Senior Living - October 2018

JEANNE POPPE

MN HOUSE

Home for the Holidays Hormel Historic Home shares winter wonder through decor

By Hannah Yang hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com

Below the Hormel Historic Home, a large storage room filled to the brim with Christmas decorations will soon see the light of day and welcome the holiday spirit.

Boxes upon boxes of C h r i s t m a s t re e o r n a ments, trees and garlands are organized by color and size. There’s little trinkets scattered here and there, but each part plays a role in the annual decorating.

For Kim Guzman, this was her absolute favorite time of year: preparing the Hormel Historic Home for Christmas.

tion of the house was decorated. This place is like a grand old lady that needs her jewelry for Christmas.”

For six years, Guzman had been decorating the Hor mel Historic Home with strong roots in tradition. She first became hooked after decorating the home’s main staircase for her daughter’s wedding and has since been the ring leader in rallying her three Find this story and more in “elves” to bring some the November-December editon of Austin Living mag- cheer to the employees and the Austin community. azine available October 26.

“We get together,” she “It’s just a grand home,” said. “We start from the Guzman said. “When we top and work our way started, not even a frac- down. My goal is to have a

Kim Guzman stands in the basement of the Hormel Historic Home, surrounded by all the Christmas decorations that will find their way to the upstairs rooms of the mansion.

Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

tree in every room of the Hor mel Historic Home.

I’m a Christmas decorating enthusiast and I’ve always been that way. I lead two others to help me decorate. We craft something

every year.”

Each Christmas, Guzm a n wo u l d r a l l y h e r “elves” and spend several weekends decorating the home with festive flourishes and Christmas trees that

reach the ceilings, and are adorned with ornaments that indicate a theme, and there’d be centerpieces and tablescapes.

See GUZMAN, Page 5

Cost Plans for Medicare to end, experts say there are still options this change goes into effect next year. However, for 21 counties, their Cost Plans will continue to be available.

By Hannah Yang hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com

Mower County will be one of 66 counties where Medicare Cost Plans will not be available in 2019 because of a change in federal law which requires all health insurance companies to stop offering Cost Plans in the majority of the state’s counties.

Because of this, advisers strongly recommend their clients to sit down with a broker and discuss what plans they have available to them, and to understand what plans would be the best based on their budget and what their specific medical needs are.

“They went from having three options to now just having two,” said Charles Moline, an AdvisorNet financial consultant. “The cost plan was the most popular selling plan available in many counties in Minnesota.”

A Medicare Cost Plan is a type of Medicare coverage and because of changes in federal law, Cost Plans won’t be available for many Minnesota seniors after 2018. If someone was affected, they would need to to enroll in new Medicare coverage for 2019, according to the Minnesota Commerce Department.

In Minnesota, Cost Plans are offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners and Medica and were offered under various brand names. Customers can call the

What if I don’t have a Cost Plan?

Then a customer doesn’t have to do anything. These specific changes wouldn’t affect them.

TIMELINE FOR MEDICARE COST PLAN TRANSITION Oct. 15- Dec. 7 (2019 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period) The time when any Medicare beneficiary can choose and enroll into a new plan for 2019.

Nov. 2, 2018 - March 4, 2019

This is for seniors who lost their Cost Plan coverage and switched to Original Medicare for 2019.

This is the timeframe to buy Medicare Supplement coverage.

Dec. 8, 2018- Feb. 28, 2019

For seniors who lost their Cost Plan coverage, this is a chance to pick a different Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D prescription drug plan that they chose during the Annual Enrollment Period. number on the back of their health plan member card (which is different from your Medicare card) to see if you have a Cost Plan.

Moline couldn’t emphasize more about the importance of

Jan. 1, 2019

Seniors whose Cost Plan coverage ended on Dec. 31, 2018, and didn’t enroll in a new plan will return to Original Medicare (Parts A & B only), with coverage gaps and cost burdens.

Jan. 1, 2019 - March 31, 2019 (Medicare Advantage Enrollment Period that’s new for 2019)

Any senior with a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan; drop their Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare; can sign up for a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan if returning to Original Medicare; or drop their stand-alone Part D plan. *Source: Minnesota Commerce Department

having a second opinion with an adviser before locking in a plan that may not be right for them.

“Many are anxious about the changes,” he said. “Sit down with us, and that help comes with no cost to them. Assistance

comes at no cost. I really encourage people to do some research and really making sure they’re getting the best plan available to them for their money.”

More than 400,000 older Minnesotans will be affected once

What if I’m in one of the 21 counties that still has Cost Plans next year?

Then you don’t have to do anything to keep your Cost Plan.

Back in September, you should have received a yearly notice from your current insurer with any changes in premiums or benefits, and renewal for 2019 is automatic. However, a customer does have the choice of changing coverage during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2018.

What will my options be?

Although Cost Plans are disappearing for the majority of seniors in Minnesota, there are still two plan options available for seniors to consider: Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans for 2019. Moline emphasized that it was important for those looking at options to choose a plan that best fits their health needs, lifestyle and budget.

See MEDICARE, Page 2

2

Senior Living

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Medicare: More Prediabetes and high blood pressure than 400,000 older can be managed: What to know Minnesotans will be affected State Point Media

From Page 1 Both the Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans work with the customer’s original Medicare benefits in several different ways and eligibility requirements. Features, benefits, cost and networks also differ by plan.

If I am told by my insurer that I am being automatically transitioned into a Medicare Advantage plan for 2019

A Cost Plan insurer should h a v e sent a notification letter

by Sept. 15, 2018, about offering an automatic trans i t i o n , wh i ch i s when a customer’s insurer of fered a Medicare Advantage plan that was the close to a customer’s current Cost Plan. A customer still has an option of choosing different coverage with another insurer during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 through Dec. 7,

2018), according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

What if I have a Cost Plan, and I’m not being automatically transitioned for a Medicare Advantage plan for 2019?

You would need to enroll in new coverage for 2019 by Dec. 31, 2018. You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or purchase a Medicare Supplement policy to go with Original Medicare (Parts A & B) for coverage that starts on Jan. 1, 2019.

A customer c o u l d a l s o purchase a stand-alone Part D prescription dr ug plan, unless it’s offered as part of the Medicare Advantage plan that was selected.

According to the Minnesota Commerce Department, if a cust o m e r d o e s n’ t e n ro l l in a new plan, they will automatically return to Original Medicare (Parts A & B only) on Jan. 1, with significant coverage gaps and costs.

Even as chronic diseases like prediabetes and high blood pressure touch more and more Americans, physicians are urging patients to keep in mind that early detection is key, and that chronic disease can often be managed with lifestyle changes.

“To confront our increasing chronic disease burden, patients must be aware of their risk for type 2 diabetes and hypertension,” says Barbara L. McAneny, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA).

“To prevent both of these chronic diseases, awareness and action are key.”

As part of the effort to empower Americans to confront chronic disease, the AMA offers the following guidance.

Prediabetes

While prediabetes – the precursor to type 2 diabetes – has serious health implications, people who are at risk can take steps to reverse the condition and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes like weight loss, healthy eating and increased physical activity. Unfortunately, not everyone is even aware they are at risk. Eighty-four million people in the U.S.

Adobe Stock

are living with prediabetes, and of those that have it, 90 percent are unaware, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The AMA urges patients to find out their risk by taking a one-minute online test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. In addition to the risk test, the site contains other resources and links. Developed as part of a first-of-its-kind joint national prediabetes awareness campaign launched in 2016 by the AMA, Ad Council, CDC and the American Diabetes Association, the campaign has helped hundreds of thousands of Americans learn their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The campaign website also features lifestyle tips and

links to CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Prog ram, which connects visitors to a registry of CDC-recognized programs across the country.

Hypertension

“With nearly half of all adults in the U.S. now living with high blood pressure and at increased risk of heart attack and stroke, more Americans should be monitoring their blood pressure levels and taking quick action to get their high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, under control,” says Dr. McAneny.

Unfortunately, there are often no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, which is why it is often referred to as the “silent killer.” If left

untreated, the condition damages the blood vessels and increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and other serious conditions.

To help understand and manage your blood pressure numbers, visit LowerYourHBP.org, a site launched by the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, and the AMA in partnership with the Ad Council. The site helps raise awareness of the life-altering consequences of uncontrolled high blood pressure and motivates people to work with their doctors on developing and committing to a treatment plan.

By being proactive and knowing your risks, you can take control of your health.

4 surprising insights into life with Parkinson’s disease State Point Media

Over 1 million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and while some symptoms are easier to see, such as tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement, there are a range of harder-to-detect non-movement symptoms that can have an impact on daily life.

Recently, the Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance (PMDAlliance), a non-profit organization offering programming for those in the Parkinson’s disease community, surveyed over 650 people with PD as well as care partners to better understand how non-movement symptoms impact their lives and quality of life.

Here are some of their findings and insights: 1. Parkinson’s disease affects more than motor function. Every person with Parkinson’s disease may experience different symptoms, both motor and non-movement related.

In fact, nearly all (90 percent) of survey respondents experienced non-movement symptoms, such as: • Sleep problems (84 percent) • Cognitive challenges (75 percent) • Anxiety (65 percent) • Depression (55 percent) • Hallucinations (41 percent) • Delusions (24 percent) 2. Non-movement symptoms can be more challenging than motor symptoms. Of those who experienced, or reported that their loved one expe-

rienced, non-movement symptoms, 84 percent felt that they have a negative impact on quality of life, and about half rated them as more challenging or much more challenging to live with than movement symptoms.

In a survey question about their Parkinson’s experience, one care partner said, “I wish [other people] knew that Parkinson’s looks different in different people. My spouse’s motor symptoms are fairly well controlled, but his REM sleep disorder and dementia have made our lives incredibly challenging and exhausting.”

3. Daily living is impacted by hard-to-see symptoms. Parkinson’s d i s e a s e c h a n g e s h ow patients and their care partners think about the future and cope with dayto-day living.

In fact, non-movement symptoms negatively impacted the ability to: • Sleep (84 percent) • Plan for future events

Adobe Stock

(76 percent) • Socialize (71 percent) • Make plans with family and friends (70 percent) • Be intimate with their partner (68 percent) • Complete household chores (68 percent) • Run errands (67 percent) When people with Parkinson’s experience non-movement symptoms, care partners are impacted, too. In fact, psychosis symptoms in patients

with PD are a strong predictor of increased care partner burden, and those with hallucinations have a 2.5-fold greater risk for nursing home admission.

4. Re por ting symptoms is crucial. Even though non-movement symptoms are common, they are rarely reported.

For example, more than half of patients will experience hallucinations or delusions associated with Parkinson’s over the

course of their disease, however, only 10-20 percent of patients and care partners voluntarily report these symptoms to their doctors.

It’s important to report all symptoms to a doctor (usually a neurologist), as there are many differ-

ent treatment options to address both motor and non-movement symptoms.

“Those with Parkinson’s and their families are not alone. Talking to your doctor is just the start of getting support a n d t r e a t m e n t , ” s ay s Sarah Jones, CEO of PMDAlliance. “We urge the entire Parkinson’s community to continue initiating conversations about symptoms, especially the non-movement ones that greatly impact day-to-day living.”

New educational resources about the onset and impact of non-movement symptoms of Parkinson’s can be found by visiting Pmdalliance.org and MoretoParkinsons. com.

The survey was sponsored by ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Senior Living

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018

Social Security checks will grow in 2019 as inflation rises Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of Social Security recipients and other retirees will get a 2.8 percent boost in benefits next year as inflation edges higher. It’s the biggest increase most retired baby boomers have gotten.

Following a stretch of low inflation, the cost-ofliving adjustment, or COLA, for 2019 is the highest in seven years. It amounts to $39 a month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released Thursday by the Social Security Administration.

The COLA affects household budgets for about one in five Americans, including Social Security beneficiaries, disabled veterans and federal retirees. That’s about 70 million people, enough to send ripples through the economy.

Unlike most private pensions, Social Security has featured inflation protection since 1975.

Beneficiaries also gain from compounding since COLAs become part of their underlying benefit, the base for future cost-ofliving increases.

Nonetheless many retirees and their advocates say the annual adjustment is too meager and doesn’t reflect higher health care costs for older people. Federal budget hawks take the opposite view, arguing that increases should be smaller to reflect consumers’ penny-pinching responses when costs go up.

With the COLA, the estimated average monthly Social Security payment for a retired worker will be $1,461 a month next year.

“For more recent retirees, the 2019 COLA will be the largest increase they have gotten to date,” said policy analyst Mary Johnson, of the nonpartisan Senior Citizens League.

B u t re t i re e D a n e t t e Deakin, of Bolivar, Missouri, said she feels as though her cost-of-living adjustment is already earmarked for rising expenses.

Her Medigap insurance for costs not covered by Medicare is going up, and so is her prescription drug plan. She expects her Medicare Part B premium for outpatient care will also up.

“It isn’t enough of an increase that it takes care of all of the increases from health care, plus rent — our rent gets increased every year,” said Deakin, 70, who worked in the finance department at a boat dealership.

Health care costs eat up about one-third of her income, she estimated.

“I appreciate the COLA adjustment, and in no way am I complaining,” Deakin added. “It’s just that every single thing you can talk about goes up. It doesn’t go down.”

By law, the COLA is based on a broad index of consumer prices. Advocates for seniors claim the general index doesn’t accurately capture the rising prices they face, especially for health care and housing. They want the government to switch to an index that reflects the spending patterns of older people.

“What the COLA should be based on is still a very real issue,” said William Arnone, CEO of the National Academy of Social Insurance, a research organization not involved in lobbying. “Older people spend their money in categories that are going up at a higher rate than overall inflation.”

The COLA is now based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W, which measures price changes for food, housing, clothing, transportation, energy, medical care, recreation and education.

Advocates for the elder-

ly would prefer the CPI-E, an experimental measure from the government that reflects costs for households headed by a person age 62 or older. It usually outpaces general inflation, though not always.

COLAs can be small or zero, as was the case in several recent years. People often blame the president when that happens.

However, the White House can’t dictate the COLA, which is calculated by nonpolitical experts.

President Donald Trump has re peatedly vowed not to cut Social Security or Medicare. But the gover nment is running $1 trillion deficits, partly as a result of the Republican tax cut bill Trump signed. Mounting deficits will revive pressure to cut Social Security, advocates for the elderly fear.

“The revenue loss in the tax bill contributes to much higher deficits and debt, and that is where the threats begin to come in,” said David Certner, policy director for AARP. “Social Security, and in particular the COLAs, have been the target.”

For mer President Barack Obama floated — but ultimately dropped — a proposal called chained CPI, which would have slowed annual COLAs to reflect penny-pinching by consumers. Behind it is the idea that when the price of a particular good or service rises, people often respond by buying less or switching to a lower-cost alternative.

Because of compounding, smaller COLAs would have a dramatic effect over time on the federal budget and Social Security finances. But if inflation continues to rise, proposals to scale back cost-ofliving adjustments carry greater political risk.

Beyond federal budget woes, Social Security faces its own long-term financial problems and won’t be able to pay full benefits starting in 2034.

Social Security is financed by a 12.4 percent tax on wages, with half paid by workers and the other half paid by employers. Next year, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase from $128,400 to $132,900.

About 177 million workers pay Social Security taxes. Of those, nearly 12 million workers will pay more in taxes because of the increase in taxable wages, according to the Social Security Administration.

In addition to retirees, other Social Security beneficiaries include disabled workers and surviving spouses and children.

Low-income disabled and elderly people receiving Supplemental Security Income also get a COLA.

3

Adobe Stock

How to get better care from your doctor State Point Media

Have you ever wanted to ask your doctor a question but didn’t because you felt uncomfortable? Experts say that an impersonal relationship with your doctor could be preventing you from receiving the best care possible.

“Your doctors should feel like valued members of your family -- and you a part of theirs. That’s how I operate in my practice and what I aim to foster in my patients,” says Dr. Ken Redcross, who brings nearly 20 years of experience to his new book dealing with this subject, “Bond: The 4 Cor nerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor.”

Whether you have a new doctor or you’ve been at the same practice for years, your patient-doctor bond may be on faulty ground. But it doesn’t have to be, suggests Dr.

Redcross. He believes that by establishing these four essential qualities in your patient-doctor relationships, you’ll pave the way to receiving better care: • Trust. Trust is essential in any relationship, including the one with your doctor. There is no sharing without trust, and sharing is crucial when it comes to receiving the best possible care.

• Communication. No relationship can be sustained without open and honest communication on both sides, but developing healthy communication habits takes practice, effort and willingness.

• Respect. Respect is treating others with common courtesy, good social manners and appreciating each other’s humanity. This means respecting each other’s experience, knowledge and time.

• Empathy. Empathy is the ability to sense another person’s emotions and

to be able to place yourself in his or her shoes, which is a valuable quality in a doctor. However, many physicians strive for a state of “concerned detachment,” which is the opposite of empathy.

At the same time, patients can be more empathic, too, taking the time to consider everything their doctors may be dealing with on the day of their visit.

Building a great relationship with your doctor leads to practical benefits, says Dr. Redcross. In dealings with his own patients, he finds that great communication paves the way for better treatment.

“Recently, a patient of mine was dealing with muscle pain and we had a long conversation about different options. Initially, I recommended that she take traditional pain reliever with naproxen s o d i u m e ve r y m o r n ing. However, by talking

through all the options and what best fit her situation, including her overall medical history, preferences and more, we settled on using Arnica montana, a lower-risk plant-based pain reliever instead,” says Dr. Redcross. “Feeling comfortable enough with your doctor to challenge a suggestion and have a long and complete conversation is key. Unfortunately, such discussions between patients and doctors are rare.”

To lear n more about the book, as well as about building better relationships with your doctors, visit, BondByDrRedcross. com.

At a time when doctor’s visits seem more routine and formulaic than ever before, experts say that receiving individualized care is possible, and it all starts with building strong relationships with your health care providers.

4

Senior Living

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018

Adobe Stock

They danced and dreamed on Saturday nights.

But what became of his Stillwater love?

By Mary Divine Pioneer Press

What to know when selecting a Medicare plan State Point Media

For the millions of Americans aged 65 and older, Medicare is a critical source of health care.

And during the Medicare Annual Election Period between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, those eligible can select or make changes to their plans for 2019. Experts say that this selection is vitally important and should be done with care.

“It’s a good idea to go shopping for potential plans and consider each element of them,” says Brian Evanko, who leads Cigna’s government programs, including Cigna-HealthSpring, which is a supplier of Medicare Advantage products. “Your goal should be to choose a plan that strikes the right balance between the benefits you’ll need and what you can afford.”

To help you choose a plan and get the most from it, consider these tips from the experts at Cigna-HealthSpring: • Determine your priorities. Plans can vary widely, and certain plans go beyond the basics to include such benefits as transportation assistance to doctor appointments, fitness classes, discounts on home delivery of covered prescription medications and even nutritious meals after a hospital discharge.

“Special needs plans” are available to those with qualifying conditions, such as having certain chronic illnesses or being eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Taking the time to identify your priorities and health care needs will help you evaluate your plan options from an informed standpoint.

• K n ow yo u r n e t work. The right plan will offer you support in navigating a complex

health care system, saving you time and money.

Seek out a plan that offers you a team of providers that will commit to getting to know your needs and delivering coordinated care. If you have favorite doctors or pharmacies, make sure they are within your network.

• Leverage preventive care opportunit ie s. Preventive care saves lives and helps you delay or avoid the onset of disease. So, schedule your annual check-up and keep your appointment. Get to know your doctor and ask about any screenings you need for your age and background. For more information about preventive care, visit cigna.com/ takecontrol.

• Get active. Incorporate exercise into your routine; it’s essential to healthy aging.

While original Medicare doesn’t cover gym memberships or fitness programs, a number of M e d i c a re A dva n t a g e plans offer such benefits as part of their coverage at no extra cost.

• Use free resources.

To compare plans, use free resources like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Plan Finder where plans are rated from one to five stars. Many insurance plans offer no-cost, no-obligation seminars explaining plan details.

Yo u c a n a l s o c h e c k health plans’ websites or call their customer service team for more information.

This Annual Election Period, consider your personal health circumstances and budget needs carefully. The right plan will help you maximize your physical and financial wellbeing, ensuring you have affordable access to the benefits you need all year long.

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

After 67 years, Fields Arthur realizes it’s a long shot.

In 1951, Arthur was serving in the U.S. Air Force in Osceola, Wis., taking a nine-month course in radio mechanics. On Saturday nights, he and fellow airmen would head to downtown Stillwater for dances.

One night Arthur, then 22, met a telephone operator named Tina Anderson.

She was 19 and lived in Stillwater.

A few months later, Arthur was shipped almost over night to Korea and lost touch with Anderson.

Now, at the age of 89, Arthur wants to find out what happened to her.

“I’d like to talk to her one more time,” said Arthur, who lives in Lakeside, Calif. “I’d like to see how she made out since we parted company. I’m just curious.

I have a lot of time on my hands.”

Arthur reached out to the Stillwater school district last month to ask for help. District employees searched yearbooks and alumni directories, but couldn’t find a record of a girl named “Anderson” or “Andersen” who had the first name of “Tina, Christina, Bertina or any other creative variation we could think of,” said Carissa Keister, a district spokeswoman.

Brent Peterson, executive director of the Washington County Historical Society, said the young woman likely worked at the new Bell Telephone building, built in 1951 on South Second Street in downtown Stillwater. “It was just before you go up Chilkoot Hill, across from what is now Grand Garage,” he said. “That’s where the switchboards were.”

Saturday night dances were held regularly at the Elks Lodge, Stillwater Armory and Canteen Hall, Peterson said.

Arthur, who was stationed at the 674th Air Craft Control and Warning station in Osceola, said he is not sure which dances he attended.

“Do they still have those dances in Stillwater on Saturday night?” he said.

“We met every Saturday for almost three months.

Four of us went together.

We thought if there were some single girls there, we might be able to dance and have some fun.”

There was a live band,

but Arthur said he and the others were disappointed to learn they played mainly polkas. “None of us knew how to dance to that type of music,” he said. “They did a lot of that in Wisconsin and Minnesota.”

‘Save a slow dance for me’

Arthur said Anderson caught his eye, and he asked her to dance a slow dance. “We danced three times that night, with long breaks in between dances,” he said.

When it was time to leave, Arthur asked Anderson if she would be back the next week and asked her to “save a slow dance” for him. “The second Saturday, we also danced three times,” he said. “The third Saturday, we sat together and had more time to talk.”

Over the next 10 weeks, the couple “had a great time talking and dancing the slow dances,” he said.

“I never did figure how to dance the polka.”

Anderson started calling Arthur in Osceola when she was on work breaks.

“She somehow figured out the number of the pay phone at the barracks,” he said. “Some weeks, she would call twice. I really enjoyed those calls.”

After attending the danc-

es for about three months, Arthur got word in mid-November 1951 that he had graduated. The next day, the commanding officer said two air men had to go overseas. “I was one of them,” Arthur said. “It was terrible news.”

Saying goodbye

dersen and ask if they had a daughter named Tina.

After he returned home to San Diego in January 1953, Arthur called the phone company and asked if they could help him find Anderson, but he was told that was private information that could not be given out.

Ar thur was next assigned to Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Fla., where he met and married Ann Flanagan, who also was in the Air Force.

The couple had three sons.

Ann, a librarian, died in January 2016 at the age of 85.

“We had a good life,” said Arthur, who had a long career in federal civil service.

“We were married 62 years.

I just always wondered what happened to Tina.

I’m curious to know how she made out in life.”

On the phone from California last week, Arthur said he was willing to pay for an article in the Pioneer Press, hoping someone could tell him what happened to his young love.

We assured him that we don’t operate that way. No one can buy an article.

But who can resist a great love story?

He broke the news to Anderson on Saturday night that he was probably going to Korea.

“I told her that we would have to keep in touch and somehow get back together,” he said. “I hoped that I would be stationed someplace close to Stillwater when I returned. She said, ‘Is that a promise?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ “ On his way back to the base, Arthur realized he didn’t have Anderson’s home address or telephone number.

“All of our contacts were at the dance hall,” he said.

“She had a good friend who used to sit with us. Her name was Jane, but I don’t remember her last name.

They were both telephone operators.”

Arthur tried to reach Anderson from Korea, but had no luck. He even wrote a letter to a friend in Osceola, asking him to look in – Distributed by Tribune the phone book and call every Anderson and An- Content Agency, LLC.

BRANSON CHRISTMAS

NOVEMBER 8 - 11, 2018

$639

DANIEL O’DONNELL, GRAND JUBILEE SHOW, A TRIBUTE TO FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS, DIXIE STAMPEDE DINNER SHOW

BRANSON CHRISTMAS

NOVEMBER 15 - 18, 2018

$639

DANIEL O’DONNELL, A TRIBUTE TO ALABAMA, SIX, SAMSON

A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN NASHVILLE, TN

DECEMBER 1 - 6, 2018

FLORIDA & A 6 DAY EASTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE FEBRUARY 7 - 22, 2019

$1259 STARTING AT

$2749

SO CALIFORNIA, LAS VEGAS & ARIZONA

MARCH 4 - 21, 2019

$2999

SPRING MYSTERY TOUR - ALL NEW 7 DAY TOUR!

MARCH 25 - 31, 2019

$1109

MYRTLE BEACH & CHARLESTON, SC

APRIL 5 - 13, 2019

$1479

NEW ORLEANS & LAFAYETTE, LA

APRIL 26 - MAY 6, 2019

$1799

VIRGINIA BEACH & WILLIAMSBURG, VA

MAY 4 - 12, 2019

$1529

HOLLAND, MI TULIP FESTIVAL

MAY 10 - 12, 2019

$499

ARK ENCOUNTER & CREATION MUSEUM

MAY 15 - 19, 2019

$809

NIAGARA FALLS & TORONTO, ONTARIO

JUNE 11 - 16, 2019

$999

MACKINAC ISLAND, MI

JUNE 14 - 16, 2019

$499

CODY, WY & YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK JUNE 18 - 24, 2019

$1169

TRAINS IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES

JUNE 20 - 29, 2019

$1659

CANADIAN ROCKIES & CALGARY STAMPEDE

JULY 6 - 14, 2019

$1599

CHICAGO, IL GANGSTER TOUR

JULY 19 - 21, 2019

$509

SUMMERTIME ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

JULY 24 - 26, 2019

$509

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Senior Living

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018

Nancy Arneson plays the piano in the main living room, beneath the largest tree the Hormel Historic Home displays. This photo was taken at an open house in 2016. Herald file photo.

Guzman: ‘Christmas is definitely my thing, I love the memories’ From Page 1 The decorations that the Hormel Home curated over the years were mostly from donations or handmade by the volunteers who come together. Guzman revealed that many of those decorations that guests can see inside the Hormel Home is from Pat and Gary Ray. Despite having thrown out eight Christmas trees from old age, there’s still quite a number left for decorating the halls, according to Guzman. No stone is left unturned, and there’s a guarantee that there’s a festive touch somewhere inside the Hormel Historic Home. Decorating starts on Halloween, and that’s when the magic begins.

“When I walk into any house, there’s family and friends and the house is decorated for Christmas,” Guzman said. “Christmas is definitely my thing. I love the memories.”

Before Guzman took the reins in decorating, the Hor mel Historic Home used to be decorated by vendors from around town who’d showcase their wares in the 80s. There wasn’t anything too extravagant, according to Holly Johnson, executive director of the Hor mel Historic Home. By the time the vendors packed up, there’d be a scramble to get decorations up for the holidays, she said.

“It was a typical open house,” Johnson shared.

“It took a lot of commitment, and it would have to last throughout the season.”

Guzman said that before the house was decorated, visitors to the home had decreased. With her joining the crew, Guzman said there was a “dramatic difference” along with several holiday events planned through the home such as “Soup and Santa” which draws “hundreds of people.”

“The walk-ins increased even more so,” she said.

“It’s been a huge success, and we usually sell out.

Kim Guzman has been heading up the Christmas decorating of the Hormel Historic Home for a few years now and takes great pride in getting the old home prepared for the holiday season. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com ...We need to keep up with the times. Rochester has Mayowood, but we have the Hormel Home. I think our home should reflect that at Christmas. I think we’ve succeeded.”

However, what remains a mystery to this day, was exactly how the Hormel Family decorated for the holidays, Johnson said.

Other than a few mentions from visiting family during Christmas, there weren’t any specific details on decor or anything that gave hint to the festive flair that the Hormels might have had.

“I have tried time and time again to find records of how the Hormels decorated their home,” she said. “Nothing was of interest. They may have done something that was of trend at the time.”

Guzman suggested that with the Hormels’ strong German heritage, it may have been possible that the family may have decorat-

ed based on cultural tradition such as nutcrackers, or possibly the traditional glass ornaments with history tracing back to the German town of Lauscha in the mid 1800’s, that were made with mercury or lead for luster finish.

Aside from creating festive displays of holiday spirit, what Guzman hopes guests will take away from those spaces are places to gather and to create warm memories that last a lifetime, and those memories continue to stay with them past the Christmas season.

“It’s always a wonderful time to be with the staff,” Guzman said. “When I was here for my daughter’s wedding, we spent the whole weekend there and the Hor mel Home was so beautiful. It’s so beautiful. I love it. I really wanted decorating to be a Christmas tradition. For families to stop in to visit on Christmas.”

A PAIR OF STYLETTO HEARING AIDS GOOD ONLY

OCTOBER 22-27, 2018 This coupon cannot be combined with any other offers.

purchased during the Open House week of October 22nd thru 27th. Please call early for a free hearing aid consultation as they fill up fast. Coupon is off regular pricing. (Not MSRP)

5

6

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD