(NewsUSA) - This holiday season, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program celebrates its 75th year of delivering hope and joy to children in need across the Nation. U.S. Marines and volunteers will conduct more than 830 local toy collection and distribution campaigns in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands. In honor of the anniversary, Toys for Tots will highlight our extraordinary Reserve Marines, past and present, and show how the generosity from communities across the Nation has enabled Toys for Tots to support more than 281 million children in need.     

Every campaign season, Marines and volunteers engage with local businesses, media, and individuals in communities across the country to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute these gifts to less fortunate children.     

“The mission of Marine Toys for Tots is to bring the joy of Christmas to less fortunate children with the goal of delivering a message of hope that will inspire youngsters to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens,” says Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Now, in Toys for Tots’ 75th year, we are asking our supporters to make this important milestone another record-breaking year. It is our goal to deliver the magic of the holidays to every family seeking holiday help from Marine Toys for Tots,” he adds.     

The Marine Toys for Tots Program began in 1947 at the helm of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Diane, who asked Major Hendricks to deliver some handcrafted dolls to an agency that supported children in need. When he could not find such an agency, Diane encouraged her husband to “start one.” That year, Major Hendricks and the Marines in his local Reserve unit collected more than 5,000 toys to deliver to children in need in the Los Angeles area -- conducting the first Toys for Tots campaign.     

Seeing the impact that delivering toys to children in need had created around the community, the following year, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Clifton B. Cates, directed every Marine Corps Reserve unit to implement a Toys for Tots campaign-- which transformed Toys for Tots into a National Community Action Program.     

Last year, the Program fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of 8.7 million less fortunate children in over 830 communities Nationwide. Now, in our 75th year, the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program also provides support year-round to families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus providing assistance to millions of children in need across the country at Christmas time and beyond. Help Toys for Tots provide hope and joy this holiday season to millions of impoverished children who otherwise might go without.  After all, anyone can be Santa!     

This year’s holiday campaign season kicks off on November 1 and goes through December 25. Visit toysfortots.org for more information or to find a campaign near you. Learn how you can help the Marine Toys for Tots Program bring hope and joy to children in need across the Nation! 

(NewsUSA) - By Alan Stewart, SVP, Medicare Divisional Leader, Humana - If you’re one of the nation’s 58.6 million people with Medicare, you understand the importance of selecting a health plan during the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP) -- running from Oct. 15 - Dec. 7 -since the plan you select is the plan you’ll likely have for all of the coming year.     

There’s a lot to think about when looking at plan options and, fortunately, reliable resources are available to help you, like Medicare.gov and licensed insurance sales agents. Another trusted resource is the Star Ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Significance of the Star Ratings     

The Star Ratings Program is an annual assessment using about 40 measures to rate all Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans and drive health care quality improvement. One of the ways CMS determines ratings is through patient-satisfaction surveys. Medicare members receive questionnaires which aim to gather information about their health, experiences with their insurance, and the care they received from doctors and specialists. CMS takes this information, along with information submitted by the health plans on things like preventive care screenings, health condition management, and medication adherence, and calculates a rating for each plan, where one star is the lowest and five stars is the highest.   

Information from these surveys helps the government and various Medicare plans identify areas that can be enhanced, while also providing information that can be used in improvement activities, public reporting and health plan accountability. Star Ratings can also be a key factor for people who have Medicare to consider as they look at Medicare plans since there are several benefits to choosing a 4 or 5-star rated plan for healthcare coverage. Importantly, it provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of plans based on the experiences shared from other Medicare members and physicians. Higher rated plans often include additional benefits, like dental, vision, and hearing coverage, and offer reduced premiums, co-pays, or deductibles.

What You Should Consider     

While you are looking at plan options to identify the best plan for your health needs, you may want to take into account the Star Ratings available on CMS.gov. Licensed sales agents can also provide the plan options in your area, answer your questions, and advise on the Star Ratings.     

While seeing what the ratings are this year, it’s also important to look at previous years’ scores to see how plans may have improved. For example, Humana received a 5 out of 5-star rating for three of its contracts for 2023 --which include HMO plans in Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky -- 96 percent of the company’s Medicare members are in plans rated 4 stars and above for 2023. This is a testament to the company’s focus on ensuring high quality of care, members getting their preventive care and reliable customer service for its members.

Looking Ahead     

If you enroll in a plan you aren’t happy with during the AEP, eligible individuals have the opportunity to switch to a 5-star plan during the 5-star Special Enrollment Period, which runs from Dec. 8, 2022 - Nov. 30, 2023.     

Finally, keep in mind that following health care appointments and throughout the year you could receive surveys from your physician, from Humana and from CMS. These surveys are all important, and, while similar, are used for different purposes and are your opportunity to provide feedback that will help improve the future of healthcare.

More Information

Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization and a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.   

(NewsUSA) - Are you one of the 68 percent?  Or maybe even the 17 percent?

The former are those Americans who, despite the current economic uncertainty, intend to donate a similar amount of money to charity this year as they did in 2021, according to a new survey conducted by financial services firm Edward Jones with Morning Consult.  While the latter – kudos to you – are planning to dig even deeper into their pockets.  

Here's how to do it in a way that might be more advantageous when you file your taxes:

1. Take advantage of the upside of higher gas prices.  

So you, being a caring person, have decided to volunteer at a charity whose work you admire.  The IRS lets you deduct unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses like the cost of gas for driving back and forth.

And with prices at the pump being what they are these days, the deduction might be worth more than any “gently used” clothes you donate to your local resale shop.

2. Act like your own charitable foundation.

Three words:  Donor-advised funds (DAF).  If you haven’t heard of them, you should.  According to a report by the Philanthropy Roundtable and American Enterprise Institute, they're the fastest growing option in charitable giving – no doubt because, as the report concluded, they “help to democratize philanthropy” by essentially acting as “small, personal foundations” for people who don’t have treasury secretaries on their speed dial.

Basically, with DAFs, you make an irrevocable contribution to the fund – whether cash, stock or other marketable securities, and you get to recommend grants/distributions to one or more of your favorite IRS-qualified public charities to support.  Maybe it’s your local homeless shelter. Or maybe it’s a religious institution.  

Whatever you decide, it’s a win-win situation:  You get an income tax deduction in the year of the contribution, the money you donated to the fund has the potential to grow over time and any investment growth is tax-free, expanding your charitable impact.

“DAFs can be a powerful tool for helping people make a positive impact in the world, which is something our survey found Millennials and GenZers are especially interested in,” says Zach Gildehaus, a senior analyst at Edward Jones, whose local financial advisors can help you figure out how best to incorporate charitable giving into your overall financial strategy through vehicles like a donor-advised fund.

3. Consider the RMD trap.

The IRS generally requires that traditional IRA holders take annual income withdrawals, known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), starting at age 72 even if they don’t want or need the money.  But that cash, which is subject to ordinary income tax, could put you into a higher tax bracket and adversely affect your Social Security payments and Medicare benefits.

And not taking your RMD can have serious consequences.  

“The IRS penalty for not withdrawing it is 50 percent of the amount not taken on time,” says Gildehaus.

One Strategy?  Folks age 70½ and older can make what’s known as a QCD (qualified charitable distribution).  That allows you to meet your RMD by instructing your IRA administrator to send as much as $100,000 a year from your account to an IRS-qualified charity, and – wait for it – not only would you then not have to pay taxes on the money since it’s going to a charity, but your RMD may be reduced in future years.

4.  Use caution when donating to political organizations or candidates.

Okay, so this is really more of a caution. Remember that 17 percent who said they intended to donate even more this year?  Well, 39 percent of them cited social/political issues as the catalysts. That, however, doesn’t mean any contribution you make to political organizations or candidates will score you a tax deduction.  They won’t.

*Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

(NewsUSA) - Professionally installed automotive window film (“auto tint”) may improve your ride in more ways beyond its curb appeal. Here are four more benefits of having window film installed, according to Darrell Smith of the International Window Film Association (IWFA).

More Safety     
While driving, the sun’s glare can enter from side windows to the left and right of the driver's eyes, causing the view ahead to be temporarily blocked. This may result in an accident and, if you are involved in one, window film may help protect the driver and passengers from flying glass pellets if the glass is broken. Window film provides a protective layer to help hold glass fragments together.

More Driving Range     
During warmer months, the sun heats up a car’s interior, requiring the air conditioner (A/C) to cycle more often to reach a comfortable cabin temperature. Research on the impact of window films on a vehicle's energy consumption showed the A/C ran less and used less energy, which inferred an improved driving range when compared to a vehicle without solar-heat-gain-reducing window films.     

By reducing the temperature in a car, window film helps save on fuel or electric use at no additional cost beyond the initial installation.

More Skin and Upholstery Protection     
Window films reduce the sun's harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays by 99 percent, and they’re a leading cause of skin and eye damage, which over time may increase the incidence of  skin cancers and cataracts. Not only may window film help protect the skin and eyes from UV rays, it may also extend the lifespan of a vehicle's interior by reducing the sun's impact on trims, plastic moldings, upholstery and seat coverings.

More Theft Protection     
Thieves are less likely to randomly break into a car if what’s inside is less visible or more difficult to obtain. When an item of value is easily spotted in a car, the temptation to smash a window and grab the item is greater for would-be thieves. Shattering the windows of random cars in the hope of finding something of value is a low-reward, high-risk activity. Window film acts as a deterrent by helping to hold the glass together, making it more difficult to both break-in and to see-in.     

Learn more about window film and find a local installer by visiting www.iwfa.com.

(Israel) - Fall is the best time to explore Israel during its peak harvest season for both wine and olive oil.     

Olive oil and wine go back to the very dawn of the Jewish people in Israel and today they are the best expression of the Mediterranean diet and are symbols of the new quality Israeli cuisine. From wineries in the Negev desert to olive picking in Galilee, there are a variety of experiences which showcase the vast variety of Israeli wines and olive oils.

Wineries in the Negev Desert     

Israel’s Negev Desert covers over half of Israel’s total land area, and it is an area bristling with beauty.     

The reddish, gleaming desert terrain is characterized by many impressive geological rock formations, allowing visitors to enjoy a unique view of an untouched vastness -- both silent and majestic. Throughout the Negev, there are also traces of past civilizations, their agriculture as well as stunning archaeological sites. And today, it offers an unmistakable backdrop for encountering the Bedouin tribes, also known as people of the desert. The desert is perfect for creating wines as grapes mature and ripen faster in warmer conditions, leading to lower acidity and higher sugar levels.     

• Sde Boker Winery - The first winery to open in the Negev was the Sde Boker Winery, begun 15 years ago as an experiment led by Zvi Remek, a member of the Sde Boker kibbutz who studied agronomy in California before returning to his home. Having previously worked in the grape vines of the kibbutz, opening the winery was the start of a transition from simply growing produce in the Negev, to creating a high-value product from it. Slowly, the Sde Boker Winery expanded, and today is still modestly housed in the old communal laundry facility of the kibbutz. Combine a visit to Sde Boker and visit the home of Ben Gurion.     

• The Boker Valley Vineyard - The Boker Valley Vineyard not only grows its own vines, but also offers visitors the opportunity to taste many of the other wines produced in the Negev Wine Route -- making it totally unique. Run by a couple of diverse origins --  Moshe is from Eilat and Hilda from the Netherlands, as well as the wines, they also sell local olive oil, wine and olives, and offer beautiful accommodations in the heart of the desert.     

• The Negev Wine Route -  The Negev Wine Route has 25 isolated farms engaging in agriculture and tourism. The farms welcome visitors to stop, taste and enjoy the unique Negev Friendly Desert route. The vineyards create some highly respectable and well received wines and offer a very unusual experience for tourists exploring the desert.

Olive Oil in Galilee     

Arguably one of the most beautiful regions of Israel, the Galilee is situated in the north of the country, and it is characterized by its beautiful, lush landscape full of vegetation, amazing natural landforms, historic sites and quaint rural communities.     

The Galilee makes up much of the north of Israel and is divided into three areas: the Lower Galilee, Upper Galilee and Western Galilee and within are the famous Sea of Galilee and River Jordan. Stunning agricultural villages sit alongside ancient ruins, and amazing hills and valleys are mentioned throughout history as the location of famous battles and events. All the varieties of olives are grown and harvested here in the Galilee and nurtured by the waters of the Jordan River, making Galilee the perfect place for olives.     

• Avtalion Oil Press - Looking out onto breathtaking views of the Galilee is the Avtalion Oil Press. Inside lies the huge oil press. Here olives picked from nearby vineyards are crushed and the pips and flesh removed. High-quality olive oil is then produced and delivered to the local residents. During the pressing season (October - January), visitors can watch this process in action. They can either bring with them their own olives or pick them from the nearby fields. Throughout the rest of the year, the place is still open for visitors to see the equipment, watch demonstrations, attend lectures about the olive oil industry and its history in the Galilee and enjoy a tasting workshop sampling the different local products.     

• Hananya Farms - Hananya Farms, located in the Western Galilee, is the perfect place to spend a day enjoying a nature walk, a picnic lunch and, of course, olive picking. It also offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the various cultures of people living in Israel today.     

• Gailiean Olive Oil Festival - The Galilean Olive Oil Festival takes place across Northern Israel’s Galilee region every November. Due to the many qualities that the olive tree has to offer, it has become a recent tradition for the start of the olive harvest period to be celebrated. 

(José R. Romero, MD) - Es divertido ver el regreso de algunas tendencias retro de los años 90, como las canciones clásicas del rock que vuelven a la lista de las favoritas, los peinados y hasta los zapatos de la época de los 90. Otras tendencias es mejor dejarlas en el pasado, como los millones de casos de varicela que ocurrían en los Estados Unidos cada año antes de que tuviéramos una vacuna eficaz.     

Lo que alguna vez se consideró un rito de iniciación, algo que había que tolerar en la niñez con baños de avena y tener que faltar a la escuela, ahora es inusual. Muchas personas pensarán: “Ay, si solo es varicela”. Si bien es cierto que la mayoría de los niños se recuperan, los médicos y pediatras, como yo, con frecuencia veíamos casos muy graves de varicela que podían convertirse rápidamente en una enfermedad invasiva, neumonía o incluso causar la muerte. La realidad es que la varicela puede ser muy grave, y no solo afecta a la persona enferma, sino a toda la familia y la comunidad. Debido a la varicela, los padres pueden faltar al trabajo, los hermanos faltar a la escuela, y las mujeres embarazadas y las personas con el sistema inmunitario debilitado puede que tengan una probabilidad mayor de tener infecciones graves por varicela.     

Una vez que alguien se infecta por el virus de la varicela, este permanece en el cuerpo incluso después de que la persona se mejora. Debido a este virus, generalmente alrededor de 1 de cada 3 personas que tuvieron varicela durante la niñez tendrá culebrilla a una edad más avanzada. La culebrilla es una afección muy dolorosa que ocurre cuando el virus de la varicela que está escondido se activa otra vez en el cuerpo. Puede alterar la vida CDC diaria durante meses o hasta más.     

Los Estados Unidos fue el primer país en incluir la vacuna contra la varicela en el programa de vacunación infantil de rutina, y la vacuna ha demostrado ser muy eficaz. Durante los primeros 25 años del programa de vacunación (1995 - 2019) vimos un asombroso descenso del 97 % en las hospitalizaciones por varicela y un descenso de más del 99 % en las muertes. Hoy día es sumamente raro que hospitalicen a los niños por varicela, y las muertes por varicela casi se han eliminado en los EE. UU.     

Pero todavía hay más buenas noticias. Los expertos anticipan que la protección de la vacuna contra la varicela se extenderá también en el futuro para ayudar a proteger contra la culebrilla en la edad adulta. Así que, los niños vacunados están protegidos ahora contra la varicela, y la mayoría no tendrá que preocuparse de contraer culebrilla más adelante en la vida. Si usted no está seguro de que sus hijos estén al día con las vacunas, pregúntele al médico o personal de enfermería y programe cualquier cita que necesiten.     

Algunas cosas, como la varicela, nunca deberían regresar.

(By José R. Romero, MD) - Some 90’s retro trends are fun to see come around again, like classic songs returning to the playlist, hairstyles, and even fun 90s’ shoes. Other trends are better left in the past -- like the millions of cases of chickenpox that happened in the United States each year before we had an effective vaccine.       

What was once considered a rite of passage, something that just had to be tolerated during childhood with oatmeal baths and missing school, is now unusual. A lot of people might think, ‘Oh, it’s just chickenpox.’ While it’s true that most children recover, doctors and other pediatricians like me frequently saw very serious cases of chickenpox that could turn quickly into invasive disease, pneumonia, or even death. The fact is, chickenpox can be very serious, and it affects not just the person who is sick, but the entire family and community. Because of chickenpox, parents can miss work, brothers and sisters can miss school, and pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems have a higher chance of having serious chickenpox infections.     

Once someone is infected with the chickenpox virus, it stays in the body even after the person feels better. Because of this virus, about 1 in 3 people who had chickenpox as children will get shingles, usually later in life. Shingles is a very painful condition that happens when the hidden chickenpox virus becomes active in the body again. It can disrupt daily life for months or even longer.     

The United States was the first country to include the chickenpox CDC vaccine in the routine childhood vaccination program, and the vaccine has proven to be very effective. During the first 25 years of the vaccination program (1995 - 2019), we saw a staggering 97% drop in chickenpox hospitalizations and more than a 99% drop in deaths. For young people today, being hospitalized from chickenpox has become a rare event -- and chickenpox deaths are nearly eliminated in the U.S.   

There’s even more good news -- experts anticipate that protection from the chickenpox vaccine will also extend into the future to help protect them as adults against shingles. So kids who are vaccinated  now are protected from chickenpox, and most won’t have to worry about suffering from shingles later. If you’re not sure if your kids are caught up on their vaccines, just ask their doctor or nurse -- and go ahead and schedule any appointment they might need.     

Some trends, like chickenpox disease, should never come back.

(NewsUSA) - If you want to gain greater control over the things you do in your life, an illuminating place to begin is in understanding how your personal brain chemistry shapes those dynamics. Your brain is constantly seeking comfort. Whether it’s recovering from a stressful event that gets your adrenaline pumping or the slow drip-drip of low-lying stress, how you handle yourself boils down to how you’re hardwired, by what’s embedded in your inherited neurochemistry.

In OVERRIDE: Discover Your Brain Type, Why You Do What You Do, and How to Do It Better (Citadel Press), co-authors Clinical Psychologist Dr. Connell Cowan and Physician of Internal Medicine Dr. David Kipper note that while we are biologically and psychologically predisposed to perform these comfort-seeking behaviors, we can override them if we so choose. We can decline to perform our most self-sabotaging behaviors and even reduce — if not eliminate entirely — the desire and temptation to perform them in the first place.

Understanding your brain’s chemical tendencies, the authors say, explains how you set your stress relief in motion, and by understanding your tendencies, you’ll be able to make healthy life decisions for the better.

In exhilarating, illuminating, and frequently funny style, you’ll go from identifying your personal neurotype -- through an easy and accurate test -- to understanding your vulnerabilities, and break out of self-defeating patterns to make meaningful change with a science-based approach.

Your neurochemistry puts you into one of two tribes: Swords are coded to be particularly sensitive to stimulation, novelty, reward, and external expression, while the Shields of the world are coded to be more cautious, sensitive to avoiding harm and danger, and internalizing emotions. The coping styles we revert to under stress have evolved to help us survive, but they are also the root cause of our most destructive and stubborn behaviors.

OVERRIDE details a path to change that can start immediately and last a lifetime. Complete with easy-to-use strategies and exercises, here are engaging micro and macro insights into iconic human problems, backed up by the latest scientific research into why we are the way we are.

The authors come with topnotch credentials. Cowan co-wrote Smart Women/Foolish Choices, a runaway bestseller that spawned an entire genre of books dealing with male/female dilemmas. The book spent nearly a year on the New York Times bestseller list, sold millions of copies, has been published in 23 different languages, and was made into a hit musical. His second book, Women Men Love/Women Men Leave, also became a NYT bestseller.

Kipper has practiced internal medicine for over three decades. He has appeared as an expert commentator on all major networks, has produced numerous programs on health and health care, appeared on the Today Show, and contributes to the Huffington Post. Dr. Kipper is currently a co-host for ABC radio’s The Medical Show, a weekly national call-in show addressing all areas of medicine.

Combining groundbreaking research with inspiring and revelatory real-life stories of struggle and transformation, OVERRIDE will reveal the blueprint of your DNA and give you a practical, easy-to-grasp, yet revolutionary framework for achieving the life you really want. It is most definitely worth your time.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3QGNK4G.

(NewsUSA) - Experts agree that financial planning has many benefits. It can help you protect your family, worry less about finances and reach your goals at any stage of life. These benefits can be even greater if you work with a professional financial planner who is trained to show you how to make sound investment choices, save money on taxes and rein in high-interest debt, among other things.     

If you’ve decided that you need a financial plan and would like to work with a financial advisor to create it, you might be wondering where to find an advisor. Asking friends, family or colleagues to recommend an advisor can be a good place to start, especially if they earn a similar income as you and seem to be successfully managing their money. There are also numerous resources available online to help you find a financial advisor.     

One of those tools is LetsMakeaPlan.org, a website maintained by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board). The site features a search tool that helps you find a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM  professional by location and planning services offered. CFP® professionals must complete an extensive, multiyear certification process that ensures they obtain the skills and real-life experience needed to provide comprehensive financial planning. They also make a commitment to putting your interests first.     

When you are hiring a CFP® professional, how you will pay for their services is a key question to ask. Different financial advisors may charge differently, or one financial advisor may offer several different ways that clients can choose to pay. Many financial planners use the assets under management (AUM) model, in which the financial planner gets paid a percentage of the assets they manage for you. Some CFP® professionals may earn a commission on a transaction. Others charge hourly fees, subscription fees or fixed fees for specific services. You should ask a CFP® professional to lay out the details for how they charge at the beginning of your engagement.    

Lower-income families or those facing a financial crisis may find help through the Foundation for Financial Planning. The foundation can help connect you with a CFP® professional who provides financial planning services free of charge. These connections are made through financial capability workshops and webinars offered by nonprofit groups and other foundation grantees, as well as through one-on-one financial planning sessions.     

Once you’ve found a competent, ethical financial planner, you can start the planning process together and begin working toward a more secure tomorrow.

(NewsUSA) - As the weather outside cools down, our excitement builds for classic fall activities like apple picking, getting lost in a corn maze and nature hikes surrounded by colorful foliage. This year, GOLO, the wellness solutions company, wants you to add another fun activity to the fall schedule by entering the GOLO Fall Inspirations Giveaway.     

It’s easy, and entrants could win a special gift package, including the GOLO for Life® Plan with one bottle of Release® dietary supplement, an AeroTrainer® exercise platform, a COSORI Air Fryer and an Etekcity Fitness Tracker.     

Here’s how to enter the Giveaway:     

• Between October 25, 2022, at 8:00 AM EST and November 29, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST, you can enter by submitting your name, email and mailing address online here.     
• Include your favorite fall activity (for example, visiting a pumpkin patch).     
• Three winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries.     
• Click here for full details.     

Wherever you are on your health and wellness journey, GOLO offers a range of innovative products designed to help, including the GOLO for Life Plan®, a game-changing nutritional approach to losing weight, and a healthy alternative to conventional dieting. The program includes GOLO Release® (an all-natural dietary supplement), access to personal coaches and online tools.     

For more information on GOLO, please visit golo.com.