r
NCOA
A Ray of Hope Amid a Grim Forecast for Mature Workers
Tammy Nichols & dogs • Cover photo: Shannon Traynor Photography
April 2013 This Issue
Washington, DC – The latest job statistics show a grim outlook for the nation’s mature workers, but an initiative from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) aims to improve older adults’ likelihood of securing training, jobs, and financial support. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest figures indicate that 5.8 percent of workers aged 55+ were jobless and actively seeking employment in February. While this figure is lower than the national average of 7.7 percent, unemployed mature workers are more likely to be out of work longer than their younger counterparts. In 2012, adults aged 55-64 adults, on average, were unemployed for 54.6 weeks, compared to 36.4 weeks for workers aged 25-34. “Being age 55-64 and out of work is particularly difficult, because you’re unable
to tap into the traditional safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security,” said Nora Dowd Eisenhower, senior vice president of economic security at NCOA. “But jobs still matter for this population. With years of life still ahead of them, mature workers need opportunities now for training or retraining that leverage their experience and give them marketable job skills.” NCOA, with support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, is piloting one solution. Over the next year, NCOA will partner with agencies in New Jersey, New York, San Francisco, and Virginia to help hundreds of lowincome, older adults obtain work skills training along with services and benefits that maximize their budgets and help them get out of debt.
page 3 - A Ray of Hope
page 4 - Opinion: Ensuring Health and Safety for Women in Nevada page 5 - Opinion: Celebrating 3 Years of the Affordable Care Act page 6 - Funding Rule Finalized for Medicaid Expansion page 6 - Universal Health Care Contract Terminated in Nevada page 14 - Social Security Helps Veterans (Active Military) Every Day page 15 - Justice Department Pressed to Extradite Scammers page 19 - Too Old is Not a Reason Not to Help With Organ Donation
page 23 - Eclectic Observer page 24 - Eydie Scher - Excerpts page 27 - Crossword page 30 - this ‘n that page 32 - Seniors 4 Travel
Health
page 10 - Dr. Marion: Caregiving page 11 - CMS: Getting What You Need from Your Medicare Drug Plan page 12 - Hospice: A Model of Care
Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. Center for Healthy Aging page 16 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D.
Financial
Every Issue
page 18 - Calendar
page 7 - Things Every Woman
page 20 - Biggest Little City
Should Know About Estate Planning - Bradley B. Anderson
Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510 (775) 348-0717 e-mai l : S eni orspectrumnv@aol . com S eni orspectrumnewspaper. com Publishers: Chris & Connie McMullen
Senior Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain. Publication of advertising contained does not constitute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. Copyrighted publication. All rights reserved.
April • 2013 • 3
Opinion
U.S. Senator Dean Heller
The role of women in the fabric of American Sen. Dean Heller society is one that should be respected and valued. Women are already leading the way in our nation, from the businesses they have created and lead, to the role they have in shaping legislation in the U.S. Congress. So far this year, I have introduced and supported a number of measures that will ensure women are afforded opportunity, health, and safety. Just last month, I introduced the Mobile Mammography Act with Senator Vitter from
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Ensuring Health and Safety for Women in Nevada Louisiana. This bill allows “mammovans” to purchase fuel without the federal excise tax, providing some financial relief for the organizations offering important preventative screening services in underserved communities. As someone whose family has been touched by breast cancer, I understand the importance of early detection and the urgency behind efforts to help eradicate this horrible disease. Another initiative I have been pushing for relates to the women who serve in our military. As the demographics of our Armed Forces have changed
throughout the years, so too have the needs of women veterans. I recently offered an amendment to the Senate budget that requires these heroes have access to safety and privacy when using Department of Veterans Affairs’ facilities. Our female veterans have made tremendous sacrifices on our behalf. It’s only right that we allow them to feel comfortable whenever they are in any VA facility. Women who have been affected by domestic violence also need our support in finding safety and opportunity to rebuild their lives. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),
which I am a proud cosponsor of, provides much-needed comfort and vital services for victims and dependents of abuse. Violence in all its forms is unacceptable, and I am confident this bill will truly make a difference in the lives of countless women in Nevada and throughout the United States. I am optimistic that by prioritizing policy over politics, we can ensure women’s health and safety all across this great nation. I will continue fighting for all women who call the Silver State home and make sure they are afforded the very best treatment.
Opinion
U.S. Senator Harry Reid
Three years ago, President Barack Obama Sen. Harry Reid signed into law the greatest single step in generations toward ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for every American senior – the Affordable Care Act. Millions of Nevadans and Americans, including many Nevada seniors, are already benefitting from the law. Insurance companies can no longer set arbitrary lifetime caps on benefits, putting millions of Americans
Celebrating 3 Years Of The Affordable Care Act one car accident or heart attack away from bankruptcy. Today children can no longer be denied insurance because they are born with a disease or a disability, a protection that will soon extend to all Americans. And soon being a woman will no longer be considered a preexisting condition. In less than a year, 129 million Americans with preexisting conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes can rest assured they’ll have access to affordable insurance and life-saving care – regardless of their health or how much money
they make. In Nevada alone, tens of thousands of seniors have saved tens of millions of dollars on medicines because the Affordable Care Act closed the gap in prescription drug coverage. Nevadans with Medicare saved over $32.9 million on prescription drugs since the law’s enactment. In 2012 alone, 22,122 individuals in Nevada saved over $13.5 million, or an average of $611 per beneficiary. This is the legacy of the landmark law: that no American will end up in an emergency room because he
or she has no insurance, that no American will live in fear of losing their insurance because they lost their job, and that in the richest nation in the world no insurance company will ever again put a price tag on a human life. Thomas Jefferson wrote that, “The care of human life and happiness… is the first and only object of good government.” I am gratified that the Affordable Care Act meets that standard and will continue to do so in years to come.
April • 2013 • 5
Rule Finalized Guaranteeing 100 Percent Funding for New Medicaid Beneficiaries
WHAT IS YOUR HEART TELLING YOU?
Get the answer with a baseline EKG Northern Nevada Medical Center recommends getting a baseline EKG so you can document your normal heart function. We are offering a baseline EKG for $35. When you get your first EKG to establish your baseline, you will receive a wallet-size card with your test results. In the event of an emergency, your EKG card will give first responders information they need to take care of you. Knowing your heart and early detection of heart disease saves lives.
To schedule your baseline EKG for just $35, call 356-4056
2375 E. Prater Way | Sparks, NV 89434 775-331-7000 | www.NNMC.com
Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northern Nevada Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
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U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says a rule that provides that the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries effective January 1, 2014, has been finalized. The Affordable Care Act authorizes states to expand Medicaid to adult Americans under age 65 with income of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $15,000 for a single adult in 2012), and provides unprecedented federal funding for these states. The payments will be in effect through 2016, phasing down to a permanent 90 percent matching rate by 2020. “This is a great deal for states and great news for Americans,” Secretary
Sebelius said. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will have access to health coverage and the federal government will cover a vast majority of the cost. Treating people who don’t have insurance coverage raises health care costs for hospitals, people with insurance, and state budgets.” The final rule provides important information to states that will expand Medicaid including Nevada. It describes the simple and accurate method states will use to claim the matching rate that is available for Medicaid expenditures of individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of poverty, and people who are defined as “newly eligible” and are enrolled in the new eligibility group.
Universal Health Care Plans Contract Terminated in Nevada The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will ensure continuous medical and prescription drug coverage for beneficiaries enrolled in Universal Health Care Medicare health plans that are terminating April 1st. The Medicare Advantage contracts were sponsored by Florida-based Universal Health Care, Inc. (UHC) and Universal Health Care Insurance Company, Inc. (UHIC). UHC and UHIC were ordered into receivership for purposes of rehabilitation
and liquidation by the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Tallahassee, Florida. The Florida Department of Financial Services is the Court appointed Receiver of both UHC and UHIC. In Nevada, UHIC serves 2,345 Medicare beneficiaries. CMS is working to ensure that all affected beneficiaries are able to access needed medical providers and that those beneficiaries with current prescription drug coverage experience no break or gap in drug coverage.
Five Things Every Woman Should Know About Estate Planning Brought to you by Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.
Not long ago, wives were “silent partners” when it came to estate planning. Husbands were the ones in charge of long-term planning and major financial decisions. In fact, estate planning attorneys often advised wealthy men to leave their assets in trust for their wives, so that a trustee other than their wife could manage and preserve the family fortune. It was assumed that a widow would not have the skill or the experience necessary to responsibly manage the money she inherited from her husband. The role women play in a family’s financial affairs has changed dramatically since those times. There are three times as many women in the workforce as there were 50 years ago, and the average
The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys www.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com
woman’s earning power has increased dramatically. This means that women have taken on a more active role in managing their families’ finances and in making important long-term planning decisions. At the same time, women tend to live longer than men do, and the average woman still earns less over the course of her lifetime than the average man. This means that the estate planning stakes are higher for women. Still, too many women remain silent when it comes to estate planning for themselves and their families. Here are five things every woman needs to know about the importance of estate planning. 1. If you have young children, you need a Will. It is hard for a mother to imagine not being there for her children as they
grow up. But here’s an even scarier prospect: having no input into who raises your children in the event of your death. The only way to communicate your wishes concerning guardianship of your children is with a Will. If you die without a Will that designates a guardian for your kids, a judge will make this monumental decision without any input from you. Without your guidance, the guardian your children end up with may or may not be the person you would have chosen. 2. A Financial Power of Attorney can keep you and your family out of court. Another essential estate planning tool for women is a Durable Financial Power of Attorney. You use this document to designate someone you trust to manage your finances in case you become disabled. You (Estate Plan page 8)
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Estate Plan / page 7
need a power of attorney and, if you’re married, so does your husband. If you become disabled without this important document, your family members could find themselves spending time and money filing a petition in Probate Court simply to be able to pay the bills, refinance the house, or access your financial accounts. This is especially important if the wife generates the primary income in the home. 3. A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. This estate planning tool is similar to a Financial Power of Attorney, except that it lets you designate an agent to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to make these decisions for yourself. The medical power of attorney gives the agent the authority to make medical decisions for the disabled person. But, you also need a HIPAA Authorization which designates who can have access to your protected confidential medical information. You need both of these, and so does your husband. Without these documents, doctors might be unwilling or unable to even to talk to a spouse about a patient’s medical condi-
8 • 2013 • April
tion or treatment options if the patient is critically ill or otherwise disabled. 4. A Revocable Living Trust can help you avoid probate. Probate is the courtsupervised process for distributing a person’s assets after he or she dies. This process is necessary if you die leaving behind property solely in your name. Many people believe that having a Will allows you to avoid probate, but this is not true. A Will simply replaces the state’s default of “intestacy” with your preferred recipients. The Revocable Living Trust is a popular estate planning tool for avoiding probate. You set up the trust while you’re alive, and it holds title to your assets, allowing you to retain control over your property during your lifetime. When you die, the trust still exists and still holds title to your assets. Because the trust does not die, there’s no need for probate. Instead, a trustee you’ve appointed follows your instructions for distributing the assets held by the trust. The trust can continue after your death. It can provide distribution to your husband and children while protecting your children and assets from any remarriage by your husband.
5. You Should Keep an Eye on Your Beneficiary Designations. If you have retirement accounts or life insurance policies that allow you to designate a beneficiary, it’s important to periodically review your beneficiary designations. The beneficiary designations determine who inherits these assets, even if your Will says otherwise. Your estate planning attorney can help you make sure your beneficiary designations work with the rest of your estate plan to meet your goals for your loved ones. When it comes to estate planning, women have a variety of concerns to juggle: children with special needs, aging parents, estate and income taxes, and protection from creditors and divorce are just a few issues you may need to face. It is important that both spouses are involved in the estate planning process from the beginning. Your estate planning attorney can help you craft a plan that takes care of you and your loved ones – allowing you and your family to reap the rewards of smart planning now and for years to come. Call the Law Firm of Anderson, Dorn & Rader, Ltd. at (775) 823-9455 for more.
April • 2013 • 9
Ask Dr. Marion
Dr. Marion Somers. Ph.D.
Reaching Out With Music
Even though my grandma seems to be out of it most of the time, I really want to show her how much I appreciate her positive impact on my life. Can I do this through her love of music? Debbie, 45, Michigan Of course Dr. Marion Somers you can, Debbie. In fact, I encourage you do so starting today. Most of us grow up with some form of music in our lives. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument or having family members sing to us, it’s likely we have some fondness for music. And music is in our lives in so many different ways. There’s the radio, television, CDs, DVDs, and now iPods. For an elderly individual,
10 • 2013 • April
music’s most powerful effect is that it integrates into the long-term memory. As we age, music of the past holds a powerful significance since it can bring back positive memories from childhood and young adulthood. The right song can put someone right back in an eventful moment like a first kiss, a first dance, a favorite movie, or a special achievement. Someone can fall in love all over again if they hear the right song – it’s that powerful. These positive memories
in turn can help your grandma cope and focus on the positive in life. Music can bring her back to who she was and help her move forward with who she is now. It can make her feel that she’s more connected to her family and surrounding community. More than a few times, I’ve seen someone’s favorite old music pull them right out of their seats, even if they are confined to a wheelchair. It can free them of their physical problems if for just a
fleeting moment. So ask your grandmother about her favorite music, holiday tunes, and lullabies and then play them for her. Music is like magic. It has the power to revive people and resuscitate their sense of self. Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D) is the author of "Elder Care Made Easier" and has over 40 years of experience as a geriatric care manager, caregiver, speaker, and expert in elder care. Visit www.DrMarion.com for more information.
Getting What You Need from Your Medicare Drug Plan David Sayen, Regional Administrator Medicare Region 9 Is there anything you can do if your Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plan David Sayen refuses to pay for a drug you need? What if you think you shouldn’t be paying as much for a certain drug? In both of these cases, you as a Medicare beneficiary have the right to formally request that your Part D plan cover your drug or charge you less. This is called filing for an exception. You can ask for an exception if: • You or your prescriber (a doctor or other health care provider who can legally write prescriptions) believes you need a drug that isn’t on your plan’s list of covered drugs, or formulary; • You think you should pay less for a higher-tier (more expensive) drug because you or your prescriber believes you can’t take any of the lower-tier (less expensive) drugs for the same condition; • You or your prescriber believes that a coverage rule (like prior authorization) should be waived. If you request an exception, your prescriber must provide a statement explaining the medical reason why the exception should be approved. Even before a drug is purchased, you have the right to ask for an exception. You also have the right to get a written explanation (a “coverage determination”) from your Medicare drug plan. A coverage determination is
the first decision made by your drug plan (not the pharmacy) about your benefits. It says whether a certain drug is covered, whether you’ve met the requirements to get a requested drug, how much will be paid for a drug, and whether an exception will be made to a plan rule when it is requested. You must contact your plan to ask for a coverage determination or an exception. If your network pharmacy can’t fill a prescription, the pharmacist will give you a notice that explains how to contact your drug plan so you can make the request. If the pharmacist doesn’t give you this notice, ask for a copy. You may also make a standard request by phone or in writing, if you’re asking for prescription drug benefits you haven’t gotten yet. If you’re asking to get paid back for drugs you already bought, you can make the standard request in writing. You can call or write your plan for an expedited (fast) request. Your request will be expedited if you haven’t gotten the prescription and your plan determines, or your prescriber tells your plan, that your life or health may be at risk by waiting. For more information about the different levels of appeals in a Medicare drug plan, visit www.medicare.gov/publications to view the booklet “Medicare Appeals.” You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1!800!633!4227) and ask for a copy to be mailed to you. TTY users should call 1!877!486!2048.
April • 2013 • 11
Adding Life to Years
Hospice: A model of care we all should adopt Dr. Larry Weiss Center for Healthy Aging
” Over the last couple of months, I personally have experienced several deaths, including my mothers. Death is a part of life and we all should not fear it, but embrace it so we all can die peacefully. Hospice had been involved in all of these deaths and I have grown even more fondly of their services, and the healthcare professionals who provide them. Hospice care and the people providing the service are very special and deserve our acknowledgement and support. Why discuss hospice? Hospice is a model of caring derived from medieval times, Larry Weiss
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symbolizing a place where sick travelers who were wounded or dying could find rest and comfort. The modern hospice offers a comprehensive program of care to patients and families facing a life threatening illness. Hospice is primarily a concept of care, not a specific place of care. It affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. It provides personalized services and a caring community so that patients and families can attain the necessary preparation for a death that is satisfactory to them. Going onto hospice or prescribing hospice is not a
death sentence. It is acknowledging the person’s quality of life and death. Hospice emphasizes palliative rather than curative treatment and quality rather than quantity of life. Those in the process of dying are provided comfort care. Professional medical care is given by a team and sophisticated symptom relief provided, primarily pain relief. The patient and family are included in the care plan and emotional, spiritual and practical supports are given based on the patient’s wishes and family’s needs. In addition, trained volunteers can offer respite care for family members as well as meaningful
support to the patient. It truly incorporates a team to provide the care. The hospice team consists of a physician, nurse, social workers, counselors, home health aides, therapists, and volunteers. Each one provides assistance based on his or her own area of expertise. In addition, hospices provide medications, supplies, equipment, and other services related to the terminal illness. It is very important to discuss hospice during any life threatening illness along with all of the other patient ,care options. Hospices accept patients who have a life-expectancy of six months or less, who are referred by
Years to Life / page 12
their personal physician, and agree to the service. If the person’s health improves, they always can return to the curative system of care and receive appropriate treatments. After all, even the best medical professionals cannot predict precisely when death occurs. Those involved in the dying process have a variety of physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs. The nature of dying is so unique that the goal of the hospice team is to be sensitive and responsive to the special requirements of each individual and family. Should not our traditional system of healthcare treat the whole person like hospice does? Recently, a very good friend was hospitalized because he fell and started to have difficulty swallowing, and keeping liquid and food out of his lungs (aspirate). In the hospital he became disoriented, cognitively confused, angry, and was put in restraints because he did not want the gastro-nasal tube. It was very disturbing to me and to the family. In talking with the family, who had been in total denial about their father’s illness severity, hospice was introduced. Within hours the patient was taken home on hospice and died peacefully with his loved ones and in his home environment. The hospice service incorporates the importance of emotional and spiritual pain as being just as real and in need of attention as physical pain. Hospice nurses and doctors are up to date on the latest medications and treatments for pain and symptom relief. In addition, therapists can assist patients to be as self sufficient as possible, and they are sometimes joined by specialists schooled in music therapy, art therapy, massage
and counseling. Finally, various counselors, including clergy, are available to assist family members as well as patients. In fact, most hospices provide continuing contact and support for families and caregivers for at least a year following the death of a loved one. When a person enters the final stage of the dying, two different dynamics are at work. On the physical plane, the body begins the final process of shutting down, which will end when all the physical systems cease to function. These physical changes are a normal, natural way in which the body prepares itself to stop. The other dynamic of dying is the emotional, spiritual, and mental process. The “spirit” of the dying person begins the final process of release from the body. This release includes the resolution of whatever is unfinished of a practical nature and reception of permission to “let go” from family members. These personal events are normal and unique to each of us. So may I suggest again, as we face death, we accept its inevitability and importance in the normal process of life. Hospice is not a failure in our medical system but is a successful model that we all should embrace. There are several hospices within Nevada, for example: Circle of Life Hospice; Nathan Adelson Hospice; Saint Mary’s Hospice; VistaCare; Infinity Hospice, and Gentiva Hospice. What better way to add life to years! Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D., is CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weiss welcomes your comments. Write to him at larry@addinglifetoyears.com or c/o Center for Healthy Aging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV 89519. April • 2013 • 13
Social Security
Social Security Helps Veterans (And Active Duty Military) Every Day
For veterans who return home with injuries, it is our turn to help them! If you know any wounded veterans,
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please let them know about Social Security’s Wounded Warriors website. The Wounded Warriors
website answers a number of commonly asked questions, and shares other useful information about disability bene-
fits, including how veterans can receive expedited processing of disability claims. It is important to note that benefits available through Social Security are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and require a separate application. The expedited process is used for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Even active duty military who continue to receive pay while in a hospital or on medical leave should consider applying for disability benefits if they are unable to work due to a disabling condition. Active duty status and receipt of military pay does not necessarily prevent payment of Social Security disability benefits. Receipt of military payments should never stop someone from applying for disability benefits from Social Security. A person cannot receive Social Security disability benefits while engaging in substantial work for pay or profit. However, the work activity is the controlling factor and not the amount of pay the person receives or military duty status. Learn more by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/woun dedwarriors. We at Social Security thank all veterans and members of the armed services for all that they do — not only on Veterans Day, but every day of the year.
U.S. Justice Department Pressed to Extradite Lottery Scammers The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to do more to extradite Jamaican scamartists who target elderly Americans with false promises of lottery winnings. “The failure to indict even one Jamaican criminal in conjunction with these lottery scams shows these fraudsters, whether purposely or not, that they can continue to operate with impunity,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the panel’s chairman and ranking member, wrote in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
“We believe extradition of a select group of these criminals would show all Jamaican fraudsters that they are not untouchable.” The lawmakers also expressed concerned over the agency’s “lack of attention” to the problem. “We owe it to our constituents and the aging community we serve to ensure that the DOJ is doing everything possible to secure an indictment and extradition in connection with these Jamaican scams.” The letter comes on the heels of a hearing the aging panel held to examine the impact foreign lottery scams are having on the elderly.
According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), lottery and prize scams, including those originating from Jamaica, could be bilking Americans out of $1 billion annually. Last year, the FTC received nearly 30,000 complaints about Jamaican lotto schemes – a figure most experts admit could be much higher since an estimated 90 percent of these scams go unreported by victims because they’re too embarrassed or fearful to contact authorities. In testimony before the committee, Kim Nichols, the daughter of a 76-year-old retired pilot from New Hampshire, told lawmakers
that Jamaican scam artists duped her father out of $85,000. “These scammers are arrogant, professional and cruel,” Nichols said. “Clearly they are operating without any concern of being caught.” A U.S. led task force created four years ago to combat the crime has made little progress in stopping the scam artists. The task force, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has initiated 450 investigations in Jamaica resulting in 149 arrests and only six convictions. To date, no Jamaicans associated with the lottery schemes have been brought to the U.S. for prosecution.
April • 2013 • 15
Ophthalmology
Trying to Connect the Dots Michael J. Fischer, M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon
There is increased anecdotal incidence of a mysterious phenomenon called “visual snow.” Those afflicted with the condition report seeing the world as if it were a grainy TV picture. That is, they are still able to see objects well enough to identify them, but black and white dots appear throughout their visual fields. Other symptoms include seeing small white objects zooming against the background of a clear blue sky and trails left behind by moving objects. Other effects include halos and starbursts surrounding objects, floaters, poor night vision, photosensitivity, and
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colored swirls and waves that appear when eyes are closed. While migraines and drug use have largely been ruled out as possible causes, heightened sensitivity to normal phenomena has not. It should be noted that while many dismiss unusual visual phenomena, those experiencing visual snow may notice what can be described as an exaggerated type of normal visual function. If you would like further information on today’s topic or an appointment, please call my office at (775)8822988. We are conveniently located at 3839 N. Carson Street. Hours are 8-5 p.m., Monday through Friday by appointment. M/C, visa, and Medicare Assignment accepted.
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Calendar April 7 - Day of Remembrance, renowned speaker and author, Dr. Robert Krell, 3 - 4:30 p.m., Joe Crowley Student Union Ballrooms, University of Nevada, Reno campus, free and open to the public. Parking is free on the University campus on Sundays. April 9 - SOS Education Talk, Compassionate Communication and Challenging Behaviors,” 10 - 11 a.m., Laxalt Auditorium, Reno. April 11 - Moments of Memory Art Celebration & Auction, 5 - 7:30 p.m., Atria Summit Ridge, Reno. April - 13 - Women’s Clinic, University of Nevada School of Medicine, free Student Outreach, 8 - noon, School of Medicine’s Family Medicine Center. April 16 - Free Caregiver Support Group, 5:30 -7 p.m., Alzheimer’s Association, El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Ln., El Dorado Hills, CA, (530) 6216151. April 17 Roundup/Injury Prevention Information Fair, medication disposal, 10 - 1 p.m., Reno Senior Center Lobby, (775) 328-2575. April 18 - Free Caregiver Support Group, 5:30 - 7 p.m., South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Hwy 50, South Lake Tahoe, CA, (530) 6216151. April 18 - Living Will Seminar, 2 p.m., RSVP by April 11, Senior Law Project, (775) 328-2592.
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April 19 - All You Need to Know About Knees,
free workshop, 10:30 a.m., Reno Senior Center Game Room, call (775) 3282575. April 21 - Carson City Symphony Chorus, Northern Nevada American Guild of Organists' (NNAGO) Choir Festival, 3 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 Island Ave., Reno. Call (775) 883-4154. April 23 - The Weight of the Nation, educate yourselve on obesity, HBO documentary, 10 - noon, Reno Senior Center Game Room. Refreshments will be provided. Call (775) 328-2575 or contact Tori Tembey at tori.tembey@gmail.com. April 27 - AARP Driver Safety, 10 - 2:30 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, Reno. May 6 to June 3 - Quilting Basics, 9 a.m. - noon, $59, TMCC Meadowood Center, Reno, (775) 829-9010. May 6 - AARP Driver Safety, 9 - 2 p.m., Reno Senior Center, (775) 328-2575. May 11 - Western Heritage Festival, Sparks Museum and Cultural Center, Victorian Square. May 18 - Walk for Animals, Sparks Marina. May 20 to June 10 - Digital Camera Basics, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., $59, TMCC Meadowood Center, Reno, (775) 8299010. May 22 to June 5 - Photoshop Elements Basics, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., $59, TMCC Meadowood Center, Reno, (775) 8299010. May 28 - SOS Education Talk, Kenn Pettiford, the Senior Chorus, and Silver Steppers, “Unleash the Power of Age,” 10 - 11 a.m., Laxalt Auditorium, Reno. May 28 to June 20 - Microsoft Word 2010, 9 - 11 a.m., $79, TMCC Meadowood Center, Reno, (775) 8299010.
“Too Old” is not a reason not to help The chance to save lives through donation is ageless.
Special to Senior Spectrum Magazine Anthony Borders, Communications Manager
Tammy Nichols and her dogs
No one likes being told they are “too old” to do something.
But here’s a message from the people who work to save lives through organ and tissue donation: “You are never too old to donate.” April is National Donate Life Month, and it’s a time to remind every Nevadan that people 50 years and older can become organ and tissue donors to save lives. Being a donor is a good thing because older people are
Tammy was fortunate. In October, 2011, thanks to the family of a youngster who died suddenly, she received a new liver. Now Tammy is working to let others know that registering as a donor really can save and improve lives of others, including Silver State residents who are 50 plus.
Wendy Knorr, Community Development Liaison of Northern Nevada, works with the California Transplant Donor Network, an organization focused on registering Nevadans as donors. She said many 50 plus people believe their age alone is a limitation to donation.
Tammy and others like her have their work cut out for them. There are more than 117,000 people waiting for an organ nationally and of those, about two-thirds are 50 years or older.
“It’s a shame because we see people every day who are older than 50 with a kidney or liver problem that could one day mean they need a transplant. Yet now, because (Donation page 22)
Photo: Shannon Traynor
also the largest age group to receive organ transplants in the U.S. Tammy Nichols of Reno was 51 years and in good health. Then suddenly her liver began to fail, perhaps because as a baby, she received a blood transfusion and contracted Hepatitis C. It lingered inside her undetected for years until she got sick. “Then there was no other treatment, I needed a transplant,” she recalled.
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BIGGESTlittle City Harry Spencer
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ast month there was a weekend that was a sports fan’s delight. He had his choice between the NCAA Tournament, the PGA Golf Tournament in Florida, the Sony Open Tennis in Miami, Collegiate Boxing Championships in Reno and the National Skiing Championships at nearby Squaw Valley. Of all those events the one at Squaw Valley brought back the greatest memories. According to the fine book about those Olympic Games written by David C. Antonucci, they had less than a snowball’s chance of happening. Antonucci’s softbound volume also features many photos of the event taken by a classmate of mine,
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Bill Briner. Against all odds the owner of Squaw Valley, Alex Cushing, captured the coveted Winter event from much more sophisticated venues in Europe. Even the head of the International Olympic Committee, Avery Brundage, scoffed at Cushing’s bid for the Olympiad. It is little wonder that Brundage was joined by many members of the Olympic Committee since Cushing had first thought of making the bid as a marketing ploy for his then tiny resort. But once he was goaded by the opposition he (Cushing) began to take the bid seriously and mounted a one-man campaign to wrest the Games from the more prestigious European locations. In actuality Squaw Valley was ill-prepared to
Memories of the 1960 Olympics host such a monumental event since it had but two ski lifts and a rope tow. Disregarding the actual amenities of the Valley, Cushing ordered a scale model to be built which showed the Valley with all the facilities needed to stage the Games already constructed. Along with his model, Cushing did have the overwhelming statistic that the average seasonal snowfall for Squaw was some 450 inches. Also the mountainous terrain would provide excellent slopes for all the Olympic ski events. My first connection to the VIII Winter Olympics occurred in the late ‘50s when we selected Cushing as the recipient of an Annual Award presented by the Sportswriters and
Broadcasters in Reno. At that time newspaperman Carl Digino was the president of that group and I was the vice president. We gave Cushing his award at a weekly luncheon meeting in the Cal Neva Club in Reno. The award was for Cushing’s successful landing of the Games. Several years later, in 1960, I was given charge of the International Olympic Press Club Headquarters at the Mapes Hotel. As far as I know it was the only time in Olympic history that such a club had existed. The actual press “hut” was located at Squaw but had none of the trappings of the Press Club on the top floor of the Mapes. We would accredit every member of the 600 or more Press elite that covered the games by inducting them into the club and offering them the opportunity to cover the event in comfort in Reno some 60 miles away from the actual venue. This was accomplished by setting up closed circuit television from the Olympic site to the hotel, having a bank of typewriters for their use and three runners to take their stories to Western Union which was less than a block from the Mapes. Leading the World Press was TV anchor Walter Cronkite, New York’s Red Smith, Chicago’s Dave Condon and LA’s Jim Murray. One of the interesting events that occurred during the operation of the Press (Biggest page 29)
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Donations / page 19
the wait list die each day because they run out of time.
According to 2011 figures, of all the people in the U.S. waiting for a liver transplant, more than 70 percent are older than 50. Overall, 18 people on
With the advancement of medical science age does not automatically rule out someone from donating organs and tissue. In fact, people in their 80s have donated. Doctors are best equipped to determine at the time of your death what organs and tissues can be donated.
we lack donors, they may have to wait years to get one.”
And just what organs and tissues can be donated? Hearts, lungs, pancreas, intestines, liver and kidneys are among the gifts of life. Many more tissues can be
Tammy Nichols and her dogs
Photo: Shannon Traynor
donated such as corneas, which means people can see again, or skin which is often useful in treating burn victims. In total, just one organ donor could possibly save the lives of up to 8 people; and the same person can improve the lives of 50 people or more through tissue donation.
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If you are among the more than 30 percent of Nevadans who are 50 or older, do something to help those like you, take a moment and go to www.donatelifeNV.org and register today or register at the DMV when renewing your driver’s license. You are never too old to make a difference.
ECLECTIC OBSERVER by Janet Ross
I don’t know what possessed me to subscribe to Vogue magazine. Well, yes, I do. It was a super deal. The free copy I’d picked up at the library had several interesting articles, despite all those bizarre high fashion ads. The rock-bottom price on a year’s worth of Vogue was too good to resist. The first copy to arrive in late summer was the gargantuan fall fashion issue, weighing in at 4 pounds 10 ounces for 916 pages of mostly ads. (I wondered how much the mailman hated my guts for making him haul the magazine to my door.) Never in my life have I been as thin (no, make that skeletal) as a Vogue model.
I’m as tall as a few, though, and it was a kick to see those models eye-to-eye with their male counterparts. Nor, have I ever worn heels as high or skirts as short. There’s no fashionista in my genes and, even at 50 years younger, my taste in clothing has usually leaned toward conservative and comfortable. Back to Vogue and those bizarre ads. Besides all those long-limbed bodies, many obviously teens, make-up and hair are often extreme. Expressions range from frowning fiercely, scowling as if those clunky shoes really pinch, or pouting because life is just too hard for a super-model. Ads range
from designers like Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Prada, Dolce & Gabanna, Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen, Salvatore Ferragamo, Givency, Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang to shoes (think Jimmy Choo) or handbags (how about Fendi). Cosmetic ads run the gamut from brands so exclusive I didn’t recognize the names to the long familiar, low-end Maybelline. There’s a similar range of retailers, where you’d expect to see Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, but not Gap, Target and even (good grief ), K-Mart. All those ads are meant to sell, but what they’re selling is debatable. How many of us are actually excited by impossible-to-wear outfits ... or, even kinky sexy clothing?
And what do we have in common with sullen teen models? Handbags are “in”, as are shoes, plus mixing patterns and layering to extreme. I guess the main idea of ads in a fashion magazine is to present a choice of fantasy worlds so you’ll be tempted to find one that fits your version of reality, impressing you with a desire to purchase for the cache of a fashionable label. Vogue magazine is more than its ads, though, as I indicated earlier. Once you wade through the first 300 pages of the March issue, the articles begin to demonstrate some intelligent content. There were two features on politics; a thoughtful piece about women in Congress and an introduction to the Castro twins of Texas (keep (Electic page 29)
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Eydie’s Excerpts
The Story of Us Continues!
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he date is chosen, March 16, 1963. Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Scher! St. Thomas, VI is the honeymoon destination. Getting bad sunburns on a honeymoon is never a good thing!
David and Eydie are joined by family and friends at the 50th anniversary party!
June 13th 1966: Eleven months later on February 7th, 1964, I am about to give birth. David isn’t even in the building.
The doctor advises him to go home since I will not give birth for hours. As soon as he enters the apartment, the phone rings. It’s a boy. Neither one of us knows how to care for a baby. There’s this thing called Rooming in. I stay in the hospital 7 days, yes 7 days after a normal delivery. David and I both learn how to bathe the baby, change him, and do all the right things and the insurance covers it! Ha, try that today! Gregory Jay weighs in at 5 pounds 11 ounces but he has since gained weight and aged 48-years. He is bald at birth and now his hair is tinged with gray. Dr. Spock is our bible for bringing up baby. May 9th1966: The car deflects the pouring rain. The first house for anyone in our family is anxiously awaiting its occupants. The utilities have other ideas. I sit in the car 9 months pregnant hoping I will have a new roof over our heads today. Yes, we make it. We’re in. The house is an extravagance for us. Its price is $24,000. Yes, that’s not a typo! The mortgage is $187 a month. My parents buy us a refrigerator. It is in that popular Coppertone color that displays every single fingerprint. Later on, the kids and David mark up the fridge just to irritate me. His parents buy us furniture including the bed. This time David stays around. A girl, Rhonda Aileen, pronounced Ilene, arrives into welcoming arms. I have no idea why I spelled her middle name that way.
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Some things refuse to be remembered. What is that banging, bump de bump, de bump. Gregory is dragging his baby sister up the entire flight of steps by her feet. This is not good. Fortunately, she has a hard head and a good pair of strong lungs. He is bringing her up to me because she is crying. Can’t fault that. I love having a girl. I let her hair grow so she has nice long hair. The hair is a beautiful shade of auburn red. Where did she get red hair? Her hair looks adorable in 2 ponytails. I believe she was three at the time. Gasp! Now there is only one ponytail. She cuts one of them off. She relinquishes the scissors as I cry. “Mommy, why are you crying?” I don’t know how long it takes to grow back. She’s now 46! Believe it or not, we want another baby. This time it is not to be and I suffer a miscarriage. Soon after, I become pregnant again. In my 9th month of pregnancy, we are visiting a friend who has a pool. Faces are aghast when I dive in with my protruding belly. Another boy enters the family on September 22nd, 1970. Eric Keith is the biggest baby and weighs over 6 pounds. He becomes the intermediary. The other two fight and whoever gets Eric on his side, wins the argument. The blond curls drape onto his shoulder. A barber is not touching that head if I have anything to say about it. People think he is a beautiful girl but so what? Then one day, the hair is swept away on the barber’s floor.
Would you allow a nineyear-old to fly to Paris alone? We still hear about it from our daughter who despite having a ball berates us about our parenting. My brother and his wife live there. They have a baby and request our daughter’s presence, not mine. She writes it up and it’s published in our local newspaper complete with an outfit I did sew for her. That story is framed and hanging in our dining room. A few years later, David and I go to France. I am a genuine flower child with long blond hair and flare jeans starting below my waistline. Too bad I didn’t save the mini skirts I used to wear. Though I just bought a red pair of skinny jeans. They’re not exactly granny style. This is important. During this time, having kids
and working on a new house, David and I both are going to college. He is on the GI Bill. My parents pay for my brother to go to Wisconsin and get a Ph.D, but I go to City College for free. We go on alternate nights and during the summer. Both of us earn Master’s Degrees, his in business, mine in special education. That might be the initial reason our marriage succeeds. We never see each other except for 3 or 4 times a week. The round pool that entices me to jump off our deck into it is always in use during the summer months. The entire neighborhood’s kids probably have their first swimming lesson in it. Yeah, I wear my fake flower swim cap often. Was I a bad influence for my kids? They jump off the deck too. Eric does it at college and breaks
both heels and an arm. He slipped off the roof of a house and completely missed the pool. I never taught him that. Well, his girlfriend cared for him and then married him. Some good came of it. Greg is turning 13. He wants a Bar Mitzvah, or at least the party. After 4 years of Hebrew School, the date is set. I buy a dress for Rhonda. The boys and David wear blue tuxedos. Of course, Greg, who never
misses a day of school is sick on this momentous day. Nevertheless, he pulls it together and the affair goes on and off without a hitch. The album reveals a young family.
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Answers page 28
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Crossword p.27
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Eclectic / page 23
an eye on this pair - one the Mayor of San Antonio, his sibling in the U.S. House of Representatives). Celebrity often takes center stage on Vogue covers, with a not too puffed interview inside. March featured Beyonce. Helen Mirren rated a brief encounter, along with another Brit, Rupert Everett. Gun control rated several pages, highlighted by Gabby Giffords’ anti NRA efforts. Book author interviews featured both fiction and nonfiction writers. (There were society and fashion articles, too. Vogue is, after all, not the Atlantic or Mother Jones.) I won’t be renewing my subscription, though. The physical weight of most issues out-weighs the scattering of interesting content. It has been fun, however ... and Ralph Lauren does have a smashing red leather handbag I really, really like.
Biggest / page 20
Club happened when I got word from Dale Kraemer, who operated Mapes’ interest at the Reno Airport, that the Russian 30-man Press corps was arriving around midnight. Upon hearing that news I was able to prevail upon the owner of the Reno bus company to take me out to the airport in one of his large vehicles. When we got there we found a similar bus idling at the curb and a figure sitting on a bench by the door to the terminal. Since it was an extremely cold evening he was shivering in spite of his heavy overcoat. He was Reno’s lone FBI agent who had been sent to escort the Russians to Squaw. When I explained to him that the Soviets had to be registered at the Press Club before going up the hill and that we would leave him and his bus and take care of the whole operation, he shook my hand in gratitude. When the Russian plane finally landed, Kraemer and I hastily hustled them into the bar area and fed them copious amount of vodka. Then we loaded them on our bus and transported them to the top of the Mapes to be inducted and have more drinks. About 2 o’clock in the morning we received a frantic call from the FBI agent wondering if the Russians had been hijacked. They had.
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this ‘n that
by Anne Vargas
annevargas3@gmail.com
Doing What We Do—Again, Part three Continued tales of a timid traveler
In the two previous issues I shared my anxiety about packing and flying, my initial impressions of Viet Nam, my feeble attempts to cope with heat and humidity, my woeful spirit of adventure and my visit to the Mekong Delta.
Having survived the Sampan episode without falling into the snake infested river I was feeling smugly proud as I shared the story with friends over a glass of wine that evening. They were pleasantly tolerant and listened politely although I’m sure they didn’t identify with my fears or understand what the big deal was. Then one of them asked what I was doing the next day. I am not enthusiastic about sightseeing with a group but I wanted to see as much of Viet Nam as possible so I had signed up for a
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few tours and the following morning I was to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, assuming I survived the night. Even thinking about it made me anxious. I am severely, irrationally claustrophobic and the idea of any kind of confinement is unbearable. The demons in my head were already dancing and chanting their mantra “you won’t get out, you won’t get out.” The Cu Chi Tunnels were dug over two decades, starting in the 1940s, by Communist forces during their war of independence from the French. As the U.S. increasingly escalated its military presence in Vietnam in
support of a non-Communist regime in the early 1960s, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops gradually expanded them. At its peak during the Vietnam War, the seemingly endless massive network of underground chambers linked Viet Cong support bases over a distance of some 250 kilometers and the North Vietnamese Viet Cong troops went underground to continue their guerrilla tactics against the much bettersupplied enemy. The tunnels made possible communication and coordination between the VC-controlled enclaves and allowed the VC
to mount surprise attacks and to disappear suddenly into the hidden trapdoors without a trace. Parts of the network were several levels deep and included innumerable trap doors, constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals and bomb shelters. People spent much of their life underground, births and deaths took place there. There were even large theaters and music halls to provide diversion for the troops (many of them peasants) and their supporters. The tunnels were clearly something not to be missed
this ‘n that / page 30
but could I sustain my newfound bravery? As we made our way through the jungle floor our guide pointed out tiny ground covered trap doors; when closed and camouflaged they are almost undetectable. In order to get into the tunnel labyrinth
expanded to accommodate tourists. Our guide delightedly told us we could go in. You’ve got to be kidding!!! At that point I knew Shakespeare was right…discretion IS the better part of valor and I slowly backed away, trying to conceal my terror.
trap door. Despite, or maybe because of, my cowardice I was full of admiration (not envy) and wanted to know what it had been like. “There's a light at the end of the tunnel -- literally, some three yards ahead. My thighs are aching and I'm
and type Cu Chi Tunnels in the search bar; a number of travelers have made videos of their experience that portray it far better than words. I’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of fascinating things during our years of wandering the world on the water and a number of them
below it is necessary to squeeze down and in. During the war years they were half as high and inhabitants would have to crawl on their stomachs but we were assured that the tunnels (which are ink dark and home to snakes, bats, ants and scorpions) had been
From a safe distance I watched most (not all) of my tour companions descend, submerging themselves briefly and resurfacing almost immediately but a few intrepid souls actually went all the way in and explored the maze in the dark, exiting via a different and distant
crawling on all fours, caked in mud, with sweat pouring down my face.” That was written by Tibor Krausz for The Washington Post but seems to sum up what my companions described. To get a real sense of what it is like to go inside, you can go to YouTube on the internet
could be among the top ten. The Cu Chi Tunnels are now in that group. Even if I didn’t go inside. Shakespeare also said, “Cowards die many times before their deaths.” He was right about that, too. Next month: Still in Asia
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Seniors4Travel
Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa
R
emember that movie, “The Bucket List”, with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson? The story was based around adventures the two had after setting off on a road trip with their wish list of to-dos before they die. Since the movie hit the big screen back in 2007, the bucket list concept has slipped into common parlance. We have our own bucket list. It’s made up of trips we’ve yet to take and places we’d like to see, some not so far from home that can be taken without a lot of forethought, and others to far-
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Our Travel Bucket List away places requiring us to be away for weeks at a time. Still on our Bucket List is a road trip to Death Valley during the spring wild flower season. If everything had gone according to plan, we would have taken it last month. It’s one of those trips we’ve put off year after year until now. But, wouldn’t you know it, just as we were about to hit the road, due to unforeseen circumstances we had to cancel. Next year. New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town… so goes the song. We’ve been there on more than one occasion, and Robert lived there in his
youth. But what we have in mind is a week in ‘The Big Apple’ next September, specifically to see as many Broadway plays and cultural events as we can possibly manage. A trip such as this does require advance planning. We’re reminded as we write this that we’d better get to work on securing accommodations and show tickets. We’d love to take a barge trip down one of the scenic waterways of Europe. Ideally it would be a first-class vessel manned by an experienced crew, a private bedroom and bath, and a professional kitchen overseen by an experienced chef. One of these years. As much as we enjoy our road trips, a dream of ours is to one time hang up the keys and ride the rails… specifically on a scenic train journey across Canada. We’ve been eyeing several different Canadian rail packages offered by Vacations by Rail. While some travel ideas get crossed off our wish list as time goes by, vacation by rail remains an indelible listing. (www.vacationsbyrail.com) Cuba, a favorite vacation destination of Robert’s parents in pre-WWII days has recently been added to our bucket list. Policy changes by President Obama in 2011, initiated to encourage more contact between Americans and citizens of the Communist-ruled Island, have greatly expanded legal travel opportunities for U.S. citizens. As explained in a CNN December 2012 report, after Fidel Castro took power in 1959, Cuba went from being a favorite getaway for
Americans to a forbidden destination. Diplomatic relations and direct travel between the United States and Cuba were cut off. After getting Obama’s go-ahead, numerous tour companies are once again offering excursions to Cuba. And the travel companies we’ve been investigating include in the package price the necessary Cuban Tourist Card (also known as a Cuban Visitors Visa), and the Cuban government mandated medical insurance policy. For more idea’s visit: Road Scholar (www.roadscholar.org) has several programs. For participants 50 years or older. Friendly Planet Travel (www.friendlyplanet.com) Preservation Nation (www.preservationnation. org) Cuba Explorer (www.cubaexplorer.com) Marazul Tours (www.marazultours.com) Overseas Adventure Travel (www.oattravel.com), through their Grand Circle Foundation, has 9 and 12 day itineraries. Insight Cuba (www.insightcuba.com) is a pioneer in legal travel to Cuba. Distant Horizons (www.distanthorizons.com) offers group travel to Cuba as well as customized itineraries for individuals, small groups, and special interest groups. Well, there you have it, our travel Bucket List as it exists today. Tomorrow it may be different as it’s always subject to change. What’s on your travel Bucket List?
Grow Your Own! Eight back-to-basics courses for great harvests.
The average carrot travels over 1,800 miles to get to our dinner plate. Processing and shipment of food accounts for 93 percent of our food cost. The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is offering eight new “Grow Your Own!” classes to help Nevadans who want to get on a path to more sustainable, local, healthy living by growing more of their own food. The Grow Your Own! series, will provide gardeners and health buffs with a backto-the-basics guide to great harvests. The workshops topics include: • April 3: Seeds vs. starts: planning and planting your garden • April 10: Insects and other garden pests • April 17: Efficient irrigation for the home vegetable garden • April 24: Gardening in Nevada’s soils: A hero’s journey • May 1: Nutrients and fertilizers for your vegetables • May 8: Edible herbs and flowers • May 15: Berries and brambles • May 22: Selecting fruit tree varieties “Anyone can become a better gardener by attending these classes,” said Horticulture Specialist Heidi Kratsch. “From the beginner to the advanced gardener, everyone can benefit from a Grow Your Own class.” Extension experts will touch on garden planning, controlling pests, best practices for growing herbs and
vegetables, and the best fruit varieties for Nevada. “Gardening in Nevada is a challenge,” Kratsch said. “But you can learn to deal with our harsh climate and poor soils by building on the success of others. Grow Your Own educators are experienced gardeners and are excited to share what they know with the community.”
To register for the upcoming classes, held April 3 through May 22, on Wednesdays (6–8 p.m.), contact Ashley Andrews at the Washoe County Cooperative Extension Office at (775)7844848. The class fee for Reno residents is $15 per class, or $60 for all eight classes. Class fees in other locations vary.
Carson City, Elko, Eureka, Fallon, Hawthorne, Lovelock, Owyhee, Pahrump, Tonopah, Winnemucca and Yerington residents should contact their Cooperative Extension office for information.
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MAY 3 -5, 2013
FOR TICKETS CALL 775-686-6600 OR VISIT WWW.PIONEERCENTER.COM OR AT THE PIONEER CENTER BOX OFFICE (MON. - FRI. 11AM-6PM) RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS OF 20+
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