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Dear Savvy Senior,

Do you know of any resources that can help with my mother's home-care bills? Mom is recovering from a stroke and needs in-home care, but I understand Medicare doesn't cover it, and she doesn't have long-term care insurance.

Stressed-Out Daughter

So you've decided you don't want to remain at home alone any longer. Maybe you've had some health issues and safety has become a more important issue than in the past. Maybe you've thought about hiring an in-home care worker to help out, but realize that the majority of the day--and night--you might still be alone.

Maybe you're just tired of not being around other people and want to live somewhere that has socialization opportunities, plus help when/if needed.

I've talked a lot about Adult Family Homes (AFH) and Assisted Living facilities (AL) in this space, and I won't dig into their details again right now. The advice given time after time still is valid: Look before you leap. Even if you're just thinking about moving into one or the other, check them out, talk to residents and staff, ask around.

The Napavine school not only has talented musicians, athletes and students; we also have amazing artists.

Seniors such as Stasha Pinion and Victoria Santana are given an opportunity to look at art as a career. Students such as Ada Williams, Makenna Dahlin and Garrett Rushton use art as a time to concentrate and relax while painting or sketching.

The Toledo city council meeting on Jan. 2, 2018, went off without a hitch and a big surprise. Mayor Steve Dobosh opened the meeting with the flag salute.

During the meeting, a winner of the ToledoTel Food Bank drawing was drawn and the winner of the television was Doris Rogers. Mayor Dobosh then reported The Cheese Ball Drop on New Years Eve was a success with around 100 people in attendance for music, laughter and the lighted cheese ball with cheese sticks attached.

The surprise of the evening was when the city council position 1 winner of the election declined to accept the oath of office. He stated it was due to the fact that Jim Fluckinger received more votes than he did during the election for positions 1 and 2.

The Town Crier is starting a Mayor's Corner with Don Bradshaw to inform the citizens of Winlock what he is doing. The Town Crier will be doing this as a public service for the city

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo Jan. 4 rescinding an Obama administration stance on state marijuana laws known as the Cole Memo. Rescinding the stance has cast a shadow of unfortunate doubt over states that have legalized recreational marijuana and states that have legalized medical marijuana.

Local food drives this year resulted in a major success for our local food banks after an outpouring of support from community members, businesses, donors and unrelenting determination from local students.

New Raymond Mayor Douglas Nordin settled into his new seat at the Raymond City Council meeting on Jan. 2 after being sworn in by City of Raymond Clerk Gretchen Sagen. Present were about 25 residents excited to see the swearing in of whom many were family or friends of his and provided a very warm welcome to the new mayor.