From the Kaiser Health News website
The decision seemed straightforward. Bob McHenry’s heart was failing, and doctors recommended two high-risk surgeries to restore blood flow. Without the procedures, McHenry, 82, would die.
The surgeon at a Boston teaching hospital ticked off the possible complications. Karen McHenry, the patient’s daughter, remembers feeling there was no choice but to say “go ahead.”
It’s a scene she’s replayed in her mind hundreds of times since, with regret.
A recent pension reform proposal made it through the House, and a similar bill is working its way through the Senate. A provision in the SECURE Act removes the 70½ age limit cap on traditional IRA contributions. If this provision becomes law, it will give older workers another option for saving on a tax- advantaged basis.
The proposal reminded me that even without a law change, there are other ways to save on a tax-advantaged basis, as only traditional IRAs currently have an age cap. Other options, like Roth IRAs and employer sponsored retirement plans, are available to older workers, regardless of age.
The pension reform proposal makes this a good time to focus on an underutilized and important savings opportunity for older workers, the Roth IRA. Let’s look at the details.
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
Hawaii Air National Guard Photograph
Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) F-22s and maintainers from the 154th Wing conducted joint Forward Air Refueling Point (FARP) operations training with airman from Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) for the first time at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
FARP operations are utilized to refuel aircraft in remote locations when air-to-air refueling is not possible or when fueling stations are not accessible. Our F-22 pilots kept their engines fired up, while receiving a direct line of fuel from an AFSOC MC-130J. With this capability our Hawaiian Raptors can rapidly refuel and return to the battle space in no time.
FARP airmen are specially trained to operate in austere and hostile environments; they are even capable of executing refueling operations in pitch black darkness. Anywhere you can land a MC-130, FARP has the ability to set up a refueling site with both minimal equipment and personnel, to provide versatility while leaving a low footprint.
From the Kaiser Health News website
The 86-year-old woman in rural Utah doesn’t usually answer solicitations from strangers, she said, but the young couple who knocked on her front door seemed so nice. Before long, she had handed over her Medicare and Social Security numbers — and allowed them to swab her cheek to collect her DNA.
She is among scores of older Americans who have been targeted in a scam that uses DNA tests to defraud Medicare or steal personal information. Fraudsters find their victims across the country through cold calls, door knocking, email, Facebook ads and Craigslist. They also troll low-income housing complexes, senior centers, health fairs and antique shops. Sometimes they offer ice cream, pizza or $100 gift cards. Some callers claim to work for Medicare, according to a fraud alert issued July 19 by the Federal Trade Commission.
Even if you’re not a Capital One customer, the bank’s recently announced data breach should motivate you to protect yourself from fraud.
The credit-card giant disclosed on Monday that about 100 million U.S. and 6 million Canadian consumers were impacted in a data breach that occurred in March. No credit-card account numbers or login credentials were compromised, according to the bank.
Hawaii Air National Guard Photograph
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
Congratulations on your retirement after 28 years of service to the Air Force and the Hawaii Air National Guard.
Colonel Gregory Scrivner served as the Director of Staff at Hq, Hawaii Air National Guard.
Anyone who’s ever been to a military honors funeral (especially one with full military honors) knows what a beautiful, resonating tribute it is to a veteran’s bravery, sacrifice and service. The good news is, most U.S. veterans and all active duty members of the armed forces or in the active reserve have the right to be buried with military honors, free of charge to the family.
Additional information about military funeral honors
Thanks to continuing contributor Gordon Lau for submitting this article.
From the U.S. News & World Report website
Each type of retirement benefit has a differe
nt eligibility age. Your age plays a big role in how much you can expect to receive from Social Security and what you need to do to avoid retirement account penalties. Remember to factor these important ages into your retirement plan.
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
The Hawaii Air National Guard activated two new units today the 298th Air Defense Group and the 298th Support Squadron and reassigned the 169th Air Defense Squadron to the 298th Air Defense Group. This move is in an effort to better align the Hawaii Air Guards organizational structure with other Air Force organizations.
The mission of the 289th Air Defense Group is to provide a means to detect, monitor, identify and Intercept airborne objects that may pose a threat to the Hawaii and Guam Air Defense Region. This is a full time mission that is actively engaged in daily operations, monitoring the air space in the Hawaii and Guam region.
During the ceremony Brig. Gen. Ryan Okahara, Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard assigned Col. Phillip Mallory as the Group Commander for the 298 ADG. Col Mallory then assigned Maj. Mariko Boone as the 298th Support Squadron Commander and designated Lt. Col. Daniel C. Wrazien as the 169th Air Defense Squadron Commander.
The Hawaii Air National Guard role in air defense goes back to 1956 when the 169th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated and operated out of Koko Head. In 1961, the 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated. It operated out of Mt. Kokee on Kauai this unit later joined the 169th. In 1965, the coverage area was expanded to Mt. Kaala. The 169th has since been redesignated as the 169th Air Defense Squadron and has an expanded its air defense coverage.
Today the 169th effectively became its own group with two squadrons.
“Grandpa’s heart is purple?” My son asked with a bewildered look on his face. “Why isn’t it red?”
Andrew, five years old at the time, overheard my conversation with my father, a Marine Corps Vietnam War Veteran, discussing how grateful my brothers and I are to have my dad’s two Purple Hearts in our possession to share and pass down to our children.
As I sat with my son and showed him the two tangible symbols of sacrifice his grandfather made for our country, I was overcome with emotion. This moment with my son was not only precious to me as a mom, but deepened the commitment I have for my role as executive director of Purple Hearts Reunited.
Extra pounds and a wider waistline won’t do your brain any favors as you get older, a new study suggests.
In fact, obesity appears to accelerate brain aging by a decade or more, the researchers added.
People with a wide waist circumference and higher body mass index (BMI) were more likely to have a thinner cerebral cortex, a condition that has previously been linked to a decline in brain function.
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
Brig Gen Okahara passes the guidion to Col Carlson | Hawaii Air National Photograph
Colonel Dann S. Carlson assumed command from Brig. Gen. Gregory “Woody” Woodrow, 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) Commander, at the Change of Command ceremony on August 4, 2019, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Woodrow, has served 33 years of military service, which concluded as commander of the 154th Wing since May of 2016.
Carlson, an Air Force Academy graduate, takes command of the Air National Guard’s largest wing. Prior to coming to the 154th Wing, he was the Assistant Superintendent, for Hawaii’s Department of Education, Office of School Facilities and Support Services. He served in various capacities as an active duty airman; F-16 instructor/evaluator pilot, Harrier exchange pilot, Thunderbird pilot, Fighter Squadron commander and Deputy Joint Base commander were some of the positions he held during a 25 year active duty career.
After retiring from active duty, he returned as a traditional guardsman with the HIANG serving as Director of Plans & Programs. During his short military retirement, he served as the Assistant Superintendent, for Hawaii’s Dept. of Education, Office of School Facilities and Support Services.
Aloha Airlines 737 N571GB King Lunalilo at Honolulu boarding passengers for an inter-island flight around 1969. This was Aloha’s first Boeing 737. pic.twitter.com/QI3fA4Smnm
— Hawaii Aviation (@HawaiiAviation) February 15, 2018
From a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency press release
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.
The test code used will be the National Periodic Test (NPT). Unlike last year’s test, there will be no Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test accompanying the EAS test. This year’s test will also be different in that it will be performed from the National Government to Primary Entry Points (PEP) versus a direct feed from the internet. In Hawaii, the State Emergency Operations Center is the designated PEP due to our unique geographic nature. Across the rest of the country, a local radio station normally fulfills the task.
The test is being conducted through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). So far, there have been four successful Nationwide IPAWS Test conducted in the last eight years.
The test will begin at 8:20 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time. A backup date has been planned for August 21, 2019 in the case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date.
All EAS participants are required to participate in this nationwide test.
Members of the public and interested stakeholder organizations that are in a position to observe test results in their communities can provide useful feedback on the nationwide test, including any problems observed or any complications in the delivery of the EAS message during the nationwide test reporting their observations to the Public Safety Support Center at https://www.fcc.gov/general/public-safety-support-center.
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency
3949 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816-4495
808 733-4300
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