

A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of their bitter fate.

The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.

The glass is inverted because they cannot toast with us.

The chair is empty because they are not here.

The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope that lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation.

Remember to thank a veteran for their service – not just today but always.

Veterans Day 2017, Watervliet North and South Elementary Schools welcomed veterans to eat lunch with the students. Veterans from all branches of the service were announced and welcomed by the student body. Throughout the day, students were involved in Veterans Day activities and gained an appreciation of what our military personnel have sacrificed for our freedom.

Respectfully Submitted,

June Altom

Watervliet Food & Nutrition Services

It’s a small world

Dear Editor,

I wanted to write and recite an incident that illustrates how small the world has gotten.

About three weeks ago my wife, Pam, and I were part of an arranged one week coastal cruise out of San Pedro, CA.  The ship carried 3,100 passengers.

My wife’s legs are in better shape than mine and she would walk up and down between decks while I would take the elevator.  This one morning I got into the elevator and found a couple already in it.  The man was wearing a sweat shirt that had MICHIGAN across the front.  I asked, ‘What home in Michigan are you from?’  He stated, ‘Watervliet’ and my mouth dropped.  I regained my composure and said, ‘That’s my wife’s home town!’

The elevator got to my floor and the door was opening.  I quickly got their names and stateroom number and said I’d have my wife contact them.  My wife tried later that day, but had to leave a message on their phone.  We tried calling on the phone several times as the week progressed, but had no luck in getting a live person.

The last evening on the ship, we were packing and Pam was taking a shower when I tried one last time.  I made contact with Roxanne Pitcher and got an email address for her and her husband, Bill.  We found out they live south of town on M-140.

A few days after returning to Surprise, AZ, Pam was talking with her sister, Marilyn, in Hartford, and found out that some years ago the Pitchers’ had lived across the street from her.

It really is a small world after all. You can run, but you can’t hide!

Keep up the fine work with the paper.

Jerry Wojtas, Surprise, AZ

Rural mental health care must not be overlooked

Dear Editor,

The challenges that try rural communities in nearly all aspects of health care – greater travel distances, fewer providers, heightened health concerns, lower incomes – also stand in the way of the delivery of behavioral and mental health care services. While there is not a greater prevalence of mental illness among rural residents, a significant disparity exists in access to mental health services and care for rural populations.

In the United States, there are nearly 4,900 areas with mental health professional shortages. Of these, nearly 54 percent are classified as rural.

A mental health professional shortage area is designated as such by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in cooperation with state partners. This designation provides access to federal funds in the form of scholarships and loan repayments or enhanced reimbursements to providers and clinics for services.

Even with these incentives, it would require more than 1,600 additional mental health providers, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, or psychiatric nurse practitioners to meet the need in rural shortage areas alone.

Efforts to build and maintain an adequate behavioral and mental health workforce are not immune from the circumstances which confront general rural workforce development and retention initiatives.

As the topic of behavioral and mental health draws the attention of Congress and state legislatures in the aftermaths of violent acts and as a facet of the fight of the opioid epidemic, the existing disparity of behavioral and mental health care in rural America must continue to be addressed, starting with building a workforce to meet rural resident needs.

Jordan Rasmussen

Center for Rural Affairs