Offered by: Kelly Fausey, CPNP. – Brighton Pediatrics, P.C.
Hand washing is one of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of illnesses and keep your family healthy. Here are several simple steps to remember. Wet your hands with warm water, lather with soap, scrub your hands, rinse with warm water and dry your hands. (CDC.gov) The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has an easy phrase to remember when washing your hands: wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry for at least 20 seconds. When washing your hands with soap and water, it is important to rub the back of your hands, in between your fingers and under your nails in helping to remove all the germs and bacteria. It is recommended to sing the happy birthday song twice while washing your hands in order to get the full 20 seconds of hand washing.
Removing germs and bacteria by washing your hands reduces the spread of diarrhea and respiratory illness with your family and your community. It is good to wash your hands before and after preparing food and before eating. Also wash hands after blowing your nose or sneezing, going to the bathroom, touching all surfaces and touching garbage. It is also good to remember to wash your hands after petting animals, giving an animal a treat or feeding an animal. Hand sanitizer can be used as an alternative to handwashing, but it is not recommended for visibly dirty hands. Handwashing is the most effective way of removing germs and bacteria from your hands and reducing the spread of illnesses in your community.
You could speak with just about anyone, and they would agree our lives have been totally turned into pandemonium by a global pandemic. It seems like there has been a world-wide reset of life as anyone knew it. Th e little things that were slightly irritating have been replaced by traumas that are large and in some cases life-threatening. It feels as though we’re all being given an opportunity to reassess what’s important and how we could “do life” better. Even our politicians have found a reason to work together because of the enormity of the situation. It would seem the arrogance of our existence is being brought to its knees. And what will we make of this opportunity?
We, as small business owners, are on a day by day work plan that can have many changes in one day. We’re concerned that all of our e orts from the past will dissipate into thin air if we don’t handle this horrible dilemma in the right way. The natural inclination is to freeze in place and hope this is all a bad dream. My instincts tell me we can’t stay frozen for too long. Th e insurmountable negatives have some pretty impressive positives outweighing them and they are: resilience, creativity, kindness, helpfulness, and grit. Most adults have life experience that kicks in and we go into our problem solving mode. This time we’re Sheltering In Place can be used to work on our plans for what happens when Covid-19 is defeated by our CAN DO spirit.
One more amazing thing on our side is the power of community. We, at Th e Brighton Buzz, have coordinated with our family of advertisers to do what is best for each of them at this time. is April issue isn’t as big as it usually would be, but, it’s a mighty expression of how business will survive when things get di cult. As Th e Brighton Buzz has brought valuable resources to you and your families for nearly 15 years, those businesses included in this issue want you to know they are there for you during this crisis.
Offered by: Scott & Lora Nordby – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
It’s about this time, every year, we start longing for spring. Warmer weather, birds and blossoms, and more sunshine tend to sound very good to us. Colorado weather can be tricky, though. We can have weeks of dry, warm weather or (as we’ve had recently), we can have weekly snowstorms of varying degrees of accumulation. This is the “in between” season, which may make you feel like you’re holding your breath to make a decision about selling your home.
The good news: Spring Selling Season begins early in Colorado. From December 2019 to January 2020, there was a whopping 89% increase in new listings. You can blame that on a poor showing from the Denver Broncos, and warmer days.
More good news: Interest rates remain low, so there are a number of buyers ready to capitalize on that opportunity. Because inventory remains low, there are more buyers than there are sellers. This means there will be multiple offers for correctly priced homes, which may lead to selling prices above asking prices.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that market conditions have resulted in more savvy buyers. Homes that are not correctly priced may stay on the market longer, particularly on the higher end of the market.
If you’ve had a house on the market for a while, review your pricing and marketing strategy with your REALTOR®. It may be time to reconsider price or evaluate the obstacles that are preventing your home from selling.
One thing is important to remember: communication is key. Talk with your REALTOR® and discuss your goals and concerns. They are there to work with you to ensure you have all your questions answered so you can make the decision that is best for you and your family.
Whether you are considering selling, or if you’d like to talk about buying strategy, we have a REALTOR® who can help. Please call 303-905-8850. We’ll make sure you talk with someone who is knowledgeable about real estate and your local market.
If your IRA is big enough to help you pay for retirement with enough left over to leave to your heirs, you’ll want to pay close attention to some recently enacted legislation – because it could have a big impact on your estate plans.
If your IRA is big enough to help you pay for retirement with enough left over to leave to your heirs, you’ll want to pay close attention to some recently enacted legislation – because it could have a big impact on your estate plans.
Here’s the background: As part of the 2019 SECURE Act, which includes provisions to help people build their retirement savings, the so-called “stretch IRA” has been limited for most non-spouse beneficiaries. Under the old rules, non-spouse beneficiaries could withdraw money from an inherited IRA gradually, over their lifetimes. By “stretching” out these payments, beneficiaries could spread out the tax burden, as withdrawals from a traditional IRA are taxable at an individual’s personal tax rate.
Now, most non-spouse beneficiaries have to withdraw everything from the IRA by the end of the tenth year after the account owner passes away – which could present a tax problem. At a minimum, this change should lead you to review your estate plans, assuming you won’t need all the money in your IRA to support your retirement lifestyle. But what else can you do in response to the loss of a stretch IRA?
One possible move is to convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. As you may know, a traditional IRA can grow on a tax-deferred basis and your contributions may be tax deductible, depending on your income level. Roth IRA contributions are never deductible, but earnings withdrawals are tax-free, provided you’ve had your account at least five years and you don’t start taking withdrawals until you’re at least 59-1/2. What’s more, you can pass on the ability to make tax-free withdrawals to the beneficiaries you’ve named to receive your IRA.
However – and this is a pretty big “however” – if you were to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you would trigger a tax bill that could be substantial. Essentially, you’d owe taxes on any money in the traditional IRA that would have been taxed when you withdrew it. So, you’d likely need a sizable amount of funds available, held outside your IRA, to pay this tax bill.
Is it worth it? You’ll have to do your own cost-benefit analysis while pondering a Roth IRA conversion. It may not make much sense for you to pay a big tax bill now if the money, when kept in a traditional IRA, could be withdrawn at a lower tax rate later. Consequently, you may not want to convert if the money is going to your young grandchildren or to other heirs in lower tax brackets. Conversely, a conversion may make sense if you plan to leave money to heirs in their peak earning years, who might be in a high tax bracket and could greatly benefit from the tax-free withdrawals provided by a Roth IRA.
These are just general guidelines, of course – to determine if a Roth IRA conversion makes sense for you, you’ll need to consult with your tax advisor. And if you’d like to consider other ways to respond to the new laws that limit stretch IRAs, you’ll also want to consult with your estate planning professional. This is a big change – so you’ll want to get the help you need to make the right moves.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Member SIPC.
Offered by: Dawn M. Dycus, M.D. – Brighton Pediatrics, P.C.
During the winter and early spring, many infants and toddlers will develop an illness known as bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is a respiratory infection that develops in the smaller airways of the lung. This is different than bronchitis, which is an infection of the larger more central airways.
Bronchiolitis causes inflammation, swelling, and mucus production in the small airways. This can reduce or block airflow, resulting in wheezing (a whistling sound), widening of the nostrils, grunting, or tugging inward of the chest wall muscles with breathing. Children with bronchiolitis may breathe heavier than usual or make a snoring sound with breathing, as if they have mucus or phlegm in their chest. Bronchiolitis often starts with signs of a cold (runny nose or congestion, cough, fever) and then symptoms worsen over the next 4-5 days. Breathing difficulties typically develop between days 3-5 of illness. After day 5, symptoms will start to gradually improve, resolving completely after 10-14 days.
Bronchiolitis is caused by multiple different viruses, including RSV. Because this type of illness is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not work to resolve the illness any faster. Treatment is supportive, including rest, increased fluid intake, humidifier use, steam showers, nasal saline and suctioning the nose, and giving Tylenol (or ibuprofen in infants over 6 months old) as needed for fever or discomfort.
Children with bronchiolitis should be seen urgently if they develop wheezing, breathing difficulties, signs of dehydration, or fever of 104 F or higher. In some cases, admission to the hospital is needed for increased support through this illness. If you have concerns that your child has bronchiolitis, please contact your doctor’s office for advice.
In Ortho-Bionomy, we work with the body and it’s natural inherent healing ability, knowing that genuine healing comes from within.
As we mature, we tend to rely on others to find a solution to what we’re feeling within. It’s a response to the fast paced life style that is so often created in our world. Giving someone outside of ourselves permission to know more than we do is difficult. Coinciding with the belief that we need to make more, do more, be more, causing a disconnect to our minds and our bodies. Remember when you were young and able to bounce back more quickly from an injury? We had so much to do that we didn’t dwell on the injury. We were able to discharge the trauma because our perception of pain was much different. That’s the inherent ability that I am talking about.
With the busyness of today’s world, I feel that we have to be our own best advocate for health. We have decided as a general public that some ‘other’ expert knows more than we do about what’s happening inside us. In Ortho-Bionomy we work WITH you, not on you. We work toward self-regulation and self correction. To connect the inner knowing. Inner knowing will create a healthier response to injury, illness or trauma. To find balance, to be relieved of the pain that the body feels. Listening, and slowing down, feeling the body’s healing response.
Offered by: City of Brighton Communications Office
In early March the City of Brighton will be giving utility customers more options in terms of how they pay their water bill. Paymentus is the premier provider of innovative, reliable, and secure electronic bill presentment and payment services for more than 1,200 clients leading the Utility, Insurance, Consumer Finance, Health and Government industries. Paymentus will allow customers 24/7 access to their accounts and they will be able to see updates made to their accounts in real-time.
Paymentus will replace Xpress Bill Pay but comes with more expanded payment options than the city previously could offer its customers. The City of Brighton will be implementing this more secure, convenient and user-friendly online payment system for our utility customers this Spring. The new and improved interface provides myriad benefits to customers, enabling them to pay their bills faster, easier, and more conveniently and securely.
The new features include: an improved user experience; a “Pay Now” feature that allows for quick payment without having to register an account; and registered account enhancements including view and pay multiple accounts at once, view payment history and consumption information, and view past billing statements. The following enhancements are anticipated to arrive in Spring 2020 including the ability to securely save your payment information; the option of signing up for paperless billing with email reminders; and the opportunity to schedule automatic payments from your checking account or credit card.
Additionally, the city has implemented a new automated phone payment system with features such as quick account balance review and payment with a credit card, debit card, or eCheck and an easy-to-use call flow.
“We are excited about these changes and they reflect our continual commitment to providing a superior customer service experience,” said Rachelle Morrison, Utilities Customer Service Supervisor. “We recognize that customers want flexibility, accessibility, convenience and a user-friendly experience without sacrificing security. We believe these new features deliver them.”
This change will only impact customers who currently use Xpress Bill Pay or are enrolled in automatic payment withdrawals. Those customers will need to create a new account with Paymentus to continue these methods of payment. However, this change will not impact customers who pay in person, or mail in their payments.
If you have any questions about the upgrade to Paymentus, please call us at 303-655-2009.
It’s that time of the year when we look back on trends of the past year and look forward to “home buying season” as we head into spring and summer. So, what does the latest Housing Trends Report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) predict?
If you guessed that Millennials (19%) are the most likely generation with plans to purchase a home this year, you would be correct. Of course, Gen Z (13%) is gaining ground, with Gen X (12%) hanging solidly in the mix. What is exciting about this is that the two youngest generations are primarily first-time buyers, making that first leap into homeownership!
What does that mean for the market? There is still a shortage of inventory, and according to the same study, a significant demand for existing homes—a projected 40% of potential buyers are specifically interested in purchasing an existing home, and only 19% are set on a new build, while the remaining 41% are open to both.
Additionally, mortgage rates are still very low, so it’s a great time to consider selling your existing home and look for a custom or semi-custom “build to suit” opportunity for that upgrade or downsize you’ve been thinking about.
If you haven’t checked out Park Place Homes recently, it’s located in the heart of Brighton and filling up with beautiful custom and semi-custom builds. There are eleven base floorplans to get you started, filled with great amenities to choose from. These base floorplans can be adapted to fit your specific needs. Give me a call—I would love to sit down with you and see how we can get you into your dream home.
For proven expertise in establishing your home value and/or searching for a new or existing home, please call Jan at (303) 520-4340.
Offered by: Michael A. Dolan – Dolan & Associates, P.C.
In December Congress passed the SECURE Act. The Act significantly changed how retirement assets are treated after your death. A lot of articles and information have been circulated about the impact of this new legislation. Unfortunately, much of this information, and the recommended changes, is inaccurate and does not consider all of the available options.
One of the responses to this new law was to dismiss using a protective trust as a beneficiary for your retirement plan. Protective trusts provide advantages for your family, including protection from creditors, a future divorce, and financial damage from a catastrophic illness. Directing your retirement plan to a protective trust is an effective planning tool. If designed correctly, there will be no difference in the income tax outcome. When adjusting for a change in the law, don’t forget what you hoped to accomplish through your estate, and make adjustments to address the tax change with that in mind. While the new law did increase taxes, the changes to the law did not create a situation that requires you to abandon your goals and objectives.
Anyone who has retirement plan assets should meet with their knowledgeable estate planning attorney to update their estate plan and how they are addressing their retirement plans. If someone is telling you that you shouldn’t leave a retirement plan to a trust because of taxation issues, they are simply misinformed. There are simple techniques available, and some may actually increase the amount your family receives after taxes are paid.
If you are not sure how to get started with the process, I encourage you to get some education around the subject. If you would like to learn more about available estate planning options, visit: www.EstatePlansThatWork.com to sign up for a complimentary small group educational workshop.
Offered by: Janine Lechleitner, CPNP. – Premier Pediatrics
I don’t know about you, but I am ready for spring and healthy kids again! Unfortunately however, according to the Children’s Hospital Colorado Bug Watch we are still seeing high volumes of influenza A, Influenza B, and RSV. In an effort to make it through the remaining sick season, here are a few reminders to help keep our children as healthy as possible!
Keep your child home from school and/or daycare if they are sick. Handwashing, handwashing, handwashing! You can never reinforce this too much with children! Remind children especially to wash hands after coughing or blowing their nose, before eating, and after using the bathroom. Cover those sneezes and coughs. They can use a tissue to cough or sneeze into when available. Keep the fingers out of the mouth and away from the eyes and nose. Reinforce no sharing of food or drinks, and to not touch the spout of the water fountain with their mouth.
At home, step up that disinfecting effort! Respiratory viruses can remain on surfaces for minutes to hours! Focus on disinfecting surfaces and things that your sick child uses the most, and don’t forget items like door knobs and refrigerator door handles. Increase the frequency of laundry, focusing especially on bedding and towels. If you have other healthy children at home, try to limit contact between them as much as possible. Limit not only physical contact, but also items such as toys or books which are often shared between siblings.
Offered by: Dawn M. Dycus, M.D. – Brighton Pediatrics, P.C. During the winter and early spring, many infants and toddlers …Read More »
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Testimonials
Stayin in The Buzz
December 31, 2019
I got a call from Susan at the Brighton Buzz asking if I wanted to
advertise n the next issue. My response was that I either needed to keep
my ad running or fold the business.
About 90% of the calls that I receive include a comment like, ”I
saw your ad in the Brighton Buzz…. . “
The majority of my calls take me inside a home, it is not unusual for somebody to pick up a copy of the Buzz and say they found me right there. The Buzz that they show me is frequently not the latest issue. The Buzz has great holding power! At the same time, I can always tell when The Buzz has hit mailboxes. My phone starts ringing. A lot of people seem to look through it right away.
The cost per home is low, the cost per response is
reasonable. Am I going to continue to advertise in the Brighton
Buzz? You can count on it!
Roome Paget
Gray Guy Handyman Service, LLC
Brighton, CO
Susan is Superb!
July 19, 2015
Wonderful! Well written! Informative! Susan is Superb!
Susan is Amazing!
July 19, 2015
Susan is Amazing! Thanks for all your had work. We all appreciate it.
Advertising process was flawless!
July 19, 2015
Advertising process was flawless! The ad looked great, the responses are already coming in and Susan was terrific to work with. Thank you! We'll definitely be working with you guys again!
