(NAPSI)—It’s that time of year again! Warmer weather calls for summer road trips, long days at the beach, and poolside gatherings with family and friends. Make your next summer adventure extra special, and very sweet, by bringing along the ultimate snack, HI-CHEW™.

Made with real fruit juices and purees, HI-CHEW’s immensely chewy texture and intensely fruity flavor make it the ideal candy to add to your summer escapades. Not only is the candy fruity and chewy, but it is also 100 percent free of gluten, cholesterol and artificial colors, making it a balanced treat for everyone to enjoy.

Road trips are never complete without the perfect snack selection. Stock up on HI-CHEW™ sticks and mixed bags, two convenient formats for any journey ahead. The classic sticks include 10 individually wrapped chews, making your favorite flavor a packing essential. It’s available in seven delicious, real-fruit flavors that bring satisfying juiciness in each and every chew: Strawberry, Green Apple, Mango, Grape, Banana, Kiwi and Açaí. The sticks can easily fit in a pocket or bag, allowing your favorite candy to be enjoyed anywhere on the go. [Read more…]

(NAPSI)—Summer is here and it’s time for backyard barbecues! Before your guests arrive, check these four backyard maintenance tasks off your to-do list to ensure your yard is looking good.

Clean Your Barbecue

To prevent food from sticking to your barbecue grills, rub cooking oil on the grates before you start. After you’re done barbecuing, use warm, soapy water to clean the grates with a wire brush.

Give Outdoor Furniture a Pick-Me-Up

With all furniture, check for wear and tear that may have occurred during winter. Clean plastic furniture and chair or couch cushions simply with a cloth or soft scrub brush dipped in a mix of water and dish detergent. Some outdoor cushions can be thrown in the washer so check the tags. [Read more…]

(NewsUSA) – In 1967, one of today’s most iconic runners made her mark in history.

Despite an angry official who tried to push her off the course of the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer defiantly ran on, broke barriers and became the first woman to officially complete the legendary race.

Today, at the age of 70, Switzer continues to defy the odds.

This year, she ran the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon again to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her historic milestone and continued to inspire others to break new ground. She also announced a partnership with the health and well-being company, Humana, to help celebrate seniors, encourage them to take an optimistic view of aging, and live healthy, active lifestyles.

“When the Boston Marathon race director tried to shove me off the course in 1967, my life’s purpose was crystalized. I knew I wanted to be a champion for others committed to blazing their own path,” Switzer says. [Read more…]

By Blanca Taylor

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist 

In 2018, more than a million people will be diagnosed with cancer around the world. This alarming statistic affects people and families everywhere. On June 3, 2018, we observe National Cancer Survivors Day in the United States. In support of this day, Social Security encourages getting checkups to provide early detection, raise awareness through education, and recognize the survivors who have gone through this battle or are still living with the disease.

Social Security supports people who are fighting cancer. We offer support to patients dealing with this disease through our disability program. People with certain cancers may be eligible for a Compassionate Allowance. Compassionate Allowances are cases where individuals have medical conditions so severe they obviously meet Social Security’s disability standards, allowing us to process the cases quickly with minimal medical information. [Read more…]

By Blanca Taylor

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15. This is an opportunity for everyone, all over the world, to voice their opposition to abuses inflicted on some of the most vulnerable members of our society. For more than 80 years, Social Security has provided for the elderly as part of our everyday mission.

Sometimes a family member is incapable of representing themselves due to health reasons. Generally, we look for family or friends to serve as representative payees. Social Security’s Representative Payment Program helps our beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. You can read more about the program at www.socialsecurity.gov/payee. [Read more…]

By Blanca Taylor

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

Retirement doesn’t have the same meaning for everyone. Some people plan to retire and never work again. Some people plan for second careers in occupations that wouldn’t have adequately supported their families, but they do the work for pure enjoyment. Some people, whether by design or desire, choose to work part-time or seasonally to supplement their retirement income.

Retirees (or survivors) who choose to receive Social Security benefits before they reach full retirement age (FRA) and continue to work have an earnings limit. In 2017, the annual earnings limit was $16,920 for those under FRA the entire calendar year. In 2018, it is $17,040. If you earn over the limit, we deduct $1 from your Social Security monthly benefit payment for every $2 you earn above the annual limit.  [Read more…]

By Blanca Taylor

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

Senior woman working in the flower nursery, with copy space

Retirement doesn’t have the same meaning for everyone. Some people plan to retire and never work again. Some people plan for second careers in occupations that wouldn’t have adequately supported their families, but they do the work for pure enjoyment. Some people, whether by design or desire, choose to work part-time or seasonally to supplement their retirement income.

Retirees (or survivors) who choose to receive Social Security benefits before they reach full retirement age (FRA) and continue to work have an earnings limit. In 2017, the annual earnings limit was $16,920 for those under FRA the entire calendar year. In 2018, it is $17,040. If you earn over the limit, we deduct $1 from your Social Security monthly benefit payment for every $2 you earn above the annual limit.  [Read more…]

It’s Flu Season: CDC Reminds Public That Antibiotics Do Not Treat Flu

(NAPSI)—Flu season is upon us and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants patients and families to remember that prescription antiviral drugs, not antibiotics, are the treatment for influenza (flu). Antibiotics do not treat viruses that cause colds and the flu. They are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria.

Remember that the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu is by getting your annual flu vaccine. It’s not too late to get vaccinated.

KNOW WHAT’S GOT YOU SICK

Viruses cause infections like the common cold, flu, runny noses and most sore throats, and none of these are treated with antibiotics. Illnesses like strep throat, pneumonia and whooping cough are examples of illnesses caused by bacteria that can be treated with antibiotics. [Read more…]

Why—And How—To ‘Heart’ Your Kidneys, Every Day

(NAPSI)—Many people don’t know it, but when your kidneys stop working, so do you. Your kidneys are as essential to life as other vital organs, such as your heart. Kidney healthy is also heart healthy, so when you “Heart Your Kidneys,” you also show love for your heart. That’s because the No. 1 cause of death in people with kidney disease is heart disease.

The Problem

More than 30 million American adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease, and most are unaware of it. One in three American adults is at risk for chronic kidney disease. It’s the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S., and growing in prevalence. For many people, dialysis or a transplant is needed just to stay alive. [Read more…]