SENIOR WISE Š Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
December 5, 2013
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December 5, 2013 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
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Christmas Carols at Fickel Park, before the parade. Christmas in Berthoud Parade of Lights
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What goes around and around: Enduring Christmas television classics
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hristmas comes around once a year and with it comes a slew of familiar Christmas classics to television. While there are a few modern-day holiday classics, like “Elf,” it seems like the most memorable ones were made many moons ago. So what Surveyor Christmas classics come Columnist back to television year after year? Here are four of the most popular and most loved holiday shows from the 1960s. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Heidi (1964) — A timeless Kerr-Schlaefer Christmas classic, “Rudolph” can be easily found on television during the holiday season. This stop-motion animated film was based on the song written by Johnny Marks who based his song on the 1939 poem by his brother-in-law, Robert L. May. “Rudolph” is the longest-running Christmas television special in his-
tory. It has been aired every year since 1964 and is one of only four 1960s Christmas specials still being broadcast. Today, 49 years later, “Rudolph” is a holiday tradition in millions of households, and this misfit reindeer holds a special place in millions of hearts. You can find the special on various television networks, including CBS and ABC family, throughout the holiday season. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) — Based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, this much-loved Christmas special has received both an Emmy and a Peabody Award. Touching on the subject of the over-commercialization of Christmas, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is as relevant today as it was in 1965. With public outrage over many stores deciding to stay open this Thanksgiving, perhaps the message in “Charlie Brown” is even more applicable in today’s society of massive consumption than it was 48 years ago. Charlie Brown airs on ABC several times in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It’s come under fire in recent years for being “too Christian,” but continues to be a cherished part of most families’ holiday traditions.
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“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966) — Based on the children’s book by Dr. Seuss, this animated Christmas show has been remade a handful of times in the last 47 years. The Grinch, a soul with “a heart two sizes too small,” is a grumpy character who hates Christmas. The concept of a Christmas Grinch is solidified in our culture because of this memorable television special. Again, one of the major themes of this show was that Christmas has a much deeper meaning than just giving and receiving gifts. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” can be seen on multiple television
Silver lining for Alzheimer’s patients or cancer? Special to the Surveyor Cancer or Alzheimer’s disease is seldom something to cheer about. But there may be one positive to come from a cancer or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. New research indicates older people who have either Alzheimer’s or cancer are less likely to get the other disease. Although in essence it is a no-winscenario, researchers at the National Research Council of Italy in Milan, headed by study author Dr. Massimo Musicco, have found that having cancer seems to protect seniors from Alzheimer’s disease. The reverse also appears to be true. If you receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, you are at a far lower risk of developing cancer. Dr. Musicco has said, “understanding the mechanisms behind this relationship may help us better develop new treatments for both diseases.”
networks throughout the holiday season. “Frosty the Snowman” (1969) — Based on the song with the same title, this Christmas classic is as kidfriendly as they come. This special marked the first use of cel animation, as opposed to stop-motion animation. The cel allows some part of each frame to be repeated from frame to frame, thus saving labor. This show is well-known for its famous songs, especially “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” “Frosty” spawned four sequels airing in 1976, 1979, 1992 and 2005. It can be seen on CBS and ABC. Researchers studied more than one million residents of northern Italy, tracking them for six years. They found a 50 percent drop in cancer risk for Alzheimer’s patients among the subjects age 60 and over, and a 35 percent reduction in Alzheimer’s risk for those with cancer. Additional information suggests a similar correlation between Parkinson’s disease and cancer. It is unclear what is behind this link, and there remains the possibility that both diseases can occur concurrently. Researchers believe the lowered risk results from opposite biological mechanisms of the two diseases. Because Alzheimer’s results from brain cell death, it may prevent cancer because cancer forms from uncontrolled cell growth. The study, which was published in the July 10, 2013 issue of the journal Neurology, did not take into account lifestyle factors, such as smoking, physical activity and diet, which may influence the risk of these diseases. While receiving a diagnosis of cancer or Alzheimer’s disease is never a welcome development, the strange correlation between the diseases could give doctors new clues into treatment options for both conditions.
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December 5, 2013 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
Berthoud artist is a colorful and creative soul
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hen Don Lehn moved to town seven years ago, he “saw Berthoud as an artist community.” In his words, this “has not materialized.” Even though Berthoud may not be what Lehn envisioned, he is one of the more creative people living in the Garden Spot. Although he has excelled as an artist, the 87-year-old says he always had an aptitude for anything mechanical. He describes his past as “having a number of jobs in different fields.” One of his past vocations involved creating dental crowns and bridges. He characterizes the work as similar to making jewelry. Lehn worked at the Martin Company — later called Martin Marietta. It was a time that the early Titan missiles were new technology. This exposure to big business lead Lehn to realized he “didn’t want to work for a corporation.” The world of art is richer for Lehn’s decision. He is a gifted and talented painter and jewelry maker. In addition to creating beautiful pieces, Lehn once owned what he terms “the largest art gallery in the western U.S.” The now defunct Cinderella City mall housed his business and 400 to 500 paintings. Oil paint provides Lehn with a medium for his large colorful paintings. Additionally, he is well known for his jewelry creations. Fine pewter is Lehn’s choice of material for his large crosses and other items. He developed an alloy that doesn’t look dull like most pewter. It contains “a little bit of copper.” There is no lead in the metals used for jewelry. The result is shiny, and he says his work “competes with the silver market.” Although each piece is not a custom design, Lehn has many popular pieces in his Art Nouveau, Egyptian and general design lines. Some of his inspiration my come from two trips to Paris, France. Currently, Lehn’s jewelry is sold at Berthoud’s Indigo Sky Trading Company. Lehn’s philosophy on the pricing is, “If they like it, they should be able to have it.” Consequently, the average price to own one of his pieces is $24. Although surrounded by bright paintings, stained-glass lamps, a collection of music CDs and many books, Lehn has other interests.
Talking to him, one quickly learns about his interest in nutrition and aging among other subjects. Using his left-brain as well as the right side of the brain, Lehn is also an inventor. His home contains a couple of stress relieving devices Lehn’s fertile mind produced. Using mirrors, glass, lights and color, he uses the instruments, along with music, for relaxation. The machines, for lack of a better word, project different colored lights on the walls and ceiling in a soothing manner. The colors projected relate to the metaphysical chakras or centers of life force. Lehn estimates he has produced 300 of these devices. Lehn is truly unique and fascinating. Although Berthoud may not be a hotbed for artists, there are more than a few in town. Lehn ranks up there with the best for all his diverse thoughts and deeds.
Photo by Bob McDonnell
Don Lehn stands in his Berthoud home with one of his colorful oil paintings.
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It’s Medicare open enrollment time: Your options and Obamacare By Trudy Lieberman Rural Health News Service
Before reviewing options for next year’s Medicare coverage, it’s important to understand how Medicare fits with the Affordable Care Act often called Obamcare. With all the media attention focused on shoppers in the individual market and their troubles navigating the government’s website, it’s no wonder seniors want to know if they have to sign up somewhere to keep getting their Medicare benefits. Do they have to shop in the exchanges? What happens to their premiums? Relax. The answer is: seniors and disabled people on Medicare don’t have to do anything. The Affordable Care Act is basically aimed at people who don’t have insurance from another source. That means people whose insurance is Medicare cannot shop in the state exchanges. For that matter neither can people who have coverage from their employers, the military, or Medicaid. Contrary to political rhetoric, the Affordable Care Act does not reduce anyone’s Medicare benefits. In fact, it calls for more coverage — free preventive services such as mammograms and
annual check-ups, for example. Medicare beneficiaries have been slow to take advantage of these services. Some beneficiaries are afraid they will be cut off from Medicare as they get older. That fear is understandable given the political talk about changing Medicare to save money for the federal government. Most of that talk centers on making “wealthier” beneficiaries pay more for their Part B (doctor and outpatient services) and Part D (drugs) benefits. But Congress has not addressed that so far this year. So the talk is, well, just talk. What about that fear of rationing — that 90-year-olds won’t get care they need at the end of their lives. The Affordable Care Act does not allow any kind of rationing under Medicare, and there are no death panels — those imaginary end-of-life committees that scared seniors a few years back. If a procedure or service is medically necessary, then Medicare pays according to the program rules. The Affordable Care Act prohibits Medicare from using the cost effectiveness of a service or treatment to determine whether to cover it. Seniors also want to know if they can keep their doctors and other
healthcare providers. It’s easy to see why they are concerned when media outlets have been running stories about limited provider networks in the state shopping exchanges. Depending on what supplemental insurance seniors choose to cover their Medicare coverage gaps, they may not have an unlimited choice of providers. As a trade-off for cheaper premiums, these beneficiaries may well find their choices of doctors, hospitals, and other providers are limited. That’s because insurers selling in the state exchanges have obtained large discounts from certain providers that allow them to pass the savings on to patients in the form of lower premiums. But as a trade-off for cheaper premiums, those who enroll in these plans may well find their choices of providers are limited. But some Medicare beneficiaries also have restricted choices if they choose an HMO, a type of Medicare Advantage plan, which offers seniors a lower monthly premium than traditional Medigap policies do. There’s a catch, though. They must use providers in the insurer’s network. If you want to choose your providers without limitations, then sticking
with traditional Medigap policies is the best choice. Medigap Plans F and C cover medical expenses with minimal cost-sharing, and they are still the gold standard for many. With a Medigap policy, you’ll have to also buy what’s called a stand-alone drug plan. So the calculation comes down to the cost of the policy plus the cost of the drug plan and freedom to choose your providers versus restrictions and a lower monthly outlay. There’s one big difference right now between what Obamacare shoppers and Medicare seniors face. The government’s website Medicare.gov is working, while the HealthCare.gov site still has technical troubles. But that doesn’t mean Medicare shoppers will get all the information they need to make a good choice. I looked at Medicare Advantage plan options available to beneficiaries living in one zip code area in Lincoln, Neb. Important details about the plans were missing — among them the premium. It’s kind of hard to make a good decision without that.
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December 5, 2013 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
See you in the funny papers ... Pogo T
he comic “Pogo,” named after the central character of the strip, Pogo Possum, was created by cartoonist Walter Crawford “Walt” Kelly, Jr. (1913 – 1973) and was distributed by the PostSurveyor Columnist Hall Syndicate. The setting for the popular strip was the Okefenokee Swamp of the southeastern United States. It featured anthropomorphized, humorous animal Rudy characters Hemmann who regularly engaged in political and social satire. Pogo coupled wit that was sophisticated and mature with slapstick physical comedy in a provocative and stimulating mixture of fable and parable, Irish poetry, puns aplenty, clever repartee and verbal wit. This was topped off with lushly detailed artwork and broad burlesque humor, making the same series of strips enjoyable, on different levels, to children as well as sophisticated and intelligent adults. Kelly, who was born in Philadelphia and reared in Bridgeport, Conn., went to California at the age of 22 to work at Walt Disney Studios. After working on such classics as “Pinocchio,” “Fantasia” and “Dumbo,” Kelly left Disney in 1941 to work for Dell Comics. There he created the characters Pogo the possum and Albert the alligator for the first issue of Dell’s “Animal Comics” comic book in the story “Albert Takes the Cake.” In the feature both Pogo and Albert were comic foils for a young black character named Bumbazine. (The name is a corruption of the word bombazine, a fabric, usually black in color, used largely for wearing during mourning.) In the Dell comic, Bumbazine was retired early. Kelly found it much more difficult to write dialogue for a human child than for his swampland animals. Humans were eventually written out of Kelly’s comics altogether. He said he preferred to use animals, “Largely because you can do more with animals. They don’t hurt as easily, and it’s possible to make them more believable in an exaggerated pose.” It would be difficult for the casual reader to recognize the Pogo charac-
ter in the early Dell comics. From the time the Dell comic first appeared in 1941 Pogo played second fiddle, and oftentimes a very distant one, to Albert. It wasn’t until October 1945 that Pogo took top billing in the Dell comics. According to Kelly, “Pogo quickly took center stage, assuming the straight man role that Bumbazine had once occupied.” In 1948 Kelly was hired by the short-lived New York Star newspaper to draw political cartoons. While there he decided to do a daily comic strip which featured the characters from “Animal Comics” he had created for Dell. Pogo debuted in October 1948 and ran each week until the paper ceased publication in January 1949. Kelly successfully marketed his strip to the Post-Hall Syndicate, which picked up the strip the following May. The following except was taken from “The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics.” “Walt Kelly’s insolent ‘Pogo’ was a brilliant newspaper adaptation, in daily and Sunday format, of a major strip which was originated, and essentially perfected, in comicbook format — the only instance of a comic-book creation moving wholly and permanently into the newspaper strip medium.” The strip ran continuously until Kelly passed away due to failing health in October 1973. His widow, Selby, and son, Stephen, continued the strip for about a year and a half before ceasing publication in July 1975. Selby stated in a 1982 interview that the decision to discontinue the strip was because newspapers had shrunk the size of strips to the point people could no longer easily read them. The Los Angeles Times tried reviving the strip under the title “Walt Kelly’s Pogo” in 1989 using ghost writers to draw and write the strip. The revived strip never caught on, and when the last of the ghost writers left, Kelly’s son Peter and
daughter Carolyn tried to keep it going. However, interest waned and the new version of the strip was dropped from syndication. The characters developed by Kelly offer a disrespectful, scornful, satirical reflection of human nature. They are a greedy, confrontational, unethical, dishonest, open to bribery, and a mercenary bunch. However, they are portrayed in a good-natured way, with their contrived plans being undone by their own ineptitude and incompetence to carry out the simplest of schemes. Most characters of the strip are males, but a few female characters appeared regularly. According to Kelly, the “characters of the strip reflected different aspects” of his own personality. They were also self-aware that they were part of a comic-strip world. Kelly often showed them leaning against, or striking matches on, panel borders, facing the readers and making a comment directly to them — known as “breaking the fourth wall,” — or making references to other comic-strip characters and commenting about the nature of comic strips in general. Over the 27 years “Pogo” was published it is estimated that well over 1,000 characters appeared in the strip. Kelly simply created a new
character as the need arose and discarded them when they had fulfilled his purpose. There were also inconsistencies, such as the reintroduction of characters under different names, which added to the fluid nature of the strip. Kelly was constantly tinkering, not only with the characters that appeared in the strip, but also with the background drawings, until he had achieved a look that suited his whim or the current storyline. Most characters have full names (for instance, Pogo’s full given name is Ponce de Leon Montgomery County Alabama Georgia Beauregard Possum. This is by far the longest name of any of the characters and is meant as a parody of the “blue-blood aristocracy” so prevalent in the Old South.) However, many are referred to by other characters only by their species. For example, Howland Owl is most often called “Owl” or “ol’ Owl;” the bloodhound, Beauregard, is often called “Houn’ Dog;” and the turtle, Churchy LaFemme, is often referred to as “Turtle” or “Turkle.” Next month we will take a look at a number of the characters developed by Kelly for the “Pogo” strip. Until then, I’ll see you in the funny papers.
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Five ways to help aging parents navigate personal finances in today’s tech world
Special to the Surveyor
Use of technology among senior citizens continues to skyrocket, but many older Americans have difficulty using technological tools for financial matters, preferring instead the same methods they have always used. “Most of us are comfortable using computers or smart phones to check balances and deposit checks, but this technology is a huge shift for seniors,” said Mike Sullivan, chief education officer for Take Charge America, a national non-profit credit counseling agency. “They often feel more secure depositing a paper check and checking account balances at their local branch, so the transition to the Internet can be difficult.” Sullivan offers tips for addressing five common financial challenges seniors face today: • Real-time banking: Twenty years ago, consumers could write a check and then go to the bank and cover it with a deposit. Today, checks are often used like debit cards, and funds are deducted immediately. Addition-
Aging not always the culprit behind cataracts Special to the Surveyor Men and women develop cataracts as they approach their golden years. While aging is the single biggest risk factor for cataracts, there are other factors that can contribute to cataracts, which can afflict people of all ages. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), the following factors can contribute to the development of cataracts. • Alcohol consumption: Studies have shown that higher alcohol consumption can increase a person’s risk of developing cataracts. • Diabetes mellitus: Persons with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cataracts than those who do not have diabetes. • Medications: Certain medications have been associated with the development of cataracts. Corticosteroids and chlorpromazine and other phenothiazine related medications have been linked to cataracts in the past. • Nutrition: Men and women who do not eat a nutritious diet may be increasing their risk of developing cataracts. The AOA admits studies examining a potential link between nutrient deficiency and cataracts are inconclusive, but some studies have suggested there is such a link between the formation of cataracts and low levels of antioxidants like vita-
ally, deposits can be held for up to always senior-friendly. Your parents seven days depending on the source may prefer their traditional methods and amount. This makes it difficult to at times — clipping coupons from the budget, especially newspaper or writon a fixed income. ing a check to the Non-profit credit counseling Help your parents agency Take Charge America offers cable company — understand the but they may also consumers tips for helping older rules of banking be interested in usadults transition methods of today while also ing apps and sites managing personal finances acquainting them that help them with the benefits find Internet-only of using the Internet. Online banking deals, provide product reviews, or provides an added convenience, parotherwise enhance the consumer ticularly for older adults with physiexperience. cal limitations, as they can handle • Gifts and investments: Seniors most banking activities without leavcitizens, more than other groups, are ing home. known for purchasing savings bonds • Fraud: Seniors are frequent and stock certificates. However, victims of fraud perpetrated through stocks and bonds are no longer availe-mail, telemarketing and the mail. able in paper form. If your parents Discuss potential red flags with your want to purchase stock certificates parents, such as promises of easy or bonds, help them navigate the money, demands they act immedipurchase online, understanding this ately, or requests for personal inforprocess may force them out of their mation. comfort zones. • Online apps: Digital options • Paperless: Many transactions like mobile-only coupons, Internet leave no paper trail — and no means comparison shopping and bill-paying of filing paper away for easy future apps require technologies that are not access. Seniors who are long-accusmins C and E. • Smoking: Smoking can increase a person’s risk for a host of ailments, including cataracts. • Ultraviolet radiation exposure: Persons who aren’t adequately protected when exposed to ultraviolet, or UV, radiation have a greater risk of developing cataracts. Some people may be born with cataracts or develop them during childhood. Such cataracts are known as congenital cataracts and may be the result of the mother having contracted an infection while pregnant. Kids born with cataracts may also have inherited them. For example, cataracts may be a side effect of Alport syndrome, a genetic condition characterized by kidney disease, hearing loss and abnormalities in the eye. When a person develops cataracts, surgery is the only effective treatment. But that does not necessarily mean a doctor will suggest surgery right away. Cataracts do not typically harm the eye, and delaying surgery does not mean you are less likely to regain your vision if and when you do opt for surgery. Doctors will likely recommend surgery when cataracts begin to impact quality of life, such as making reading or driving more difficult. Cataracts are often mistakenly considered a byproduct of aging. But not every aging man or woman will develop cataracts, and not all cataracts are a byproduct of aging. Learn more at www. aoa.org.
tomed to filing paper copies of important financial documents are no longer receiving Social Security checks in the mail, as payments are now direct-deposited into their accounts. There is no copy to file, and no way to be sure the money was deposited without going online or visiting the bank. This, too, may push your elderly parents out of their comfort zone, so it’s important they’re familiar with their bank’s online system for reviewing account information. For more financial tips, visit www. takechargeamerica.org. Take Charge America, Inc., a non-profit financial education, credit counseling, housing counseling and debt management agency, is dedicated to helping consumers nationwide improve their financial futures. Founded in 1987, the organization has helped more than 1.6 million consumers nationwide manage their personal finances and debts. To learn more, visit www.takechargeamerica. org or call 888-822-9193.
Meals on Wheels December Menu 5) Krautburger Bake, Hot German Potato Salad, Green Beans, Bread, Milk, Peaches 6) Roast Pork Loin with Cumin Sauce, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Bread, Milk, Banana 9) Shepard’s Pie, Mixed Vegetables, Tropical Fruit Compote, Bread, Milk, Pickled Beets 10) Sweet & Sour Chicken Meatballs, Brown Rice Pilaf, Stir Fry Vegetables, Bread, Milk, Mandarin Oranges & Pears 11) Pork Paprika over Noodles, Cauliflower Au Gratin, Green Beans with Red Peppers, Bread, Milk, Applesauce 12) Baked Fish with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Lemon Parsley Potatoes Buttered Peas , Bread, Milk, Peaches 13) Swiss Steak, Tomatoes, Onions & Peppers, Baked Potato, Butter, Broccoli, Bread, Milk, Fruit Cocktail 16) Baked Chicken Breast with Tarragon Sauce, Quinoa Pilaf, California Vegetables, Bread, Milk, Apricots 17) Split Pea Soup, Corn Bread, Butter, Broccoli, Bread, Milk, Chicken Salad, Banana 18) Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Garlic Bread, Italian Vegetables, Milk, Tossed Salad, Italian Dressing, Frozen Strawberry Yogurt 19) Curried Chicken over Brown Rice, But-
tered Peas, Tropical Fruit Compote, Bread, Milk, Carrot Cranberry Salad 20) Sauerbraten Beef over Mashed Potatoes, Braised Red Cabbage, Peach Crisp, Bread, Milk, Fruited Gelatin 23) Baked Fish with Pesto Sauce, Lemon Risotto, Spaghetti Squash, Bread, Milk, Orange 24) Beef Tender with Cherry Wine Sauce, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Orange Glazed Carrots, Dinner Roll, Butter, Cranberry Gelatin Christmas Cookie, Milk 25) MERRY CHRISTMAS 26) Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Glazed Beets, Bread, Milk, Tropical Fruit Salad 27) Roast Turkey with Gravy, Apple Yam Bake, Broccoli, Bread, Milk, Fruit Cocktail 30) Chicken Breast with Apricot Sauce, Brown Rice Pilaf with Cranberries, Buttered Peas, Bread, Milk, Tropical Fruit Salad 31) Chili with Cheddar Cheese, Corn Bread, Butter, Green Beans, Crackers, Milk, Frozen Berry Yogurt 1) Ham, Raisin Sauce, Honey Mustard Sweet Potatoes, California Vegetables, Bread, Milk, Brownie, Ambrosia 2) Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Brussels Sprouts, Bread, Milk, Peaches
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December 5, 2013 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor