Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Thanks for supporting Apple Festival

To the Editor:

The Bloomfield Apple Festival Committee has closed the books on the 2010 Bloomfield Apple Festival and has started planning the 2011 festival.

The Bloomfield Apple Festival is a community event and without the assistance of all the citizens and businesses of the community and surrounding area, it would not happen. Many individuals and businesses volunteered their time and donated to help make the 2010 Bloomfield Apple Festival successful.

The Bloomfield Apple Festival Committee would like to express their thanks to the following: UDWI REMC, Classic Cruisers, Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, Joe's Pizza, CSR Computers, Darla Bent/ Bloomfield State Bank, Ben Helms/FFA, Lester Jenkins & Sons Funeral Home, Brian Chesnut, Farmers & Mechanics Federal, Mike Abrams, Haywood Printing Company Bloomfield Police Reserves, Taylor Creations, Hanauer Family, Eastern Heights Utilities, Inc., Rick Hudson, Hasler Oil Company, Stuart Dowden, LeGrand Art Studio & Gallery, Randall Brown, Subway, Steve Campbell/Duke Energy, Walnut Grove Spring Water, Community Services, Davis Financial Service' Inc., Denny White, American Legion Post 196, Bloomfield School District, Homestead Realty, volunteer shuttle drivers, Burton Chiropractic Clinic, Inc., BHS Music Department, 1st Security Insurance, BHS Athletic Department, Primitive Décor & More, Ivan Sparks, Holtsclaw Sales & Service, Inc., B&C Disposal, QT's Custom Active Wear, OMara Construction, Hi-Lift Jack Factory, shuttle drivers, Bob O'Neall & family, Branstetter-Pullen Plumbing & Heating, Greene County Recycling, political candidates who purchased signs, Greene County Reserves, Town of Bloomfield, Bloomfield Police, Bloomfield Fire Department (First aid), NJROTC/LCDR Starr, Carlisle Correctional Center, Bart Beard -- Phil Harris Golf Course, Susan Isenogle (pet contest), Debbie Cullison (pet contest), Alternative School, Eastern Star (Baby Contest), Delts (Queen Contest) and the Bloomfield Street Department.

Bloomfield Apple

Festival Committee

Kris Jarman

Teressa Smith

Darla Chesnut

Judy Branstetter

Amber Branstetter

Ginger Sipes

Dan Sichting

Jeff Solliday

Bob Uland

Wyatt LeGrand

George Poe

Bloomfield

Baby boomers

are getting older

To the Editor:

On Jan. 1, 2011, the first of 75 million baby boomers began to turn 65. Every day -- for the next 19 years -- about 10,000 boomers a day will turn 65! Pretty staggering isn't it?

We are an aging nation, and one that loves our independence. With age comes an inevitable need for assistance. Without exception, we would each prefer to stay at home for as long as possible rather than be institutionalized in a nursing home. This is not an unrealistic expectation.

The purpose of Indiana's CHOICE (Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled) program is to assist the elderly and disabled to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. This can be accomplished through caretakers providing in-home assistance with normal activities of daily living.

CHOICE is the only state source of funding for home and community-based services. It is unfortunate that combined federal and state long-term care funding is disproportionately distributed 24% to home & community based services and 76% to nursing homes. But what is even more discouraging is the fact that CHOICE funding is on the chopping block.

CHOICE is vital to the long-term care of Indiana's aging population. This is one of those rare cases where it is not only the correct moral and ethical thing to do, but it is also the most economical thing to do. Providing care in a nursing home is four times more expensive than providing care in one's own home. If we can eliminate or prolong someone's entrance into a nursing home, we can not only improve their quality of life, but we save money while doing it.

According to Indiana FSSA statistics, the typical CHOICE client is an 85-year-old woman who lives alone and needs help with three or more activities of daily living. This is hardly someone who is going to march on the capital and lobby for their independence. We are going to have to do this for them -- and us.

Continued cuts to CHOICE will deny independence and needed care to thousands of aging Hoosiers, forcing them into a nursing home. This is an option that few want and the state cannot afford.

Laura Holscher Smith

Assistant Vice-President

Generations/Vincennes University

Vincennes