Diana Laux is the Western Region Marketing Representative – Federal Government Programs for Delta Dental of California. They have administered the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) nationwide since 1998.
The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) reduces your total annual out-of-pocket expenses for routine dental care and saves you money when it comes time for more extensive—and expensive—dental treatment. Get more information about TRDP here
Diana Laux, Delta Dental of California
1115 International Drive | Rancho Cordova, CA, 95670
dlaux@delta.org | Office 916-532-7426
From the WebMD website
We may associate cholesterol with fatty foods, but most of the waxy substance is made by our own bodies. The liver produces 75% of the cholesterol that circulates in our blood. The other 25% comes from food. At normal levels, cholesterol actually plays an important role in helping cells do their jobs. But cholesterol levels are precariously high in more than 100 million Americans.
During a Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics (DACT) Exercise over the Hawaiian islands, members of the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, prepare their KC-135 for refueling missions for the participants.
In the photograph, Lt Col Stanley Osserman and Lt Sandra Hoggan work to vector their aircraft to the refueling track.
Stan Osserman retired as a brigadier general, having served as the Commander, Hawaii Air National Guard.
Sandy Hoggan passed away in 2015 after a long and courageous fight with cancer.
Master Sgt.-R. Stephen Lum photo
Hawaii Army National Guard’s Sgt. 1st Class Clayton C. Perreira, was recognized as a Hawaii Chamber of Commerce – Military Affairs Council Outstanding Community Service Honoree at the State Capitol, May 5, 2017.
Presenting the certificate was Gov. David Y. Ige, Maj. Gen. Arthur “Joe” Logan and Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara. Perreira is the Hawaii National Guard’s top Community Service Honoree. The Hawaii National Guard commander in chief, his adjutant general and deputy led the congratulations to Perreira, from C Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, and all the other military services honorees.
Perreira, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crew chief, was recognized for his volunteerism as the Hilo High School Marching band coach for the last four years. He was a former band member of the Hilo school, the UH Ensemble and Hawaii County bands, primarily playing brass instruments like the tuba and saxophone. His volunteerism stems from his wanting to give back to the community. At the school, his contributions include teaching marching, some music instruction and instrument repairing.
May 9, 2017 – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is adopting American Cancer Society (ACS) breast cancer screening guidelines that give women a choice to begin screening at age 40. The guidelines also recommend starting yearly mammograms by age 45 and then every other year from age 55. The guidelines apply to women at average risk for breast cancer and complement VA’s already-extensive program for breast care for Veterans.
click on photograph to enlarge
Colonel Donald Oura, Commander, 29th Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard left, and Major Joseph Chavez discuss troop movements during the joint U.S./South Korean Exercise TEAM SPIRIT ’85. Oura is acting as the chief controller for the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, during the exercise.
From an email sent by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service’s addresses changed effective May 1, 2017.
These mailing address to send us requests or information changes May 1st. Make sure you know how this change may affect you if you need to send us anything.
The old addresses are being discontinued and will be replaced by addresses in Indianapolis. The new addresses are:
Retired Pay:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Retired Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-1200
Annuitant Pay:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
U.S. Military Annuitant Pay
8899 E 56th Street
Indianapolis IN 46249-1300
The old post office boxes in London Kentucky will remain open and all mail will be forwarded to the new address for one year. However, sending mail to the old address will add three to five days to the normal processing time.
The telephone and fax numbers are not changing.
Please copy and paste the following web address into your web browser for additional contact information: https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary.html
Retired Pay
DFAS-Cleveland
CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii – Brig. Gen. Suzanne Vares-Lum, mobilization assistant to director of strategic plans and policy for U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), will receive the Ellis Island Medals of Honor at an event on Ellis Island May 13.
The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) sponsors the Ellis Island Medals of Honor to recognize individuals who share their wealth of knowledge, show great acts of courage, display compassion and serve for those less fortunate. The honor embodies the spirit of America in a celebration of patriotism and tolerance while paying tribute to the diverse U.S. demographic honoring immigrants, nationalized and native-born citizens
Special Thanks to Gordon Lau who passed this information to Retiree News. With the new shorter obituaries posted in the Star-Advertiser, we sometimes do not post obituaries without additional confirmation.
Alberto “Al” Batis, 78 of Mililani, Hawaii, passed away in Mililani. He was born in Koloa, Kauai, HI. Retired TSgt Hawaii Air National Guard, F-15 aircraft maintenance.
He is survived by wife Pauline Batis; sons Cary Batis, Roby Batis; daughters Wendy (David) Rita, Kelly (Jeff) De Asis; 11 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; sisters Fely Valdez, Helen Ariola, Marie Ceballos, Juanita (Paul) Parangao.
Visitation 5:00pm Sunday May 14, 2017 at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel. Funeral service 6:30pm. Casual attire. No flowers please.
Retiree News extends heartfelt sympathy to Al’s family and friends.
From the Frolic Hawaii website
In April, “Fast Food Eric” Baranda compiled a noble list of the best cheap cheeseburgers in town – because there isn’t a better budget meal during tax season. Now that it’s May, National Burger Month, we’re going all out with a list of our favorite gourmet burgers.
While burger purists will say all that matters is the beef, I’ll gladly argue that these burgers are more than just the sum of their parts. To be considered, a gourmet burger had to have a fresh hand-formed patty, a distinct identity and a unique ingredient or topping. In no particular order, open wide for these behemoths.
The Spring-Summer 2017 Afterburner is available now online. For a direct link to the latest Afterburner, click here.
Air Force retirees and annuitants who have an online myPay account are now automatically receiving the Afterburner electronically. People with a myPay account have been removed from the hard-copy mailing list. The Air Force partnered with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in order to save more than $131,000 in printing and postage costs each issue.
Retirees and annuitants can keep their email address updated on myPay by logging into myPay at https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx. Once logged in, click on “Email Address” and review/edit the “personal email address” block. Click on “Primary” and “Accept/Submit” to complete the transaction.
From the Honolulu Civil Beat website
Here’s how the two came together to create an iconic island offering.
From the Travel Channel website
Abraham Lincoln Memorial: most visited landmark in the District of Columbia
From coast to coast, the United States of America brims with diversity. Check out our picks for the top landmark from each of the 50 states, in order of statehood.
From the U.S. News & World Report website
For many years, Andrea Rotondo’s parents took care of each other. Her father, who had used a wheelchair since 1987 because of bad knees from his military service, organized the household. For a while, he covered up the fact that his wife was slipping into dementia.
But once he suffered a serious health crisis that landed him in the hospital and in rehab for months, Rotondo and her two siblings realized that their parents could no longer take care of themselves.
