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INSIDE Getting creative........................................2 Live healthy, live longer ...........................3 Find your balance.................................... 4 Consider assisted living facilities .............5 Artist finds new focus after wife’s death .................................... 6 75 years ago they fought the Germans, frostbite and Hitler’s desperate gamble to change the tide of World War II .............. 8
Getting creative
Learn a new sport ..................................10 Do you snore? Reasons to see a doctor . 11 Go on an uncruise adventure .................12
Senior Living is a special advertising publication of The Billings Gazette.
Publisher Dave Worstell Content editor Charity Dewing Advertising Director Ryan Brosseau Access Senior Living at billingsgazette.com/specialsections Content provided by Metro Services and Greenshoot Media
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eniors thrive when they are actively engaged — especially in any activity that allows them to think and behave creatively. In fact, according to Today’s Geriatric Medicine, creative art pursuits offer many benefits to older adults, including enhanced cognitive function and reduced feelings of depression and anxiety. Many creative pursuits are particularly suited for seniors because they allow you to engage at your own pace. Find an activity that excites you and follow that passion.
Visual arts
There is a lot encompassed in visual arts — everything from painting and drawing to sculpture, pottery and design. This means there is a lot of room for you to try several things and introduce
yourself to new mediums. Add a bottle of wine and a few friends, and you might have found your newest hobby.
Cooking
Food is good for the soul, and cooking it is good for the mind — and stomach. Cooking can be as creative and experimental as you allow it to be. Try new things on your own from books you own, or borrow from the public library, or join a class. One of the great things about cooking is that you can start at any age, at any level. Just want to learn the basics? There is a class for that. Always wanted to try your hand at Thai food? There is a cookbook for that. Has it been your dream to test out delicate French pastries? There is no doubt a neighborhood full of willing test subjects to taste your creations.
Music and theater
Whether you want to participate or listen, you can find composition to suit every mood, and can engage with music all year round. Go to concerts or attend performances hosted by your local playhouse. Music has been found to stimulate the brain and memory. According to a recent study published in Hearing Journal, adults ages 60 to 85 without previous musical experience exhibited improved processing speed and memory after just three months of weekly 30-minute piano lessons. Involvement in participatory arts has been shown to have a positive impact on mental and physical health of senior adults, regardless of skill lever or past experience. So get out of your comfort zone and try something new. — Green Shoot Media
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Live healthy, live longer
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ccording to the Mayo Clinic, less than 3 percent of Americans meet the basic qualifications for a “healthy lifestyle.” Another report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine asserts that Americans’ health ranks below 16 other developed countries. We can do better than this. The good news is that living healthy is (mostly) in your control. Before we can improve, it is important to understand the current state of our health. This is what we know, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Less than 5 percent of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Only 40 percent of adults 75 years of age and older are physically active in any capacity. An older adult is treated in the emergency room for injuries related to falls every 15 seconds. Every 29 minutes, a senior adult dies following a fall.
Approximately 90 percent of Americans consume more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet. If Americans reduced their sodium intake by just 1,200 mg per day, more than $20 billion could be saved in medical costs each year. Here are some statistics from the National Council on Aging: Approximately 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic disease — and 77 percent have more than one. 90 percent of Americans age 55 and older are at risk for high blood pressure. Approximately 20 percent of senior Americans suffer from depression but only 3 percent receive treatment. Studies show exercising your brain is just as important as exercising your body as you age. The longer you stay a student, the more likely you are to ward off dementia. It is important to keep your thoughts positive. Those who worry about falling tend to fall more often that those who don’t. — Green Shoot Media
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FINDING YOUR
BALANCE P
ersonal balance is often taken for granted, but it is a fundamental quality of daily life. According to the Center for Disease Control, 2.5 million older Americans are treated each year in the emergency room for injuries caused by falling. Therefore, improving your balance is an essential component of preventative care.
Losing your balance
Seniors most commonly lose their balance due to: „„ Poor vision „„ Weakened joints „„ Poor posture „„ Dragging feet „„ Increased dizziness „„ Delayed responsiveness Many of the above afflictions come as part of the natural aging process, but this does not mean you can’t work to improve your balance.
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Regaining your balance
The good news is your balance can be strengthened and regained through training. Much of our balance is lost as we age due to inactivity. Simple stretching and sports, such as yoga or Pilates, are easy and effective ways to retrain your body and regain balance you once had.
Chair exercises
If you are looking for something you can do a little each day (without a yoga mat) then grab a chair. Standing directly behind it, rest one hand on the back of the chair and the other on your hip. Lift one leg, bending your knee slightly. Hold this leg up for a count of 10, bring it back down to the floor for a moment of rest, and then repeat. Do nine additional repetitions on that side, before repeating the exercise with your other leg.
Increase your flexibility
Flexibility plays a large role in maintaining and strengthening your balance. Have you noticed it’s not as easy to
complete everyday tasks, such as reaching for items on high shelves or bending over to put on shoes? Stretching for 10 minutes each day will vastly improve your range of motion. Just be sure not to over extend yourself. Stretching should produce a nice pull — never pain. — Green Shoot Media
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Consider assisted living facilities
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n assisted living facility is a residence hall for individuals who may need extra care with daily activities, such as medication, meal preparation and household chores, but do not need the full care of a nursing home. They often feel like small apartments, as most residences require residents to bring their own furnishings and belongings, but can be a better option for some seniors because of the oversight and security they provide.
What are the requirements to live in an assisted living facility?
How is this different from a nursing home?
Nursing homes are designed for seniors who require daily care by a medical professional (those not just taking medication). These facilities have nursing staff working 24 hours of every day, and often offer occupational and physical therapies to help meet their residents’ needs.
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dence. Things like amenities, level of care, desired room size, location and location will all factor into monthly costs. However, it is safe to consider a monthly range of $1,500 to $6,000 per month.
What services are available?
How much does is cost?
Cost will vary from residence to resi-
Again, this will vary with each facility, but here are a few services most com-
monly found in assisted living residences: Two or three meals per day Medication management Regular hosted events for wellness, socializing and devotional services Outings in the community, such as shopping, in the residence van Housekeeping Security
Because assisted living facilities are not nursing homes, there are base requirements for admittance. An assisted living center cannot admit someone who does not meet these requirements unless the residence is specifically certified to meet specific needs. According to the Assisted Living Facilities Organization, base requirements include: Residents generally do not have a medical condition that will require 24hour medical care. Residents are not a threat to themselves or others. Residents are free of communicable disease and have generally stable health. Residents do not chronically need help from another person to walk or descend stairs. — Green Shoot Media
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Artist finds new focus after wife’s death
TREVA LIND
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The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)
mages of Spokane’s past beckon Mike Forster, an artist who found his way back to creativity through a lens. It was difficult for Forster, 72, to do any art after the death of his longtime wife, Dorothy, in 2017. He also suffers from back pain and is hard of hearing. COLIN MULVANY, THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW VIA TNS Friends sometimes drive him around. When Forster started taking photos with Photographer and artist Mike Forster is dealing with health issues and the passing of his his digital camera by fall 2018, he became inwife. To help him cope, his friends have encouraged him to display his photography at local trigued by decades-old Spokane homes and bars and art galleries.
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other icons. He captures them with unusual angles and lighting, and the results have grown into what he calls Vintage Spokane Photos. “I’m gradually coming back to art,” Forster said. “I’m also a painter, but I got into this photography because of space. It doesn’t require much space, and I found it really satisfied a creative urge. “I take photos of classic icons in Spokane and old buildings. We have so many old buildings and homes here that I’m trying to capture in a different light. They speak to me.”
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When he selects a certain photo to add to his collection, Forster sends it to a Midwest business to have it placed on a canvas. Images range from an unusual angle of the Spokane County Courthouse to the “Benny & Joon” movie home location in the Peaceful Valley Neighborhood. He’s also captured antique cars, barns, bridges and even raindrops on a window in the forefront of downtown Spokane buildings. Among Forster’s favorite subjects are Spokane’s older homes from the early 1900s. He likes to find old Craftsman, Victorian and other stately residences. “I’ve found some eclectic but beautiful old homes,” he said. “They just talk to me. There were huge families that grew up in these homes and died. What a heritage the owners and builders left for generations to still enjoy. “I take the photos, and no one really knows I’m taking the photos, although at the ‘Benny & Joon’ house, she later said, ‘I saw you taking a photo of my house. That photo is wonderful.’ “I go out when it’s pouring rain. I don’t like taking photos in midday sun. I go out either in the morning or afternoon. I really like taking photos on nasty days because I can see the color in there.”
Forster was driving with a relative on a “dull, cold morning” when he noticed how filtered light fell on the windmill building at 11th Avenue and Perry Street, so he snapped a picture that’s now in the collection. Built in 1929 as part of the Cambern Dutch Shop, the building is still in use. A Spokane Valley resident, Forster learned about art at a young age. He went to Spokane Falls Community College, then the former Fort Wright College for a bachelor’s degree in fine art. His career was spent mostly at the former American Sign and Indicator Co. as a graphic designer and senior artist. He did artwork on his own but mainly made his artist’s living at that company. “That was a really good start to learn my trade, and I worked there for about 20 years. Family came first.” The company headquarters was moved from Spokane in 1990, so after that Forster said he worked for SFCC’s building and grounds facilities. After retirement, Forster did art projects, but he said it was difficult after his wife’s death. She also was an artist. “Dorothy, she was a better artist than I ever hope to be,” Forster said. “I lost my wife of 45 years; that I still haven’t gotten over. It’s difficult for me to say, ‘Hey, get happy.’ I have to go out and work to get happy, so I go
out and do this (photography).” He realized other people were interested in his photos after posting images to a Facebook group called “You’re probably from Spokane if you remember.” His image of the Paulsen Center building received more than 500 likes. Forster said he uses a couple of older photo editing programs at home. For his Sony A65 camera, he mostly uses a 17-70 mm wide angle lens. “My camera’s old and my lenses are old, but it doesn’t mean inferior,” Forster said. “I know a lot of photographers have to update all the time, but I’ve generally felt I don’t need anything to take a better picture. It’s like giving an artist a room with canvas and paints. If he’s good, he can use it. If he’s not, it doesn’t matter how much he buys.” In taking a photo of a home near Monroe Street, he noticed an orange light on the porch, and then later saw the color reflected in a front window. “I like details in shadow areas. You’ve got to urge the details to come out.” He points to the detailed architectural features in older homes, including dormer windows and wide porches. “You can put a swing in there and have tea,” he added. “I’m also working on photographing old barns because a lot of them
are disappearing.” But a still-life might grab his attention, as well, such as one he took of a mailbox and warning signs for “No trespassing” and “Beware of dog,” with green vegetation in the background. Forster also enjoys taking photos in downtown Spokane. People pass by its old buildings every day perhaps without noticing them anymore, he said. Walking around, he’ll see a sudden shift in sunlight that reflects and bounces from one structure onto another building. “I think, there is a photo,” he said. Forster doesn’t think he’s seen another Spokane County Courthouse image quite like his. “It doesn’t show the grounds, and the clouds behind it were nasty, but I was facing north with some ambient light hitting it, so I took a couple of shots. Then the lighting disappeared. I started working on it at home and thought this looks different than any other courthouse pictures I ever saw.” “I’m more interested in the processing of the view to show the viewer a different take on it. I want to give viewers more of an artistic view of something that’s been around for a hundred years, and people can see it differently.” Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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75 YEARS AGO they fought the Germans, frostbite and Hitler’s desperate gamble to change the tide of World War II
ERIK LACITIS
The Seattle Times
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EATTLE — They were, for the most part, 18, 19, or 20 years old — some just out of high school — fighting the German army in Central Europe in what many believed were the waning days of World War II. Because of the weekslong battle they waged 75 years ago, Adolf Hitler wouldn’t get the negotiated peace that he had sought from his lastditch, surprise attack on Allied forces. The Third Reich would not live on.
Jack Van Eaton didn’t know he and his fellow soldiers were making history by fighting and winning the battle that would gain its name from the bulge German forces drove into Allied lines. You don’t think history while trying to avoid bombs, bullets and hypothermia. Van Eaton, 95, of Bothell, Washington, remembers being scared nonstop. “You don’t tell your buddies. You know they’re scared, too. You have artillery coming all the time. We knew that any damn second
we could be dead or have a hole in our heads.” The Battle of the Bulge was fought in the middle of winter in subzero temperatures. Many suffered amputations due to frostbite. It remains the largest battle ever fought by the U.S. Army. In the winter of 1944, the Allies were confident that victory would soon be theirs. Six months after the D-Day landings, they were rushing through France and Belgium with surprising speed. But in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, 1944,
against the advice of his generals, Hitler gambled that German troops could split the Allied armies by launching a surprise attack in the Ardennes Forest, a 75mile stretch of dense woods and few roads that straddles portions of Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Germany. The German army had been decimated in three years of fighting against the Soviet Red Army. “Yet, amazingly, the Germans were able to scratch together approximately 28 divisions for the upcoming offensive,”
ALAN BERNER PHOTOS, THE SEATTLE TIMES VIA TNS
Jack Van Eaton, 95, is a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge with two Purple Hearts and the German bullet he took out of his own leg. For years, he wouldn’t talk about his experiences. He’s a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. says an Army history. Facing the Germans were “four inexperienced and battle-worn American divisions stationed there for rest and seasoning,” according to another Army paper. Many units were caught off-guard. Over about five weeks, more than a million soldiers
faced off — 500,000 Americans, 600,000 Germans and 55,000 British. Casualties for the two main forces were massive. For the Germans, there were more than 100,000 casualties (which includes captured and injured) with up to 12,000 listed as killed. The Ameri-
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cans suffered 75,000 casualties, with 19,000 killed. For Bob Harmon, 94, of Seattle, memories of the battle remain fresh and vivid. They can’t be put aside. Harmon was drafted into the Army in July 1943, right after graduating from Olympia (Wash.) High School. Harmon, a gunner in Gen. George S. Patton’s forces, remembers that three times his unit tried a night crossing of the Our River from Luxembourg into Germany using flatbed boats, and all three times they were shelled by the Germans. With shells exploding around them, he remembers, the soldiers “would get nervous and start ducking and pretty soon the boat would tip over.” Soaked by the freezing waters, the battalion would turn back. On the third attempt, Harmon, on a bazooka team with another man, managed to reach the opposing shore.
Bob Harmon vividly recalls the “Battle of the Bulge” in World War II. He’s an Army veteran who saw action and remembers the freezing weather and pummeling firepower from the Germans. The papers stacked up contain material for a book he hopes to write. “We’re the only ones here,” Harmon told his buddy. They ditched the bazooka in the river and let the river take them back to the Allied lines. But that night, getting ready for the fourth crossing, Harmon clearly remembers his lieutenant simply told him, “It’s time to go.” And Harmon went back to battle — this time his unit made it
across. Harmon, who lives at the Hearthstone retirement community near Green Lake, Washington, with his wife, Gina Harmon, 88, retired from Seattle University as a history professor. The battle reached a pivotal point at the village of Bastogne, where forces commanded by U.S. Army Brig.
Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe were surrounded by the Germans. On Dec. 22, four German soldiers, under a white flag, gave McAuliffe a typewritten ultimatum: surrender or face “total annihilation.” The German soldiers were sent back with McAuliffe’s reply: “NUTS!” Four days later, Patton wheeled his 3rd Army a sharp 90 degrees in a counterthrust movement and entered Bastogne and relieved the defenders. Before he died in 2016 at the age of 89, George W. Harper, of Arlington, Washington, was interviewed in 2000 for an oral history called “The Voices of World War II.” “We learned a lot of things that weren’t in the books,” Harper recalled about the battle. Like not hitting the ground under mortar attack. “Because the mortars, when they hit the tree
branches they blow, and the shrapnel from the mortars goes down like that. If you’re flat on the ground you’d give maximum surface area to it,” he said. Harper’s war ended when he was wounded in the battle. Harper’s family told a Seattle Times reporter recently that he went on to have an eclectic career. He worked as an air traffic controller, and for a time ran a telescope observatory near Mount Rainier, Washington. He also was a published writer of science fiction and nonfiction. In Bothell, Van Eaton recalls he was 19 when he joined the Army after graduating from Yakima (Wash.) High School in 1942. For a long time, Van Eaton wouldn’t talk about his war experiences. In recent years, though, he’s talked about the war to high-school kids in the Seattle area. Van Eaton tells them about
still having the copper jacket of the armor-piercing bullet that first went into a tree, then went downward into his boot, going between the bone and tendon on his right ankle. He was hauled to a field hospital in a sled hitched to a team of horses. That earned him one of two Purple Hearts. He tells them about the cold in what was supposedly was one of the harshest winters in decades. Van Eaton managed to get stockings from farm houses and some safety pins. He would wear one pair, and when it got wet, dry it out on the back of his uniform, and put on a dry pair. Van Eaton had a career as a Los Angeles firefighter for three decades, and, after moving to Seattle, as a Snohomish County fire-district commissioner. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Learn a new sport
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earning a new sport is a healthy way to meet new people and pick up a new hobby — all while bolstering your physical activity and your mental stamina. Trying out something new benefits us all on all levels — conditioning our bodies and challenging our minds. Performing the same tasks over time can get redundant. Switch it up and add a new activity to your routine.
Team sports
Team sports are the perfect choice for those actively looking to meet new people and form new relationships. They also are the perfect opportunity to refine communication and collaboration skills, which tend to diminish as we age. Bowling, golf and tennis are all great choices, and are sports that commonly have leagues and tournaments specifically for seniors.
Solo sports
Perhaps you are looking for something you can do on your own. Solo sports offer more flexibility because they release you from keeping to a specific practice or
meet schedule, and you don’t need to rely on others in order to learn or play. Both swimming and golf are ideal solo sport options for seniors because they are low impact on joints but still offer arduous physical activity.
Hire a professional
Hiring a professional local trainer for a few hours each week is a great way to hone your skills. Investing in a coach is ideal for those who already participate in a sport but want to advance their “game.” A coach is devoted to your improvement and will point out your bad habits without bias.
Facing the challenge
It is important to remember that you are tackling a new project and may feel overwhelmed at times. Don’t let feelings of “not being good enough” or “too old” sneak into your head and set up camp. Research shows we do what we set our minds to — quite literally. If you feel like you might fail, you will subconsciously hold yourself back. — Green Shoot Media
SENIOR LIVING | February 2020 | 11
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Do you snore?
TREVA LIND
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)
Although people joke about snoring, doctors are less inclined these days to make light of loud Zs. The reason: What keeps your spouse awake might signal more serious health issues. Snoring should get checked if it gets louder and has symptoms such as gasps for air or interrupted breathing. Health experts are less concerned about what’s called primary snoring as a steady rhythmic sound that might get you elbowed to move. “There are basically two types of snores,” said David Swanson, supervisor at Providence Holy Family Hospital’s sleep clinic and a respiratory therapist. “One is just a rhythmic type of snore and usually the volume level stays about the same.” With that, you typically won’t snore or the sound softens if you move from your back to side. “The other type of snoring, which about 75% of people who snore will have, is obstructive sleep apnea along with that snore. That’s more like a crescendo-type snore where the volume gets louder and louder, then all of the sudden you don’t hear anything for a while because the airway is closed.” That scenario sounds like a loud snort. Nearly 30 million U.S. residents have obstructive sleep apnea that involves repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Warning signs include that crescendo snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. “It’s important to keep track of symptoms in addition to the snoring,” said Dr. Michael Cruz, with Spokane Ear, Nose and Throat and an ENT physician. “Do you wake up gasping? Are you getting restorative sleep?” Interrupted breathing could last 10 seconds or longer, Cruz added. Is sleep beneficial or are you chronically tired and take daytime naps? Can somebody watch for irregular breathing patterns during sleep? Does it look like you’re struggling to breathe? How you answer may determine if you need to seek medical help. Discuss snoring concerns with a primary care physician, who might refer you to a sleep doctor. A specialist or primary doctor will likely call for a sleep test. Many patients now do those overnight in the home with a portable device. Obstructive sleep apnea, which can re-
duce the amount of oxygen the brain gets, may be a risk factor for stroke along with other concerns. “With OSA, there’s increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and you’ll gain weight a lot easier,” Swanson said. “You’ll get up and go to the bathroom more often at night because the drop in oxygen level can actually affect the kidneys. There’s poor memory, difficulty concentrating.”
Why do you snore?
“Snoring in simplest terms is vibration of tissue,” Cruz said. “The most obvious tissue that would vibrate when somebody is snoring is the uvula or the back of the palette that hangs down.” Insurance companies don’t recognize primary snoring during restful sleep as a medical condition. “They’ll often describe that snoring as a social nuisance but not a medical condition.” During sleep, throat muscles relax. Sometimes, the tongue falls back in the mouth and partially blocks. The greater the obstruction in the airway, the louder snoring gets. Bigger health concerns involve severe snoring and when the airway collapses, causing obstruction of airflow, said Dr. Gregory Belenky, professor with the Sleep and Performance Research Center in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. “You worry about snoring if it’s not just snoring but it’s clear the snoring becomes severe, the airway collapses and there’s obstruction of airflow,” Belenky said. “There are lots of nerve ending in the upper airway, and it is very sensitive to blocking. When it gets blocked, it screams bloody murder.” People then wake up just enough to start breathing again. However, people with sleep apnea typically don’t wake to consciousness and are often unaware of it. Muscle tone is key, another reason why aging is a factor in snoring more. Taking a muscle relaxant can contribute, as can drinking alcohol before sleep. Obesity also contributes because the body has to work harder at breathing in sleep. Another factor might be that the nose is obstructed. “So in some patients, you can eliminate nasal obstruction,” Cruz said. People then can breathe through the nose at night and don’t snore as much. Tonsils also could be issue. It’s less fre-
REASONS TO SEE A DOCTOR
quent, but children can have snoring and sleep apnea, Swanson added. It’s sometimes misdiagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder because of lingering sleep and breathing problems. Those kids are often helped when tonsils are removed, he added.
Treatments
Positive airway pressure therapy, with a PAP device, is a common treatment for sleep apnea. The term CPAP for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is becoming outdated, Swanson said. Doctors now can set a range of pressure and the device detects when a patient needs a higher level. “(Continuous) is an old term because that’s rarely used anymore. The machine is smart enough to know when the patient needs a higher pressure, like if they’re on their back or in REM sleep.” PAP masks of the past were bulky. Today’s models are smaller and fit more com-
fortably, he said. However, some patients turn to dental appliances. Dr. Robb Heinrich, a Spokane dentist, also offers sleep dentistry providing oral appliances used for sleep apnea or primary snoring. The device, worn similarly to an orthodontic retainer, is made from sturdier material and pushes out the lower jaw to help open the airway. Patients can select from five oral appliances, while ones for sleep apnea tend to be more durable with design differences. Most medical insurance companies will cover an appliance if it’s for diagnosed sleep apnea, he said. But Heinrich adds that PAP therapy is still considered a gold standard for sleep apnea. If you have basic snoring, doctors suggest avoiding alcohol and muscle relaxants before bedtime, keeping weight down and sleeping on your side. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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UnCruise
Adventure Sip your way through Oregon and Washington Wine Country
KATHY WITT
T
Tribune News Service
wo thousand wineries, two states, one trailblazing small ship … UnCruise Adventures’ SS Legacy ushers oenophiles and culinary explorers into a land of enchanting wines and wineries in the Pacific Northwest, calling at a number of wineries in Oregon and Washington and pouring even more of these liquid assets onboard during its Rivers of Wine and Culinary cruises. Against the dramatic backdrop of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, the gustatory delights of the week to come are heralded with the popping of champagne corks and go full-on flavor and fun through the Captain’s Dinner, a four-course tour de force introduced with an amuse-bouche trio. UnCruise definitely adds the “un” to its lineup of curated wine and food pairing experiences for the 90 guests aboard. Each is unique and unexpected, beginning with a demo by “Chef Daddy” Chris Holen, restaurateur, entrepreneur and owner of Baked Alaska, a restaurant perched at the edge of the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. Holen makes mouth-watering magic with “trash” fish (the plentiful monkfish of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean), serving it with his own special-
recipe aquavit, a spirit that originated in 15th century Scandinavia and given a local spin. It “tastes like the Northwest.” Translation: deliciously refreshing. “Astoria has history, culture and character, and the slogan, ‘keep it weird,’” Holen said. “It is interesting, real, authentic.” And Holen’s culinary masterpieces – created with such ingredients as salmon, sturgeon, steelhead, mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns that define Northwest cuisine – fit right in. At the fourth generation, family-owned and operated Mt. Hood Winery, guests sample the rare white pinot noir at an erstwhile apple farm. Owner Steve Bickford explains how the fruit benefits from being grown in the volcanic soils of Mt. Hood and manager Linda Barber lets slip (multiple times) that Mt. Hood was the number one winery in Oregon in 2016 – quite an honor given the proliferation of critically acclaimed wineries in this state. In Walla Walla, Washington, a stop is made at Squire Broel’s art studio to see richly complex sculptures, paintings and photographs made by an artist who, as a child, told his parents he’d be happy just painting trees in his backyard. While the UnCruise bartender keeps the champagne flowing and classical music plays lightly in the background, guests are
free to wander the space and ask Broel any questions. It is the perfect prelude to a stroll through this funky arts-centric town that ends at the renovated Power House Theatre. Here, an indoor picnic lunch is laid in the loft space, a setting that charms with its white brick walls, colorful theatre posters and plenty of natural light – not to mention the wines of local vintner, Mark Ryan. Guests taste more wines at family-owned Dunham Cellars, including the unexpected and exceptional Trutina, a Bordeaux-style blend. The tasting room is located in a remodeled World War II-era airplane hangar whose interior is given a splash of color by a massive bottle tree designed by founder Joanne Dunham. Floozies greet the ship when it calls at The Dalles, Oregon, a town with a saucy past and the end point of the Oregon Trail. Hidden within the surrounding cliffs are amazing wine and museum collections. This includes Washington’s Maryhill, voted winery with the best view, an accolade that seems indisputable when glimpsing vistas of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River from the winery’s perch high atop a bluff. A visit to the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center cul-
KATHY WITT PHOTOS, TNS
Above: A charcuterie board brought from the SS Legacy adds a delicious twist to the wine tasting at Maryhill Winery in Washington. Left: “Chef Daddy” Chris Holen of Astoria, Ore., loves to create dishes using the ingredients that define Pacific Northwest cooking.
minates in a sublime wine and cheese sampling before guests are whisked off to Washington’s smallest wine-grape growing region, Red Mountain, for a visit to the fairytale-like Terra Blanca Estate Winery & Vineyard and a sommelierguided tasting. For comparison, a stop is also made at Oregon’s largest AVA to tour and taste at the familyowned, boutique wineries Raptor Ridge and Archer Vineyards. In addition to visits to some of the most beautiful wineries in the Pacific Northwest, delicious food every step and river mile along the way, presentations on wine, including one on the wine aroma wheel, and programs on Lewis and Clark and “Native Americans and the Columbia River,” the itinerary showcases several breathtaking sights. These
include the Columbia River Gorge; Oregon’s tallest waterfall – Multnomah Falls; and Maryhill Museum of Art, home of Rodin sculptures, 400 intricately crafted chess sets and Thétre de la Mode (small-scale fashion mannequins garbed in the haute couture of post-World War II France), among other exquisite treasures.
Plan your travels
UnCruise Adventures include comfortable accommodations; delicious meals (emphasis on local ingredients sourced in local communities); spirits, wine and beer; non-alcoholic beverages; and thoughtfully planned shore tours. The SS Legacy has flat-screen TVs in cabins and a Book/DVD Library in the lounge, plus fitness equipment on the top deck and an open bridge. The dress code is casual; the atmosphere blissfully relaxed. The wine-themed excursions feature an onboard
sommelier and farm-totable culinary demos; winery tours in Washington and Oregon AVAs ; wine, craft brews, kombucha and cider tastings; wine pairing lunches, cooking demos, tastings at award-winning wineries and more. In 2020, UnCruise Adventures’ Rivers of Wine and Culinary cruise departures (roundtrip Portland, Oregon) are scheduled for September, October and November. Before boarding, visit Powell’s books, the world’s largest independent bookstore, and find a book or three for leisurely reading in the lounge. Information: www.uncruise. com. Author and travel and lifestyle writer Kathy Witt feels you should never get to the end of your bucket list; there’s just too much to see and do in the world. Email: KathyWitt24@ gmail.com; Twitter: @KathyWitt; online at kathywitt.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
